TL;DR: things went pretty badly at PDX.

TSA PreCheck didn't print on my boarding pass. Ticketing agents couldn't help me, saying I'd have to speak to TSA or Global Entry. They did say there's only an 85% chance of getting it on any given flight and that the status should propagate immediately, so perhaps I was just unlucky. Seems more like a system issue to me though.

Arrived at PDX at 04:55 on the MAX. Was directed towards a dead-end to begin with, then towards the very long general security queue. It took 30 minutes to reach the ID checkpoint - only about half the checkpoints and security lanes were open.

Right before reaching the checkpoint, I saw that there's an express lane for status holders that avoided the entire queue. There was no clear signage to indicate this at the beginning of the queue - every other airport I've been through with an express/fast track lane has made this very clear.

I wasn't expecting anything since fast track wasn't listed as available on the OneWorld lounge finder site, and despite showing my boarding pass to the TSA lady at the beginning of the queue (with OWE shown) I was directed to the general queue.

I got through security at 05:35 and made a run for it. Just my luck that it was C18, which is about the furthest gate from security! Fortunately boarding hadn't closed yet when I reached the gate at about 05:38, but I was one of the last 4 to board. It was very quiet down the back, so I was able to get a row to myself.

Obviously no time for the PDX lounge, and also no service on the flight up to SEA, which is poor when compared with the snacks in economy and full cooked breakfasts in business I've had on similar length 30-minute BA flights between LHR and MAN/JER. But it's the service standard so I suppose they are living up to the low expectations they set.

Fortunately at SEA it was a connection within the N gates satellite, so I had time to get some breakfast in the lovely AS lounge there. Top marks for that, just a shame I didn't have more time - my connection was 43 minutes, so despite arriving in 5 minutes early I only had about 15 minutes in the lounge. Indeed I was also one of the last to board my BZN flight at T-32.

One gesture I did appreciate was the OW recognition onboard the flight - I was also given a rather nice salted dark chocolate. The cabin crew were also all very friendly and personable, in contrast to the rather clinical approach of most European cabin crew I've come across.

Oh well, horses for courses as we say in the UK... the main thing is I made it to Yellowstone, which is even more beautiful than I'd imagined it to be!