Making a trip out of it
Will it be a road trip, camping trip, or tromp around a West Coast city? Heck, even a stop off in NYC is doable. And we see you Vegas lovers—why not?! We love that many of you are making a bigger trip out of the wedding. If you need help plotting your adventure, the Wilsons are ready with ideas—just give us a shout. All this is to say, the kind of trip you want will determine the flights you book and where to stay. Dream on baby!
All flights lead to Portland, Oregon (eventually)
There is one direct flight from London to Portland, currently operated by British Airways. It flies from London Heathrow (LHR) to Portland International Airport (PDX). You’ll see their route listed by multiple airlines, including American Airlines and Iberia. We recommend booking directly with British Airways where possible.
But you don’t have to fly direct. Most often, the affordable option is via a hub that connects you to a domestic PDX flight. You could book a round trip to almost anywhere in America, and then a regional flight to Portland. We’ve flown into Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Salt Lake City to name a few.
There are many different airlines to choose from. We recommend British Airways, Norwegian and Virgin Atlantic, but we’ve also used Delta. Last year we flew Icelandair from London to Reykjavik and then onto Portland.
Booking your flights
Booking long-haul flights can be a daunting process. There are countless airlines offering different fares, with fares changing daily. We’ve compiled some top tips to aid you in your booking quest.
Nick and Marah’s top tips for booking flights
- If you can, only take a carry on. It will be much cheaper than checking luggage in the hold, and you’ll feel so free and light!
- Fly mid-week to mid-week. Flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday is normally cheaper than flying on a Friday or Saturday.
- Prices change frequently. We generally find it cheaper to purchase tickets during the week than at weekends, when demand is lower.
- Use Skyscanner first to get a feel for the variety of fares and airlines. Check fares by month rather than by day, as this will give you a better view of how fares vary.
- When you’re ready to book, book directly through an airline. Be wary of third parties—companies that operate as ‘go betweens’.
- Where possible, use a credit card to book your flights. This will provide additional protection—protection that you don’t get with a debit card.
- Don’t let air miles go to waste. Sign up for a mileage programme before booking your flights.
Recent searches
We check the travel routes daily over our morning coffee. Here are three affordable options:
- Direct flight from LHR to PDX with British Airways is ~ £730.
- Round trip international flight via San Fransisco is under £400. Stay a few days and then take a round trip domestic flight to Portland for £150.
- Round trip international flight via Seattle is under £500. Stay a few nights and then hop on the Amtrak train to Downtown Portland. A return ticket by train costs £36.