I Ranked These 7 Canadian Airlines By School Grades & 1 Should Definitely Get Detention

The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.

Travel is back, and Canadian airlines are already competing for you to travel across the country with them — but who should you fly with?

Whether you're looking to travel internationally on long-haul flights with Air Canada, Air Transat or WestJet or hoping to fly within Canada or North America, there are plenty of options to pick from.

This means there's competition between carriers, which is why some airlines have launched flash sales in recent weeks and months to entice travellers to fly with them.

I've travelled with seven of Canada's major airlines, and here are my observations to help you choose next time you're planning a vacation.

WestJet: A-

I can't complain about any of the half-dozen flights I've taken with WestJet.

I've travelled with WestJet between Toronto and London, U.K., multiple times, as well as domestically within Canada, and they have never let me down. The staff are noticeably friendlier than other airlines and look like they actually enjoy their work.

During the pandemic, they were quick to offer flight credits, and it's been super simple to use them for new flights now that things are reopening.

The flight experience is good, you get a free beer or wine with your meal and (most of the time) there is personal entertainment in the back of the seats. The only sticking point was that I once travelled on one of their older aircraft and there was no entertainment in the back of the seat ahead of me. So, download their app if you like movies during a flight, just in case.

For me, they strike a good balance of being on time and reliable and offering a great mid-flight experience for the cost of your ticket.

Porter Airlines: B+

My first flight into Canada — and my first flight on a propellor aircraft — was from Chicago to Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport with Porter.

A snowstorm hit during the flight, and it was a terrifying experience being blown around like a paper airplane and then feeling like we were going to land on water.

That being said, I really like Porter. They were one of the only flights to leave Chicago that day, so you know they're tenacious, and before the storm hit there was a free alcoholic drink and snacks. A big plus.

The propellor flight is noisier than a larger jet engine plane you may be accustomed to, but inside the aircraft, the legroom is surprisingly spacious (among the most legroom I've ever had on an economy fare).

If you live in downtown Toronto, Porter should get extra marks, because the island airport is super easy to get to from downtown.

Air Canada: B

While Air Canada does offer a great service, and they've been reliable for me over the years, you pay the price for it.

I took a round-trip from Toronto to Hawaii with Air Canada, and I've used them for skiing trips out west, too. I would probably fly with Air Canada more if money wasn't a factor.

Check-in is a more customer-friendly experience than other airlines. There are multiple people to help you, and for the not-so-tech-savvy travellers, you can do everything at the check-in desk, which is not always the case with other airlines.

On the flight, you often get a free alcoholic drink with your meal, and there's entertainment in the back of your seat. Be aware though, if you end up on an Air Canada Rouge flight, the low-cost version of Air Canada, they usually don't have personal entertainment screens.

However, Air Canada rarely has flash sales and generally appear to be more expensive compared to other airlines doing the same route.

Air Transat: C+

I've flown with Air Transat three or four times, but not in the last two years since they stopped their direct route into Manchester, England, which is the closest airport to my family.

While the experience is generally fine, it can be a bit of a toss-up as to whether you get one of their newer planes with entertainment and comfier seats, or their older fleet, which looks a bit worn and tired.

Before the pandemic, I considered Air Transat to be a solid carrier to fly with, but they've kind of fallen off my radar now. I find that I can get similar prices and a more modern experience with WestJet.

Flair Airlines: C

Flair gets an average grade from me for its mixed performances over the years.

I've flown four times with Flair — two trips went great and two were horribly delayed. This is the price you pay for trying to travel cheap.

They often have great deals if you time it right on their website, alternating between things like 50% off base fares to the U.S. from Canada and focusing on one particular airport by doing cut-price fares in or out of that destination.

Sometimes the best deals are for inconvenient airports, like landing in Abbotsford instead of Vancouver or Waterloo instead of Toronto.

If the flight experience is really important to your overall vacation enjoyment — or if you're working within specific time constraints — Flair is a riskier option. Not the worst though.

Pacific Coastal Airlines: C-

My flight with Pacific Coastal Airlines was a one-off experience and necessary to help fit in all the activities I had planned on my B.C. trip.

I flew from Vancouver to Victoria, and yes, by the time you're in the sky, it's time to start your descent.

The check-in process is quick. After all, our flight only had around 30 seats on it. I'm 6 foot 5, and this plane was definitely not suited to people like me. Before I boarded, I asked myself, "Will I fit on this plane?" The answer...

Daniel hunches over in a Pacific Coastal Airlines plane.Daniel Milligan | Narcity

Because the aircraft is smaller, it's a lot louder. So if you're sensitive to loud noises, this flight is not for you. If you're hard of hearing, you may also not be able to hear what the person next to you is saying.

That being said, for what is basically a luxury shuttle between Vancouver Island and the mainland, I much preferred it to the thought of a choppy ferry ride taking hours.

Swoop Airlines: D

It's not a good sign when the colour of the planes is the only memorable part of the travelling experience. But unfortunately, that has been my experience with Swoop.

You're lured in by the great prices — and they are really great, like one-way fares across Canada for less than $50. That's the same as a meal out and a couple of beers!

On the flight, carry-on baggage fees apply, there was no food or drink and, if you're taller than 6 feet, try and get an emergency row seat — which you'll also have to pay extra for — because it is quite cramped. You'll also have to pay for water.

That's if your flight arrives, I should add. When you're sitting by the gate in Toronto and see on flight-tracking websites that your plane only just left Cancun (without any communication from Swoop staff), you realize that budget definitely outweighs customer experience here.

If the flight experience or time constraints are necessary to your trip, avoid Swoop. If time doesn't matter to you, they are an excellent budget option.

Whoever you choose, happy vacation and safe travelling!

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.