What would be a fair airfare for SNA/SEA/PDX/SNA?

[Cathyb]

Tuggers -- need your help. Trip is in August -- going from Santa Ana, CA to Seattle -- then have a break where we take a 4 day stop to Victoria by ferry and return same way to Seattle.

We then fly out of Seattle to Portland, stay 5 nights and then fly home to Santa Ana.

Right now it looks like $450pp, tax included for a non-stop -- which we need for medical reasons. Is this a reasonable fare or should we wait to purchase tickets? What is a 'good deal' on a flight like this?

I am signed with the Kayak, etc. for alerts. Thank you for any tips.

 

[Rose Pink]

It's less expensive to take Amtrak from Seattle to Portland than to fly. The train is far more pleasant as well. The seats are much larger with ample leg room. I sat in the observation car most of the trip and enjoyed listening to the National Park volunteers give commentary on the scenery as we passed by. I don't know how soon the route is going to be changed but they indicated the route we took was going to be changing. We went right along the water for a portion of the trip. It was very nice. You don't get that on a cramped plane.

Try contacted Amtrak to see what your options are. I'm glad I made this trip.

 

[Cathyb]

Rose Pink

It's less expensive to take Amtrak from Seattle to Portland than to fly. The train is far more pleasant as well. The seats are much larger with ample leg room. I sat in the observation car most of the trip and enjoyed listening to the National Park volunteers give commentary on the scenery as we passed by. I don't know how soon the route is going to be changed but they indicated the route we took was going to be changing. We went right along the water for a portion of the trip. It was very nice. You don't get that on a cramped plane.

Try contacted Amtrak to see what your options are. I'm glad I made this trip.

How long does it take from Seattle to Portland? We currently have plans to have family pick us up at Portland airport -- is the train depot far from the airport? Thank you for the option suggestion.

 

[Rose Pink]

How long does it take from Seattle to Portland? We currently have plans to have family pick us up at Portland airport -- is the train depot far from the airport? Thank you for the option suggestion.

It took about 3 hours to go from Seattle to Vancouver, WA. It would take only a little longer to go to Portland as it is just across the river from Vancouver. I don't know where the Portland Amtrak station is in relation to the airport. Amtrak has all of that info on their website. You could check schedules on their site as well. I went on the Starlight Express (or something similar to that name). I'm not sure if all the trains have the same NP commentary that I heard. I just know it was far more pleasant than the hassle of an airport and the cramped plane seats. If I could, I'd take the train more often. However, it doesn't go to where I want to go most of the time.

Also, my train tix cost $30 and the airfare was in the hundreds depending on which airline.

Not sure where your ferry comes into Seattle, but the train station is going to be closer to the ferry terminal than to the airport. I just got back from Bremerton, WA. I had a one-hour ferry ride from Bremerton to Seattle, then a brisk 15 minute walk up a steep hill, with my luggage, to the communter rail and then another half-hour to the airport. Once at the airport, it was another long walk through the airport parking to get inside the terminal. It only cost $2.75 for LINK. A taxi would have been easier but more expensive.

The Amtrak station is not far from the LINK light rail station (Pioneer Park station). Don't get them confused. You want Amtrak, not the Seattle LINK. (Unless you are going to fly from Seattle to Portland, then you'll want the LINK or a bus, not Amtrak.)