Hi Duke,
I mean this respectfully, I doubt there is much difference to those wanting a base other than YYZ. They are rolling the dice the same way, except at Jazz or AC there is still a possibility of getting your desired base on day 3, with Porter it seems you will at the very least be Toronto for initial training and then maybe another base.
I’d be willing to bet real Canadian pesos that if they wanted a different base other than YYZ, they would prefer a course where you draw you seniority and pick from different offered bases based on said seniority, a fighting chance if you will.
No perfect system seems to exist at this point
Then don't accept a YYZ spot. If the job ad says YVR, tell the recruiter that you're looking for YVR, and can wait patiently for a YVR spot to become available.
That’s not how seniority works dude, if they turn down Toronto, the ones who take the job are offered YVR before any OTS pilots, if they hire directly for YVR while on property pilots want it, guess what happens to morale!
Some people aren’t looking for seniority, some people are looking at the base they will get hired at. Sure, internals get first go at it. But YVR has been pretty junior, especially on the FO side. So maybe there will be base specific jobs in the future.
Yes seniority is a the only number that matters in the end. But you’re also forgetting that a large chunk of these hires like where they live, or will be moving on to “big red” cuz it’s so awesome there.
Then don't accept a YYZ spot. If the job ad says YVR, tell the recruiter that you're looking for YVR, and can wait patiently for a YVR spot to become available.
That’s not how seniority works dude, if they turn down Toronto, the ones who take the job are offered YVR before any OTS pilots, if they hire directly for YVR while on property pilots want it, guess what happens to morale!
Some people aren’t looking for seniority, some people are looking at the base they will get hired at. Sure, internals get first go at it. But YVR has been pretty junior, especially on the FO side. So maybe there will be base specific jobs in the future.
Yes seniority is a the only number that matters in the end. But you’re also forgetting that a large chunk of these hires like where they live, or will be moving on to “big red” cuz it’s so awesome there.
If you saw the pensions that most AC pilots will be retiring to, you would in fact call it ‘awesome’.
A solid T4 is great. But imagine most of your retirement planning being taken care of just by going to work?
Pay. Pension. Benefits. Working conditions. Job security. QOL. These are all factors for consideration. There is no ‘perfect’ yet in Canada. But there are some on aggregate that are better than others.
cdnavater wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2024 6:12 pm
That’s not how seniority works dude, if they turn down Toronto, the ones who take the job are offered YVR before any OTS pilots, if they hire directly for YVR while on property pilots want it, guess what happens to morale!
Some people aren’t looking for seniority, some people are looking at the base they will get hired at. Sure, internals get first go at it. But YVR has been pretty junior, especially on the FO side. So maybe there will be base specific jobs in the future.
Yes seniority is a the only number that matters in the end. But you’re also forgetting that a large chunk of these hires like where they live, or will be moving on to “big red” cuz it’s so awesome there.
If you saw the pensions that most AC pilots will be retiring to, you would in fact call it ‘awesome’.
A solid T4 is great. But imagine most of your retirement planning being taken care of just by going to work?
Pay. Pension. Benefits. Working conditions. Job security. QOL. These are all factors for consideration. There is no ‘perfect’ yet in Canada. But there are some on aggregate that are better than others.
Isn’t the pension AC guys/gals are on now the TB CWIPP? I agree that Porter needs to do waaaaay better for retirement funding but CWIPP doesn’t seem like anything crazy tbh. The pension WJ pilots just got would actually be worth bragging about. If your financial institution is competent and handling your RRSP isn’t your retirement finances also not being taken care of just for going to work?
YVR Junior Captain - May 2025 Hire / Line Check August 2025 / YVR Base September 2025
YVR Junior First Officer - May 2025 Hire / Line Check September 2025 / YVR Base December 2025
Hard to say if that is the normal timing as the total number of slots at each base is not published.
Curious what the YVR base is looking like now that it’s been open for about 1.5 years. I’m optimistically hoping to get YVR within a year of hiring and wanted to get a sense of what the quality of life is like there. A few questions for anyone familiar with the base:
Has it grown much since the initial group? Someone posted 19 CAs and 15 FOs at launch, but I’m not sure where things stand now.
Is there a big reserve pool in YVR?
For those on reserve, are you getting used a lot?
Are pairings mostly turns, multi-days, or a mix?
Overall, does YVR feel like a stable base, or still more like a developing/small-base operation?
Just trying to get a realistic sense of base growth, reserve life, and QOL. Thanks.
markpilote wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 2:24 pm
Curious what the YVR base is looking like now that it’s been open for about 1.5 years. I’m optimistically hoping to get YVR within a year of hiring and wanted to get a sense of what the quality of life is like there. A few questions for anyone familiar with the base:
Has it grown much since the initial group? Someone posted 19 CAs and 15 FOs at launch, but I’m not sure where things stand now.
Is there a big reserve pool in YVR?
For those on reserve, are you getting used a lot?
Are pairings mostly turns, multi-days, or a mix?
Overall, does YVR feel like a stable base, or still more like a developing/small-base operation?
Just trying to get a realistic sense of base growth, reserve life, and QOL. Thanks.
The base has doubled in size since your last numbers. Very small number of folks on reserve, most are getting schedules. 50-70% usage on reserve. Pairings are mostly multi-day, anywhere from 3-5 days with 4 days being the most common. The base is busy, but still some growing pains. Most layovers are in YYZ, which makes you wonder why have a base at all. But that's because the majority of pairings start and finish through YYZ,YOW,YUL to join the rest of the network. Hopefully more direct routes out of YVR and better pairing construction in the future.
danno wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 8:26 am
Any idea on average wait time to get yvr.
Most junior FO to get YYZ to FO YVR base transfer was started in Aug 2025. And was awarded YVR FO, starting July 2nd 2026. I didn’t look to see if there was bids were unfilled cuz no one applied. But with the expansion, I would probably say less than a year
Great thanks.
Quick question when hired and training is out of yyz does porter put you up in hotels etc or are you on your own because they only post for yyz?
danno wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2026 10:03 am
Great thanks.
Quick question when hired and training is out of yyz does porter put you up in hotels etc or are you on your own because they only post for yyz?
If you are hired for the YYZ base (which is most likely) then you are on your own.
markpilote wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2026 2:24 pm
Curious what the YVR base is looking like now that it’s been open for about 1.5 years. I’m optimistically hoping to get YVR within a year of hiring and wanted to get a sense of what the quality of life is like there. A few questions for anyone familiar with the base:
Has it grown much since the initial group? Someone posted 19 CAs and 15 FOs at launch, but I’m not sure where things stand now.
Is there a big reserve pool in YVR?
For those on reserve, are you getting used a lot?
Are pairings mostly turns, multi-days, or a mix?
Overall, does YVR feel like a stable base, or still more like a developing/small-base operation?
Just trying to get a realistic sense of base growth, reserve life, and QOL. Thanks.
Base is now roughly 40 captains and 33 FO’s. They have been looking to fill 6 YVR FO positions for the entire summer, and only 2 have transferred so far. We had 2 YVR FO’s upgrade to YVR CA in April, one in May, and 2 this September. We also had 2 FO leave for AC this summer.
The YVR base is the second largest base at Porter after YYZ, and it is a very stable base at Porter with more growth anticipated. Pairings we get a mix of 1-2-3-4-5 day pairings. September had 30 YYZ turns (one per day) and many 3-4 day pairings.
Not a big reserve pool no.
YVR is our most junior base. We have CA’s and FO’s that started just a few months ago, and for FO’s, 2 years on property is very senior (top 20%).
