Flying isn't the only way to get across the pond. Take a boat. I want to. I've flown across (sucked - military transport on a Ryan charter), I've crossed from Scotland to Connecticut and back on a submarine (better because I had my own bunk but still had to greeny the deck), so the only way I haven't crossed is on the surface. Queen Mary 2 looks like a nice boat. And even in steerage (I guess since the Cunard web site fares page is broken at the moment) it's only $1300 from New York to Southampton. QE2 is still a goer and she's a hundred bucks cheaper.

Of course you still have to get back but going west is easier than going east. Flying still sucks though.