AIRWAYS TRAVELER
scroll social media , message friends , and surf the web , with only minor buffering delays . I performed a speed test midway through the flight that saw the internet speeds reach 40 Mbps , which is fantastic compared to many other free Wi-Fi offerings . To me , this was the highlight of the service , as most of the competition charges a minimum of CAD $ 20-30 ( US $ 15-22 ) for a flight pass access to Wi-Fi .
Through the Wi-Fi , I was able to access Porter ’ s in-flight entertainment system , which featured many different movie and TV options . Although I did not try to stream Netflix on this flight , the impressive Wi- Fi speeds would make this an option if the Porter selection does not catch your eye . The streaming of movies from the online web browser was fast and I didn ’ t have any issues .
After takeoff , the service was non-stop as the crew came around with the first of two drink and snack services . This included free water , coffee , tea , sodas , beer , and wine . No other major carrier in the country offers free alcoholic service onboard their flights to all customers , including those in Economy . If you indulge in the free alcohol on the flight , it is served in a Porter-branded glass . Onboard the Q400 aircraft , all drinks are served in these glasses whereas , on the E2 , they seem to only be available for alcoholic beverages or on request . Accompanying the drink service was a choice of snack that included potato chips and cookies sourced from Canadian companies . About an hour from Edmonton , a second drink and snack service was offered to everyone .
Meals are offered onboard flights for free with Porter Reserve or at a cost in Economy . As I traveled when the meal program was still fairly new , Porter offered free meals to all passengers to get feedback on the different
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dishes . This was an unexpected but nice touch for the longer flight . The meals served to the Economy passengers were just the main course , but I saw that the Porter Reserve meal option was much wider .
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28 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2023 www . airwaysmag . com