We flew Seattle to Calgary round-trip on Dash-8 Q400s. 14-day advanced purchase was approximately $150.

The Dash-8 Q400 is a surprisingly comfortable and quiet aircraft. I would recommend it over a CRJ-700. There is much more legroom, and noise is minimal (especially if you sit near the front).

At Seattle, the boarding area around gate C2 is often crowded, so you might want to head up to gate C4 or C6 to wait (just pay attention to the flight monitors). Also, you'll find complimentary Starbucks coffee available at gate C4 until around noon.

In-flight service was great, considering the short duration of the flights. Chardonnay or ale was served on the house both ways, and the quality was surprisingly good. Talking Rain sparkling water and Tazo tea were also available in addition to the normal range of beverages. Light snacks, such as potato chips or breadsticks were offered.

Both flights arrived on-time, and baggage arrived without incident.

Horizon is also one of the safest carriers out there. They maintain a thoroughly modern fleet (their oldest aircraft were manufactured in 1997, and the CRJ-700s and Q400s are only 1-2 years old). Horizon currently operates about 500 flights a day, and has been flying for 22 years without a fatal accident.