Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW/CYOW) 1.0

[Dundas]

Has anyone here have experience flying with Flair Airlines? I'm looking at a flight from Ottawa to Halifax in August and it's a direct flight instead of going to Toronto than Halifax with WestJet and the price taxes in is $174.

The only thing that is stopping me from flying with Flair is the incredible amount of negative reviews on Tripadvisor.ca

Just look at all these negative reviews: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Airline_Review-d13635959-Reviews-Flair-Airlines

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by Dundas

Has anyone here have experience flying with Flair Airlines? I'm looking at a flight from Ottawa to Halifax in August and it's a direct flight instead of going to Toronto than Halifax with WestJet and the price taxes in is $174.

The only thing that is stopping me from flying with Flair is the incredible amount of negative reviews on Tripadvisor.ca

Just look at all these negative reviews: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Airline_Review-d13635959-Reviews-Flair-Airlines

I had two friends fly it recently to YYC and YVR. Neither plane was full, and after takeoff the flight attendants allowed them to change seats.

The negative reviews might be because people expect Westjet or Air Canada level service on a ULCC. If you are traveling with just a backpack, it can be very cheap. Otherwise you need to pay for everything. (checked bag, seat selection, etc). Also you have to pay for a large carry-on item. And if you pay at the gate because you think you could get away with it, you will have to pay more than paying in advance. Just read their fare rules in advance so you aren't surprised. As mentioned, this is why their "base fare" is very cheap.

Both friends said that the on-board experience was great and that you could tell the planes were new.

For me, it would be a no brainer to fly 2 hours direct to YHZ on Flair, as oppose to back tracking to YYZ and taking 4+ hours.

I look forward to trying Flair soon myself!

[roger1818]

I’m flying on Flair to YXX in August and my first thought was the same as About MountainView and that the complaints are from people who are not aware of all the fees (or think they can talk their way out of them). As long as you are aware of them in advance and are still happy with the fare, then all should be good.

Just a clarification, you are allowed one, small personal item, but there is a fee to bring a carry on bag and leather backpacks would be considered a carry on. I could imagine even some large purses could be considered a carry on. Read the rules and measure your bag.

https://flyflair.com/travel-info/optional-fees-and-charges

[YOWflier]

Let’s be honest AC and company are largely selling LCC service at legacy prices anyway. That aspect of Flair doesn’t concern me in the least.

What does have me a bit concerned is IRROPS/handling. But I’d try them to FLL where getting “stuck” is of no consequence to me.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I’m flying on Flair to YXX in August and my first thought was the same as About MountainView and that the complaints are from people who are not aware of all the fees (or think they can talk their way out of them). As long as you are aware of them in advance and are still happy with the fare, then all should be good.

Just a clarification, you are allowed one, small personal item, but there is a fee to bring a carry on bag and leather backpacks would be considered a carry on. I could imagine even some large purses could be considered a carry on. Read the rules and measure your bag.

https://flyflair.com/travel-info/optional-fees-and-charges

I agree that reading the website and measuring your bag makes the most sense.

Both of my friends had smaller backpacks (think 20 L size) and they were allowed to bring them on free of charge, no questions asked. I think Flair wants to avoid people bringing the wheeled bags on for free.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

Let’s be honest AC and company are largely selling LCC service at legacy prices anyway. That aspect of Flair doesn’t concern me in the least.

What does have me a bit concerned is IRROPS/handling. But I’d try them to FLL where getting “stuck” is of no consequence to me.

Completely agree about that. Flair does stretch their planes pretty thin. If there is a delay somewhere along the line, it will affect the entire day's routing for that aircraft. Flair also has basically no other routings they can put you on if your flight is severely delayed or cancelled.

I wouldn't mind being stuck in FLL either!

[Dominion301]

Today's departure count: 21

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by JakeLRS

Ottawa scores sun routes with flair!

Fort Lauderdale
Las Vegas
Orlando-Sanford

This all assumes the U.S.’ 5th wave of Covid-19, which is just getting underway, won’t be a factor come October. We’re going to surpass the USA in fully vaxed 12 & over Canadians by the end of the month. Hopefully we don’t have a 4th wave here.

[MountainView]

WestJet published their Aug 5 to Sept 7 schedule and that comes with an increase to YOW service.

Highlights:

YVR goes to 2x daily starting Aug 9 (with a few dates as 1x)
YYC 2x daily starting Aug 9 (1x on Tue Wed Fri)
YEG remains 2x weekly
YYJ remains 1x weekly
The return of YWG with 3x weekly Mon, Fri, Sat
YYZ is either 4x or 5x depending on the day (seems to be mostly 5x after Aug 22)

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 21

[Dominion301]

Today’s departure count: 21

Would have been a pandemic-record 22, but Flair cxx YYZ today. That's the first cancellation they've had out of YOW that I'm aware of.

[BenYOW]

Big news for Ottawa today as Porter Airlines confirms the Embraer E195-E2 rumours that have been circulating.

Porter Airlines Website (emphasis added)

Fly with us throughout North America in our new planes
The Porter flying refined service that you already love is extending - to dozens of popular destinations throughout North America. We’re excited that up to 80 brand new state-of-the-art, fuel-efficient Embraer E195-E2 aircraft will be added to our fleet to take you to these new destinations.

We are planning to fly our new jets from Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and Toronto Pearson International Airport, giving you more travel options with us. Destinations will include the west coast, and sunny spots in the southern United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Our initial set of new routes will be finalized ahead of aircraft deliveries in mid-2022. We look forward to sharing them with you!

You can continue to count on our convenience of Toronto’s downtown Billy Bishop Airport. We will carry on serving you on our regional routes with our De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft from our city centre hub.

[Dominion301]

Hot off the presses. The rumour of Porter ordering the E195-E2 is true. Not only that, they could take as many as 80 frames (30 firm and 50 options).

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/po...up-to-80-embraer-e195-e2s-856537428.html

They will use them out of Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and Pearson. So YOW could at long last become a hub and at the very least will be a large PD focus city with some connecting traffic.

Porter intends to operate the E2s to popular destinations from Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and Toronto Pearson International Airport. The introduction of specific routes will be determined in advance of aircraft deliveries.

It would be the perfectly sized aircraft in 3-5 years' time for long-hoped for routes to the likes of LAX and SFO.

First deliveries will start about a year from now. DH4 ops out of YTZ will remain. Includes purchase rights to convert some deliveries to the E190-E2.

I think this will finally put to rest whether or not PD are in it for the long haul.

[Truenorth00]

Sad that it wasn't the A220. But happy for Porter. And really hoping this means a base at YOW.

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

I think this will finally put to rest whether or not PD are in it for the long haul.

Oh, this puts nothing to rest. In fact, I'd wager this is going to be Porter's big 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵.

It's not unlike Bombardier poking Airbus and Boeing with the CSeries. When it focused on making CRJs, Boeing and Airbus didn't give a hoot. When the CSeries arrived, well, we know how that ended.

Now Porter is definitely poking Air Canada and Westjet on their turf.

Best of luck to them.

[Dominion301]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

Sad that it wasn't the A220. But happy for Porter. And really hoping this means a base at YOW.

Well they pre-pandemic already had a YOW F/A and YOW was by far the largest non-YTZ station. I think it's a given that YOW at the very least will have some focus city connecting traffic here, like AC does during normal times. Agreed about the A220, but this is the next best thing and PD must be getting a very sweet deal to solidify the very weak E2 orderbook.

If I were the YOW Airport Authority, I'd be throwing everything, including the kitchen sink at Porter, to make YOW a hub. 30% connecting traffic at YOW, makes the likes of YOW-California viable. As would a codeshare with AA for the likes of YOW-DFW. You've gotta think AA will heavily court PD for a full-blown codeshare...especially since AA & B6 are now codesharing and PD and B6 have been longtime interline partners.

[AuxTown]

This could be really good for Ottawa traveller's....and the airport in general. Here's hoping for some interesting direct destinations (SFO, Caribbean)

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by Dominion301

If I were the YOW Airport Authority, I'd be throwing everything, including the kitchen sink at Porter, to make YOW a hub. 30% connecting traffic at YOW, makes the likes of YOW-California viable. As would a codeshare with AA for the likes of YOW-DFW. You've gotta think AA will heavily court PD for a full-blown codeshare...especially since AA & B6 are now codesharing and PD and B6 have been longtime interline partners.

The only way I see this working is if Porter becomes JetBlue North and builds a very strong hub at YOW. Otherwise, AC, WS, WG and TS will eat them alive.

Their codesharing with JetBlue really needs to tighten up too. They need to really focus on feeding B6 at BOS, JFK, FLL and MCO. I'm really hoping their pledges to operate this fleet out of YYZ, YUL and YHZ are mostly just about feeding a handful of B6 hubs, with YOW becoming the actual and major E195 hub. Anything else and the competition will run them over.

[YOWflier]

Porter can’t possibly be so dumb as to think they can go toe-to-toe with AC and co. at their hubs and survive. YOW is where they can set up a serious operation (and defend best) vs. the alternate locations.

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

Porter can’t possibly be so dumb as to think they can go toe-to-toe with AC and co. at their hubs and survive. YOW is where they can set up a serious operation (and defend best) vs. the alternate locations.

They're taking 30 jets. They can't be basing them all out of Ottawa.