Trains, Planes and an Automobile.

The title translates into "Mamma is coming to visit" which translates to "we have booked our tickets" for the trip home in November.

I did not realise booking air tickets was as complex as a ticket to ride the UK trains. For sure I have become accustomed to the idiotic pricing, having travelled from afar over the years to visit family leaving the boat in a marina. As an example, a 2 hour journey south from Stafford is £19 ($29) with the option to return anytime within 28 days. The same destination but from Rugby (a one hour journey) is £25 ($37). I spend less time on the train and get charged more!!!

Anyway, back to number 2 in the post title: those metal birds flying high above the Atlantic. Thinking about it, they are like narrow boats filled with seats and wings attached.
 Now having flown the Atlantic several times in my pursuit of true love, the idiosyncrosies of flight booking have become easier. Jaq has a bias on flying American carriers.  Her country`s desire to police the world makes her feel vulnerable.

 So with Jaq`s wishes in mind I have managed to book British Airways flights across the Atlantic without having to book direct with BA.  Air France and KLM are other choices, but usually involve going via Paris or Amsterdam. I managed-- by varying time and date of departure in my flight searches--to find flights that although state an American airline are on closer inspection operated by BA, but not at BA prices.

We have 4 airplane journeys £764 ($1146) total per person.  More than 50% is tax and airport fees!
1.  London ----Portland(Oregon)
2.  Seattle------Spokane
3.  Spokane----Seattle
4.  Seattle------London
British Airways wanted £716 ($1074) just for journey 1 and 4 and this was NOT direct to Seattle with a hitch on Alaska Airlines to Portland. It was on an American carrier and went via Dallas with a long layover. Also they wanted £724 ($1085) for part of 1 and all of 4, i.e. a London-Seattle return.  For some reason they couldn`t quote for 2 and 3 operated by Alaska Air at £119 ($178) booked direct. So to book via BA then, with Alaska brings the price to £835 ($1242) or even more if........enough--I`m getting confused.
My point is, don`t take what you first get quoted.
 Also the BA air miles scheme has been changed and is now Avios points. To try and use our Avios points to upgrade means we need to almost buy the plane to get enough points. Dad always said you get nowt for free. Maybe we can use the points for car hire; must check that on the website.

All the four trips are on different days with train rides or car hire between  trips. So back to the train part of the post title and the 2 Amtrak trips which are for fun. We thought this would make a nice break from hiring a car. The first one is from Portland to Tacoma $26 (£17), 2hrs 15mins  and the second Tacoma to Edmonds, Seattle $14 (£9) 1hr 28mins. See how the fare/time on train ratio is more sensible compared to my UK example.

Number 3 in the post title is the car, and for a 14 day hire via Budget USA, £264 ($390) is just slightly cheaper than Budget in the UK. A Ford focus is the car in the quote that we might book. I did have reservations about any excess on the insurance. It says it comes with (CDW) collision damage waiver; I`m told this means no excess to pay if I happen to either scrape it or get into an accident. Any U.S. readers with some knowledge of this please let me know. 

I do hope this post is not to confusing but Jaq and I just want her friends and family to know we will be home in November and to show the price variations here and in the U.S.