VIPorter is the loyalty program for Porter Airlines, the fast-growing Toronto-based carrier. The loyalty program was relaunched in 2023 with added membership levels and benefits.
Through VIPorter, members can earn elite status levels after reaching specific spending thresholds. With this elite status, members then receive ongoing benefits with the airline, including seat upgrades, complimentary checked bags, and more.
How Does VIPorter Elite Status Work?
Anyone can become a VIPorter member for free.
When you sign up for a VIPorter account, you’ll automatically begin as a VIPorter Member.
Beyond this basic membership level, there are four elite status tiers within VIPorter’s Avid Traveller program: VIPorter Passport, VIPorter Venture, VIPorter Ascent, and VIPorter First.
Moving up within the Avid Traveller program is entirely based on how much money you spend with Porter Airlines each calendar year. You’ll get a credit for every $1 (all figures in CAD) spent with the airline, including on base fares, checked baggage fees, change fees, and more.
In fact, the only thing that doesn’t count towards earning status credit are taxes and surcharges.
Here’s how much you’ll need to spend to reach each elite tier level:
- VIPorter Passport: $2,000
- VIPorter Venture: $3,000
- VIPorter Ascent: $6,000
- VIPorter First: $10,000
With Porter Airlines, all fares are treated equally. You’ll earn the same qualifying spend on the lowest economy fares (PorterClassic) as you will on the more expensive fare types (e.g., PorterReserve).
The eligible earning period is from January 1 to December 31 of the same year, but it’s important to note that you won’t earn qualifying credit until after you’ve completed your first trip.
Once you’ve reached the specific spending threshold for the next VIPorter elite status tier, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of that status until December 31 of the following year.
Additionally, after you’ve reached at least the VIPorter Passport level, any qualifying spend above your earned elite tier will carry over to the next year to a maximum of $3,000, through VIPorter’s Head Start benefit.
As an example, if you have $5,000 in qualifying spend in a calendar year, you’ll have earned VIPorter Venture elite status for spending $3,000, and you’ll be able to carry over $2,000 in qualifying spend to the next calendar year.
This means that you’ll automatically start the next year at the VIPorter Passport level, which has a spending threshold of $2,000, and from there, you’ll be able to move up to the next level quicker.
Porter Airlines has also run status match campaigns in the past to entice Air Canada elite members to try their services.
Status matches such as this allow an elite member of a competitor’s program to automatically receive an equivalent elite status for a short period of time, with an opportunity to extend that period with ongoing participation.
Lastly, as a perk for new parents, if you’ve recently added a new member to your family, you can request an extension of your benefits for up to 18 months by filling out a form on Porter’s website and providing supporting documents.
VIPorter Status Tiers
VIPorter’s four Avid Traveller levels come with better and better benefits as you spend more and move up in status.
Additionally, VIPorter benefits can be extended to up to nine passengers flying together with the Avid Traveller member.
Let’s take a closer look at what these benefits entail.
VIPorter Passport: Spend $2,000
At the first Avid Traveller level, VIPorter Passport members earn 6 points per dollar spent on everything except taxes and fees. Comparatively, non-elite VIPorter members earn 5 points per dollar spent.
VIPorter points can be used to book flights, with short-haul routes costing as few as 5,000 VIPorter points.
As a VIPorter Passport member, you’ll also have access to a dedicated call centre, and you’ll be prioritized over non-elite members for a seat on the next available flight when there are flight delays.
In addition to the increased point-earning potential and the customer service, you’ll also have access to dedicated check-in, priority security, and early boarding.
Lastly, you’ll get priority over non-elite VIPorter members if you’re flying standby.
VIPorter Venture: Spend $3,000
VIPorter Venture members have slightly more benefits than VIPorter Passport members; however, they’ll still earn the same 6 points per dollar spent.
At the Venture level, members receive one complimentary checked bag and complimentary carry-on bags when booking a PorterClassic Basic fare.
Additionally, VIPorter Venture members have access to complimentary seat selection when they book a PorterClassic seat. This would normally cost $12 when booking a Basic or Standard fare.
Once a VIPorter member spends $3,000 in qualifying spend and reaches the VIPorter Venture status level, they’ll also receive one PorterReserve certificate.
A PorterReserve certificate allows members to upgrade from a PorterClassic to a PorterReserve seat when they purchase a PorterClassic Standard fare or above.
Once upgraded, you’ll enjoy extra legroom, two complimentary checked bags, and more.
You’ll also be able to earn an additional PorterReserve certificate for every $2,000 you spend beyond the first $3,000 in a calendar year.
VIPorter Ascent: Spend $6,000
VIPorter Ascent members earn 7 points for every dollar spent.
Beyond the benefits offered to VIPorter Passport and Venture members, VIPorter Ascent elite status members also enjoy two free checked bags and free same-day changes on all fares other than PorterClassic Basic fares.
In addition to this, when a PorterClassic Stretch seat is available, VIPorter Ascent members can select that seat for free. This option would normally cost $30 when booking PorterClassic Basic, Standard, or Flexible fares.
VIPorter First: Spend $10,000
Porter Airlines highest Avid Traveller level is VIPorter First.
At this tier, members will enjoy all of the benefits offered to VIPorter Ascent members plus guaranteed reservation and guaranteed next flight re-accommodation.
Guaranteed reservation grants a seat to a VIPorter First member when they purchase a PorterClassic Freedom fare, even if the flight is sold out.
The guaranteed next flight benefit saves VIPorter First members a spot on the next Porter flight to their destination in the event that their original Porter flight is cancelled.
Both of these benefits mean that Porter Airlines will potentially remove another traveller from their flights to accommodate their most loyal passengers.
Summary of Benefits Per Tier
Here’s a summary of benefits per VIPorter tier:
Conclusion
The VIPorter loyalty program is one of the easier programs in which to move up in elite status, and you don’t have to worry about calculating mileage or making sure you book the right fare class.
All fare classes are treated equally, and you must simply meet specific spending thresholds to move up to the next status tier.
However, the benefits offered to elite VIPorter members aren’t quite at the same level as other airline loyalty programs.
This is mainly because Porter Airlines doesn’t offer a business class product and doesn’t currently have airport lounges, so these areas that commonly play a part in a program’s benefits are absent.
That being said, VIPorter has done a great job of not unnecessarily complicating the airlines’ loyalty program, and of allowing for more flexibility with earning and maintaining elite status with the Head Start benefit and the membership expiration extension for new parents.
