Porter-The skinny on the new Basic Fares

Update:
Porter responded to me on twitter that the Basic fares are currently rolled out only on flights to Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Windsor, and Timmins.
So, I did a random search on October 07 for Toronto to Sudbury.
Here is the difference:
.                                      Basic Fare                       Standard
Fare                               $147                                 $153
VIPorter Points         174                                   460
2nd Carry on              Fee from $27.50         Included
There are no flights available for Toronto to Sudbury in Basic fare between today Jul14 till Jul31.
So, if I am booking so far out in October, I would rather spend an additional $6 for atleast the benefit of being able to cancel for a fee and get a travel credit in addition to the second carry on bag.

Porter has just introduced a new fare “Basic Fare” billed to “give you the lowest price”.

So what exactly do you save or do you end up paying extras on top of the “Basic”?  Read on to find out.

Here is what “Basic Fare” gets you:

• Absolutely no changes to your flight
• If you’re not able to use your flight, there will be no refund or travel credit
• Your standard carry-on article must be checked in for a fee, but your personal item (such as a purse or laptop) is still welcome onboard
• You can still check your bag and select your seat in advance, for a fee
• When you purchase a Basic fare, you will have to visit the check-in counter to receive your boarding pass even if you’ve checked in online
• You’ll earn 2 VIPorter points on every dollar you spend on a Basic fare. On all other fare classes purchased, you’ll earn 5 VIPorter points
• You’ll always enjoy our onboard service, such as free beer, wine and snacks

So, the cons:
– Absolutely no changes permitted
– Only one carry-on
– Second carry on has fees, Online $27.50 – to $31.62, at the counter $37.50 – to $43.13, at the gate $47.50 – to $54.62
– Need to visit the check-in counter when with online check-in.  Everytime I have travelled, I have noticed the lines move ever so slowly.

And, The Pros:
I cant see any at the moment as I did a search for flights to Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, NewYork and Chicago between July to November and didnt find any Basic Fares.  I tried calling Porter to get some clarification, but the wait time was 20minutes.
The real saving can only be seen when we will be able to compare to “Standard” fares which are often on sale.

So, for now I will pass on the “Basic Fares” and keep booking “Standard” when they are on sale.

Image courtesy of flyporter.com