Getting to PDX - would you consider San Francisco as gateway?
#31
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
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#32
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Petroleum
Posts: 268
If paying your own way to Portland, Alaska flights offer Avios but no tier points, this applies also when booked on an AA code
#33
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,196
It's worth mentioning that Alaska offers lounge access to its first class passengers, unlike other US-based airlines.
#34
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: BAEC Silver, Flying Blue Petroleum
Posts: 268
https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...ing-avios.html with no tier bonuses
#36
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: AA LT PLT (3.6+ MM), UA 1K LT Gold, Hilton LT Diamond, Bonvoy Gold.
Posts: 1,655
SFO can be a cluster when the weather goes grey (and surprise, surprise, that happens a fair amount of the time). First flights on the chopping block are the west coast commuters , think SFO <---> PDX, for instance. I live in PDX and fly to SFO at least once a month and I've grown to really hate connecting through SFO. I'd leave a minimum connection time of 4 hours through SFO. In all honesty, the best route I have found is either YVR or at a push SEA. It all depends on which airline alliance you favor. For me it's Star so AC into YVR and plenty of Q400's from YVR to PDX would be my preference. If coming from Europe ORD, IAD and EWR (Eww, I know, but sometimes it just works out that way) are all better options than SFO, IMHO.
Oh and forgot to add, there is a direct LHR-PDX on Delta that started in May....
Oh and forgot to add, there is a direct LHR-PDX on Delta that started in May....
#37
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco, where else?
Programs: EXP,EX-CK 2.5mm, now lifetime Platinum, ex-UA1K, Marriott- Platinum, Hertz 5*
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LGW to OAK, stay at one of the very inexpensive nearby airport hotels (e.g. Courtyard Marriott), then Southwest on up to PDX. Advantage is zero delays at OAK while big delays at SFO in the summer (fog), less expensive hotel options and the LGW OAK flight is running way under capacity so increased chance of empty seat next to you.
#38
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,600
A couple of weeks time, for two people SJC to PDX, it's $120 per person economy, and a cabin comes in $280 per person (though remember you'll might well get three meals included).
However, stretch that to November, for instance, and same trip is $152pp economy and $180 pp for a cabin.
As for lateness, I thought that the West/East train was more prone to that (due to rockies and freight trains blocking the way), having see my Reno to Emeryville train run 8 hours late (got a bus in the end). However, I suppose it's an accusation which is true:
Last months train delay into PDX, heading north
Shows that there was a 7 hour delay one day, a lot of 2-3 hours, and a lot of sub hour delays, with only a few days kind of on time. I suppose I'm ok with most of that (clearly the 7 hour one, no), because its on a train, and chilling out. I'd not be happy with a plane version of that.