VIPorter Program: Everything to Know Before You Book a Porter Flight
We break down how to earn and redeem VIPorter points, what Avid Traveller status is worth, and which BMO card gets you there fastest — with a real example showing what your points come out to in savings.
VIPorter is Porter Airlines' loyalty program, giving travellers the chance to earn and enjoy rewards designed to make their travel experiences more affordable, comfortable, and convenient. With over 40 destinations across North America and the Caribbean (plus a partner network to take you even further), Porter Airlines and the VIPorter program offer Canadians a range of excellent travel opportunities.
In this article, we'll go over the key information you need about the VIPorter program: earning and redeeming points, elite status tiers, program partners and perks. The goal is to help you get the most out of your membership on your next trip.
How the VIPorter program works
Porter Airlines’ VIPorter loyalty program is free for anyone to join, and, if you don't already have a membership, you can easily sign up on the Porter Airlines VIPorter website. As a member, you earn VIPorter points that let you save on future flights, and you can gain access to perks that make your travel more convenient and enjoyable.
Once you're a member, but before you book your next flight, there are a few things worth knowing that will help you maximize the value and enjoyment you get from the program. Essentially, you want to learn how to be strategic about earning VIPorter points, redeeming them for flights, and taking advantage of features like the Avid Traveller program.
To help you grow your knowledge about the VIPorter program, we've broken down what you need to know into the following key sections:
Part of what makes VIPorter such an attractive program for Canadians is that it goes hand-in-hand with Porter Airlines' exceptional in-flight experience.
In particular, when you fly with Porter, you'll enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages (including free beer and wine) served in actual glassware. You also get free Wi‑Fi on select aircraft and no middle seat, which makes the trip notably more comfortable.
Earning VIPorter Points
As a member of the VIPorter program, the first thing you need to know about is how to earn points so that you can later redeem them to save on flights.
Luckily, earning VIPorter points is very straightforward, and the program offers a few different ways to build up your account balance:
- Flying with Porter Airlines
- Flying with partnered airlines
- Spending on a co-branded credit card like the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®*
Flying with Porter Airlines
The most common way to earn VIPorter points is by spending money with Porter Airlines. VIPorter members can add their membership number to their Porter Airlines bookings and earn points on all qualifying spend.
The number of points you earn with Porter Airlines depends on your Avid Traveller status (more on this part of the program in a section below), with earning rates ranging from 5 VIPorter points per $1 spent up to 7 VIPorter points per $1 spent.
These points are earned on the cost of your base fare and any add-ons like seat selection, checked baggage, carry-ons, and more. Just keep in mind that you don't earn VIPorter points on taxes and fees.
Flying with partnered airlines
In addition to earning on Porter Airlines flights, VIPorter members can also earn points when they book flights with preferred partners Alaska Airlines and Air Transat, and with multiple other partner airlines.
With Alaska Airlines and Air Transat, VIPorter members that book their flight via the Porter Airlines website will earn VIPorter points for every dollar spent at a rate based on their Avid Traveller status. Alternatively, if you book an itinerary involving Air Transat through their website or a third-party website, you will only earn VIPorter points on flights operated by Porter Airlines.
When booking an itinerary involving Alaska Airlines via their website or a third-party website, the number of points you earn is based on your cabin class, the number of miles flown, and any qualifying bonus.
Porter is also partnered with the following airlines:
- American Airlines
- Aeromexico
- Azores Airlines
- British Airways
- Delta Air Lines
- El Al Israel Airlines
- Fiji Airways
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Icelandair
- Japan Airlines
- JetBlue
- Pascan Aviation
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
With these partners, VIPorter members can earn points on the Porter-operated portion of their itinerary.
BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*
Beyond flying with Porter Airlines and its partners, the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* is the best way to earn VIPorter points. In fact, unless you're travelling really often, this co-branded credit card is actually the fastest way to accumulate VIPorter points thanks to its ability to earn points on all purchases, with accelerated rates on Porter, groceries, gas, dining, and local transportation.
The BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* comes with a $199 annual fee, currently waived for the first year, and it earns points at the following rates:
- Earn 3 VIPorter points per $1 spent on eligible Porter purchases.*
- Earn 2 VIPorter points per $1 spent on gas, groceries, dining, and local transportation.*
- Earn 1 VIPorter point per $1 spent on everything else.*
The card also carries a welcome offer worth up to 70,000 VIPorter points, plus a round-trip companion pass and a first-year annual fee rebate. The points land in three stages: 20,000 after $5,000 in purchases within 110 days of opening the account, 20,000 more after $9,000 within 180 days, and 30,000 after $18,000 within 365 days. Reaching that $9,000 mark also credits you $1,000 in Qualifying Spend, along with the round-trip companion pass. This offer is scheduled to run until October 31, 2026.*
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $199
- First year free
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome offer$1,050Annual fee rebated$199Total$1,249Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,249
- Welcome offer+ one round-trip companion passTo earn all Bonus Points: cumulative purchases of $5,000 within 110 days, $9,000 within 180 days and $18,000 within 365 days of account opening.
- Up to 70,000 points
on BMO's website
VIPorter World Elite perks
In addition to earning points at the above rates, the card also comes with the following perks:
- Automatic VIPorter Venture Avid Traveller status.*
- A round-trip companion pass for every membership year in which you spend $50,000 on the card.*
- One complimentary checked bag.*
- One complimentary carry-on bag on all Porter fare types.*
- Free PorterClassic seat selection.*
- Dedicated check-in, plus early boarding (for you and up to 8 travel companions).*
- Priority re-accommodation if your flight is delayed (for you and up to 8 travel companions).*
- Earn $1 of Qualifying Spend for every $25 spent.*
- Travel insurance coverage.*
- No expiry for your VIPorter points as long as you're a cardholder.*
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $89
- First year free
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome offer$600Annual fee rebated$89Total$689Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $689
- Welcome offerTo earn all Bonus Points: cumulative purchases of $3,000 within 110 days, $6,000 within 180 days and $10,000 within 365 days of account opening.
- Up to 40,000 points
- Ends Oct 31, 2027
on BMO's website
Redeeming VIPorter Points
Once you've got some VIPorter points saved up, you can redeem them for flights with Porter Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Air Transat, across Porter's growing network of destinations. More specifically, points can be redeemed to cover up to the full base fare cost, but they can't be used for taxes and fees, so you'll need to pay for these with cash.
VIPorter uses a dynamic pricing structure for their award flights, so the cost in points will typically go up as the cash price of the flight goes up. Similarly, you can expect prices to be higher during peak travel seasons and as travel dates get nearer.
Conveniently, though, if you don't have enough points for the full base fare, VIPorter will often let you redeem using a combination of dollars and points. This is a great way to save a bit on your flight, even if you only have a few thousand points available when booking.
Additionally, by booking a more premium fare like PorterReserve, you can also get perks like a roomier seat at the front of the plane, free checked bags, expedited airport experiences, and more. The program hands out PorterReserve certificates too: you receive one once you reach $3,000 in qualifying spend, then another for every additional $2,000 in the same calendar year.
Porter is constantly adding new destinations and routes, including lots of amazing locations for under 50,000 VIPorter points, so be sure to check back frequently to see what's new.
To learn the ins and outs of the VIPorter booking/redemption process, we recommend you check out our full guide on how to book flights with VIPorter points.
Example redemption
To give you a bit of an idea of what to expect in terms of redemption value for your VIPorter points, let's take a look at an example booking.
We value VIPorter points at around 1.5¢ each, so ideally, this is the value you get when you redeem them. That said, accessing this value is not always possible, and it can definitely still be worthwhile to redeem for less.
For example, you could book a round-trip between Montreal (YUL) and Halifax (YHZ) for 15,000 VIPorter points plus $252 in taxes and fees. Compare this to the cash fare of $400, and you're saving $148. This nets you a redemption value of 0.99¢ per point, which is below our valuation target of 1.5¢ per point, but still in range of what you can typically expect.
Where your VIPorter points go furthest
Look at that Montreal-Halifax booking one more time. Of the $400 cash fare, $252 was taxes and fees. VIPorter points apply to the base fare, so those 15,000 points were doing the work of $148 of base fare.
That is the lever worth knowing. Since points always go against the base fare, the higher the base fare, the more each point does for you.
- Peak dates and last-minute trips. The base fare climbs while taxes and fees barely move, so the same points balance covers far more of the ticket.
- Longer routes and sun destinations. More of the ticket price sits in the base fare, which is exactly the part your points can reach.
- Premium fares like PorterReserve. The upgrade lands in the base fare too, so points can take you to the front of the plane.
On a short domestic hop your points still bring the bill down, simply by a smaller share, since fixed charges make up more of a cheap ticket. Same 15,000 points, very different outcomes: a quick look at the fare breakdown before you book is the easiest way to make them go further.
VIPorter points expiry
VIPorter points are set to expire after 24 consecutive months of no account activity. This means that you need to earn or redeem VIPorter points at least once every 2 years to keep your account active and to keep your points from expiring.
As an alternative, your points will never expire as long as you hold either the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®* or the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* and keep it in good standing.
Avid Traveller Elite Status
Another important part of the VIPorter program that's worth knowing about is the Avid Traveller elite status tiers. By earning higher levels of elite status, you'll be able to earn VIPorter points faster, and you'll gain access to valuable perks and benefits related to Porter flights and experiences.
All new VIPorter members start their elite journey as a standard member. From this level, you're then able to move up into the four elite status tiers, which are: VIPorter Passport, VIPorter Venture, VIPorter Ascent, and VIPorter First.
Earning status
To earn Avid Traveller status, you need to meet the required spending thresholds for one of the four levels, and once you've done this, you'll immediately get to enjoy the related benefits. Additionally, you get to keep your elite status for the rest of the calendar year in which its earned and the full following calendar year. For example, if you achieve VIPorter Venture status on October 17, 2026, you can enjoy its associated perks until December 31, 2027.
Alternatively, you can also earn Avid Traveller elite status without ever spending on flights by holding one of the two co-branded VIPorter credit cards. This is because the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®* comes with automatic VIPorter Passport Avid Traveller status, and the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* comes with automatic VIPorter Venture status.
With VIPorter Passport status, you earn 6 points per $1 spent on Porter flights and expenses (instead of the standard 5 points per $1 spent), and you get a handful of helpful benefits like access to a priority call centre, a dedicated check-in line, priority security and boarding, and more.
At the next elite tier of VIPorter Venture, the benefits really start to save you money and make your trip considerably more comfortable. For example, as a VIPorter Venture member, you get your first checked bag for free, a complimentary carry-on, complimentary seat selection, and more!
We've written a complete guide to the Avid Traveller elite status program, so we won't cover every nuance of the status tiers; however, we definitely recommend that you check out this guide for a full list of the Avid Traveller perks and to learn how to earn status and maintain it year after year.
Bottom Line
The VIPorter loyalty program lets you access award flights across multiple continents, helping you save money on travel and while enjoying perks alongside an exceptional in-flight experience.
Whether you earn your points just from flying, or you earn faster with a co-branded credit card like the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*, the VIPorter program is worth exploring for any Canadian who is looking to travel more but without breaking the bank.
We hope this guide has covered what you need to know before you book your next flight, and that you can now start planning your next trip with confidence.
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And if you're weighing your options beyond Porter, see our roundup of the best travel credit cards in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you join VIPorter?
VIPorter is free to join, and you can easily do so by going to the Porter Airlines website and clicking Join VIPorter.
Do VIPorter points expire?
Your VIPorter points will not expire as long as you hold the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®* or the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*. If you don't have one of these co-branded cards, your points will expire after 24 months of no earning or redeeming account activity.
Are there VIPorter credit cards in Canada?
Yes, in Canada, there are two VIPorter credit cards: the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®* and the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*.
How much is a VIPorter point worth?
Milesopedia generally values a VIPorter point at around 1.5 cents. In practice the redemption value often comes in lower, around 0.99 cents per point in the example above, and it can climb past 1.5 cents depending on the route, the season, and how far ahead you're booking.
Can you use VIPorter points on other airlines?
Yes! You can redeem your VIPorter points for flights with Air Transat and Alaska Airlines in addition to Porter. These partnerships open up destinations across Europe, the Caribbean, and North America.
How do you earn Avid Traveller status?
You can earn Avid Traveller status by meeting the qualifying spend thresholds of $2,000 for VIPorter Passport, $3,000 for VIPorter Venture, $6,000 for VIPorter Ascent, and $10,000 for VIPorter First. Alternatively, the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®* comes with automatic VIPorter Passport status and the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®* comes with automatic VIPorter Venture status.
Which BMO VIPorter card should you choose?
With the BMO VIPorter Mastercard®*, you get automatic VIPorter Passport status, and you earn 2 points per $1 spent with Porter, and the welcome offer adds a 35% off flight voucher. Comparatively, with the BMO VIPorter World Elite®* Mastercard®*, you're automatically granted the higher VIPorter Venture status, and you earn 3 points per $1 spent with Porter, plus additional perks like an annual companion pass, a complimentary checked bag, free carry-on, and complimentary PorterClassic seat selection.*