Welcome to the Sault, Porter!

[Vancouverite]

Porter lands in the Sault, and it's about damn time. The prices are as follows (Out of Billy Bishop);
Firm: $99
Flexible: $249
Freedom: $349
These low fares eclipse expensive $1000+ fares previously charged by our flag carrier, and good riddance. Any thoughts on this? I've never flown to Sault St. Marie, but some of you guys might.

[Brize]

Westjet tried going to Sault in 2002. It wasn't viable.

[Vancouverite]

Westjet tried going to Sault in 2002. It wasn't viable.

They were also a larger airline with horrid customer service and higher prices, and because they operated larger planes, it was much harder to fill them and make the route profitable. Besides, Porter is geared at business travelers in Ontario, WestJet is mainly tourists.

[teacher]

The fares are that high on "niche markets" because the airline can actually charge what it costs to operate the service. Now, along with other routes now with competition 2 airlines have to charge barely enough to cover costs. I love this business *insert sarcasm

[Canoehead]

Porter lands in the Sault, and it's about damn time. The prices are as follows (Out of Billy Bishop);
Firm: $99
Flexible: $249
Freedom: $349
These low fares eclipse expensive $1000+ fares previously charged by our flag carrier, and good riddance. Any thoughts on this? I've never flown to Sault St. Marie, but some of you guys might.

You're obviously not a pilot are you (or an F/A, or an AME etc...)?

I agree with Teacher's comment.

[Westbeach]

WestJet is mainly tourists.

Idiot.

[dashx]

Any thoughts on this? I've never flown to Sault St. Marie

The price you quoted did they include any fuel surcharges, airport improvement fees, security/landing (whatever you want to call them) fees? How about the HST?

[Jack Klumpus]

Instead of posting the question, it woulda taken you the same time to look the answer up yourself.

[Mig29]

I always chuckle when I see there "first timers" post some catch/fishy topics on here...

$99 "GREAT" fares....did you ever try to drive from Sault to Toronto? How much did your gas bill end up costing you?

[L1011]

I always chuckle when I see there "first timers" post some catch/fishy topics on here...

$99 "GREAT" fares....did you ever try to drive from Sault to Toronto? How much did your gas bill end up costing you?

It costs me about $85 to fill up my domestic sedan and it will take about that whole tank to get to Sault from the city. BUT....

The taxes/fees for the YTZ-YAM leg: $98.56
The taxes/fees for the YAM-YTZ leg: $77.71

Either way, if it is $1000+ for the alternative then it is a great option and a great product. Also, you can't get the cheaper "firm" option anytime you want, just like the Tango fares with AC.

[bmc]

Any airline launching a new service will lead with low pricing to steal market share. If they're low enough, they'll grow the market and steal from the highway. They will not price the entire airplane at that price, nor every flight. Peak flights with high demand will be priced higher. Empty or off peak will be priced lower. With excess capacity on the route, all carriers will respond with lower fares.

Lower yields and load factors often lead to reduced capacity and/or frequency. Carriers will find a better place to redeploy the equipment to make more money. The market sees capacity shrink, making for an opportunity to raise prices.

Nothing new here.

Best take advantage of the cheap prices while they last. If Porter is the only game offering nonstop to the island, they'd be fools to keep the price low forever. No need.

[flyinhigh]

Porter lands in the Sault, and it's about damn time. The prices are as follows (Out of Billy Bishop);
Firm: $99
Flexible: $249
Freedom: $349
These low fares eclipse expensive $1000+ fares previously charged by our flag carrier, and good riddance. Any thoughts on this? I've never flown to Sault St. Marie, but some of you guys might.

Hot digity dawg, thats awesome.

Now enter, what was Porters Total debt when they went for the IPO. Neighbourhood of 40 Mil after operating what 15 planes for 5 years. Wow now thats a way to make some money.

[YYZatcboy]

Keep in mind that they are probably trying to attract connecting passengers more than passengers to Toronto. I'd be more interested on what the fares would be if connecting to say Ottawa or EWR.

[iflyforpie]

The fares are that high on "niche markets" because the airline can actually charge what it costs to operate the service. Now, along with other routes now with competition 2 airlines have to charge barely enough to cover costs. I love this business *insert sarcasm

Not always. Before WestJet, the cost to fly into any BC Interior town was prohibitive. So we just drove. WestJet didn't steal passengers so much as create a new market from people who otherwise wouldnt have flown. Given their success, I don't think they've been charging fares that aren't sustainable.

The 'niche' fares are the screw you monopoly fares that fund predatory pricing as much as balance sheets. And why should I as the customer pay for the higher overhead and past mistakes of the National Airline?