On the earlier post about getting from BWI to downtown DC -- MARC is the local commuter train and the way to go (caters to an upscale DC commuter crowd). I guess at hours when Marc service is less regular you might take Amtrak - but never thought of it when I lived there. (though a lot of times the last ticket check on the NE Corridor trains is between Baltimore and BWI, so it could be a free ride).

When I lived in Bethesda, MD (basically in between all three airports), I always flew out of DCA if possible. So much easier to get in and out of. But I would go to IAD for cross-country direct flights or BWI for southwest (jet service to places others fly regionals). So if I was in your shoes in reverse, I would take the United IAD-PDX non-stop. But I also had a car.

The direct flight would still be my suggestion. When I did not want to park at Dulles, I had a driver who would meet me in a private car -- pick me up just like a family member on the middle arrivals level - and take me to Bethesda for about $25. I would think you could find someone for $35 a ride -just ask your first couple taxi drivers in DC. To me, the direct flight is worth the extra cost and 45 minutes of getting in from Dulles to avoid the potential hassles of connecting.

Otherwise, I would be torn between HP and AA. The America West suggestion is a good one. Alaska now has a direct SEA-DCA service, but it is limited like the LAX-DCA service. I think they have two flights per day instead of just one here, but one of those is really early - probably too early to connect to from PDX. So if you miss the Alaska flight, you are out of luck. America West has more flights to Phoenix, so you will always get home.

But the downside of HP is having all those miles earned on HP instead of another airline. Sure, they have NW and BA as partners, but those awards take more miles than a home airline award. It is sort of like the Southwest awards I earn -- a free ticket on SW means I have to fly SW -- and I feel like I have to max the free ticket out. But the last thing I want to do is fly cross-country on SW - that is what I have status on these other airlines for -- upgrading on long flights. HP may be the best airline for your travel, but the last thing you will want to do is take America West for award travel.

All the other options (AA, UA, NW) connect through hubs like Chicago with many winter and summer weather problems. But if connecting so you can fly into DCA, I might be tempted to go AA so that all the miles I earn can have more value and would be easier to use for International award travel.