Neither Portland nor Seattle are actually mountain cities. They're both surrounded by mountains, but the cities themselves both have relatively low elevations. Portland's highest point is over 1000 feet, but most of the city is only slightly above sea level.
Downtown Portland ranges only 20 to 50 feet above sea level. Altitude sickness occurs at elevations much higher than 1500 feet (perhaps you're thinking of 1500 meters?) Airplanes are not pressurized to the atmospheric pressure at sea level. Aircraft are pressurized to about the atmospheric pressure of 6000 feet to 8000 feet, which is much higher than most U.S. cities.
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