I Flew 10 Airlines to Fly to Amsterdam and Ranked Them All (2026)

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I’ve been flying to Amsterdam from the US for years, and honestly, 2026 might be the best time to book that trip. Airlines are pouring money into new seats, adding more nonstop routes, and practically begging you to try their premium economy cabins. I’ve spent way too long comparing the best airlines to fly to Amsterdam so you don’t have to.

I’ve picked 10 for this guide. Some fly direct. Others route through Dubai, Doha, or Hong Kong, which sounds like a pain until you realize you’ve just turned one trip into two. Every entry has route details, cabin breakdowns, and the booking tips I’ve picked up from years of doing this!

Quick tip on how to find cheap flights to Amsterdam

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1. 🇳🇱 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

• 🏠 Base: Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
• ✈️ Best For: The most nonstop options from the US to Amsterdam
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Comfort, World Business Class
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Flying Blue (SkyTeam alliance)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag included in Economy; 2 in Business
• 🧠 Pro Tip: If you’re flying business class, book a 777 over a 787. KLM recently upgraded every 777 with brand new suites that have privacy doors and lie flat beds

KLM is the national airline of the Netherlands, and it’s the first airline I’d recommend for getting to Amsterdam. Nobody flies more US routes to Schiphol, with nonstops from 15 cities including New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, and Houston. San Diego joined the list in early 2026. You can also fly direct from smaller cities like Portland, Austin, and Las Vegas.

I’ve flown KLM to Amsterdam multiple times, and what keeps me coming back is how reliable the whole experience is. Every transatlantic flight includes a hot meal, personal screen, and complimentary drinks in economy, which is more than most US airlines give you. Business class got a massive upgrade recently with lie flat suites and privacy doors across the entire 777 fleet. If you want something in between, their Premium Comfort cabin gets you extra legroom and better food without the business class price tag.

KLM’s loyalty program, Flying Blue, is shared with Delta. If you already earn SkyMiles, you can use them on KLM flights to Amsterdam. Flying Blue also runs regular promos with discounted award tickets, which I’ve personally used to save hundreds on bookings. For most US travelers, KLM is the easiest and most reliable way to reach Amsterdam, and I’d pick them over any other airline on this list for a direct flight.

• Plan your trip: 12 Most Beautiful Places in Netherlands to Visit

2. 🇺🇸 Delta Air Lines

• 🏠 Base: Atlanta (ATL), New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis (MSP), Seattle (SEA), Salt Lake City (SLC)
• ✈️ Best For: The most US nonstop cities to Amsterdam of any American carrier
• 💺 Cabin Options: Main Cabin, Comfort+, Premium Select, Delta One
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: SkyMiles (SkyTeam alliance)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 1 free checked bag on transatlantic flights
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Not all Delta planes to Amsterdam have the good business class seats. Only the A350 and A330-900neo have Delta One Suites with closing doors, so check the aircraft type before you book

Delta flies nonstop to Amsterdam from more US cities than any other American airline. You’ve got year round service from JFK, Boston, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Tampa. Orlando runs seasonally too. If you live near any of those cities, you can be in Amsterdam without changing planes, which is a big deal if you hate connections as much as I do.

The thing about Delta is the experience can vary wildly depending on which plane you get. Their newer A350s and A330-900neos are fantastic. There’s lie flat beds with privacy doors, a new José Andrés menu, and free in-flight Wi-Fi rolling out globally in 2026,. But some Amsterdam flights still use older A330-300s or 767s where business class feels like a time capsule from 2009. Tampa just got upgraded to the A330-900neo in March 2026, which is a nice win. Always check the aircraft before you book.

The other reason Delta works so well for Amsterdam is their partnership with KLM. The two airlines run a joint venture, so you can mix and match flights on a single ticket. If there’s no direct Delta flight from your city, you can connect through a Delta hub and pick up a KLM flight onward. SkyMiles pricing to Europe can be unpredictable, but Delta regularly drops flash sales to Amsterdam. I’ve seen 97,000 SkyMiles each way for lie flat seats pop up recently.

• More aviation news: 15 Best Airlines to Fly to Europe from the US in 2026
• Flying from ATL? Read this: 8 Affordable Places to Fly From Atlanta

3. 🇺🇸 United Airlines

• 🏠 Base: Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), San Francisco (SFO), Washington Dulles (IAD)
• ✈️ Best For: Star Alliance flyers and travelers in United hub cities who want a nonstop option
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Economy Plus, Premium Plus, Polaris Business
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: MileagePlus (Star Alliance)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 1 free checked bag on transatlantic flights; 2 in Polaris
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Use United’s MileagePlus program to book partner flights on KLM’s parent Lufthansa or Swiss if United’s own schedule doesn’t work for your dates

United flies nonstop to Amsterdam from five US hubs: Newark, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles. That’s fewer cities than KLM or Delta, but if you’re near one of those airports, it’s a no fuss way to get there. Newark in particular runs multiple daily frequencies, which gives you more flexibility on timing.

The big news for 2026 is United’s Polaris business class getting a big upgrade. New 787-9 deliveries this year come with just 222 seats, including 64 Polaris suites with closing doors. That’s the most premium heavy layout of any US widebody, and it’s a massive jump from the current product. There’s also a new front row “Polaris Studio” with even more space and a caviar course. I haven’t flown the new seats yet, but everything I’ve seen suggests they’ll be competitive with the best in the world. The question is whether these new planes will end up on Amsterdam flights.

On the ground, United has Polaris lounges at Newark, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, and Dulles. These all have proper dining, showers, and a noticeably calmer vibe than the regular United Clubs. In economy, you get seatback screens, a hot meal, and free texting on every transatlantic flight. Wi-Fi is slowly rolling out via Starlink, though coverage on international routes is still patchy. If you collect Star Alliance miles through programs like Lufthansa or Singapore Airlines, those transfer nicely for booking United Polaris seats to Amsterdam.

• You may also like: Cheapest Places to Fly from Amsterdam This Year

4. 🇺🇸 JetBlue

• 🏠 Base: Boston (BOS), New York (JFK)
• ✈️ Best For: Boston travelers who want a nonstop with genuinely great business class
• 💺 Cabin Options: Core (economy), Mint Suites (business class)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: TrueBlue
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 1 free checked bag included with all transatlantic fares
• 🧠 Pro Tip: The two Mint Studio seats in row 1 are the widest business class beds you’ll find crossing the Atlantic. You can upgrade to one for $299 each way at booking

I’ll be honest, JetBlue wasn’t on my radar for transatlantic flying until I actually tried it. Now I recommend it to anyone flying out of Boston. They run year round nonstop service from Logan to Amsterdam on their Airbus A321LR, and the experience punches way above what you’d expect from an airline most people associate with domestic flights and free snacks. They dropped the JFK to Amsterdam route in late 2025, Logan is now the only US airport with a direct JetBlue flight to the Netherlands.

JetBlue’s Mint business class is the reason this airline made the list. Every seat is a private suite with a closing door in a 1-1 layout. JetBlue works with Delicious Hospitality Group, the people behind Charlie Bird and other respected NYC restaurants, and the rotating small plates menu is better than what I’ve eaten on legacy carriers charging double the fare. They also just opened the BlueHouse lounge at JFK in December 2025, with an 11,000 square foot Boston location coming to Terminal C in 2026. That’s been the missing piece for years.

JetBlue doesn’t have the route network of Delta or United, and their on time record has been shaky. But if you’re flying out of Logan, none of that matters much for a direct Amsterdam flight. Economy is good too, with free Wi-Fi, seatback screens, and more legroom than you’d get on most transatlantic flights. For Boston locals specifically, I’d take this over connecting through JFK or Newark on a bigger carrier almost every time.

• Read my guide: Amsterdam’s Coolest Spots (Experiences You Can’t Miss in Your 20s)

5. 🇦🇪 Emirates

• 🏠 Base: Dubai (DXB)
• ✈️ Best For: Turning a layover into a mini vacation with a Dubai stopover
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, First
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Emirates Skywards
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 2 checked bags in Economy; generous allowances in all cabins
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Emirates lets you add a Dubai stopover for free or at reduced hotel rates. If you’ve never been, even 48 hours in Dubai makes a long connection feel like a bonus trip

Emirates doesn’t fly direct from the US to Amsterdam. Every route goes through Dubai, which adds hours to your total travel time. I know that sounds like a dealbreaker, but a lot of people book Emirates specifically because of the Dubai connection. The airline runs nonstop flights from 12 US cities to Dubai, including Boston, New York JFK, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles. From Dubai, the Amsterdam leg is about six hours on an A380.

Flying Emirates feels different from any American or European carrier I’ve been on. The A380 is a double decker aircraft and Emirates operates more of them than anyone else in the world. Business class has a full bar lounge on the upper deck where you can grab a drink and stretch your legs mid flight. Emirates first class passengers get private suites and a shower at 40,000 feet, which is absurd in the best possible way. Premium economy is expanding fast in 2026, with Emirates adding the cabin to dozens of new routes as it retrofits its fleet throughout the year.

For a trip from the US to Amsterdam, you’re looking at roughly 20 hours of total travel depending on your connection time in Dubai. That’s a lot longer than the 7 or 8 hours you’d spend on a KLM or Delta nonstop. The tradeoff is an experience that feels more like a special occasion than a commute. If you’ve already done the direct flight a few times and want something different, or if you want to squeeze two destinations into one trip, Emirates is worth the detour.

• Read next: Gorgeous Places in the Middle East

6. 🇶🇦 Qatar Airways

• 🏠 Base: Doha Hamad International (DOH)
• ✈️ Best For: The world’s best business class seat on a connecting route through the Middle East
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Business (Qsuite), First (A380 routes only)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Privilege Club / Avios (Oneworld alliance)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 2 checked bags in Economy; 2 in Business (40kg each)
• 🧠 Pro Tip: The Amsterdam route uses the A350-1000, which guarantees Qsuite in business. Not every Qatar route can promise that, so this is one of the safer bets

If you’ve spent any time on travel forums, you already know Qatar Airways’ Qsuite. It’s the business class product other airlines have been copying since 2017, and nobody has matched it yet. Each seat is a fully enclosed suite with a closing door, lie flat bed, and enough room that you won’t brush elbows with anyone for six hours. Couples can even lower the center divider to create a double bed!

Qatar flies nonstop from 11 US cities to Doha, including JFK, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Washington. The Doha to Amsterdam flight runs about six hours on an A350-1000 with multiple daily frequencies. Total travel time from the East Coast is roughly 18 to 20 hours, so this isn’t the fastest path to Amsterdam. You’re choosing Qatar because the experience justifies the detour.

The Oneworld alliance membership matters for points collectors. American Airlines AAdvantage miles can book Qsuite seats at rates that represent ridiculous value compared to cash prices, and British Airways Avios work too. Qatar is also opening its first US lounge at JFK’s Terminal One in 2026. In Doha, the Al Mourjan lounge feels more like a boutique hotel than an airport. Their stopover program lets you book a four or five star hotel in Qatar for very little if your connection runs longer than 12 hours.

• Foodies, check this out: Amsterdam’s 20 Most Unique Restaurants (Yes, One Revolves)

7. 🇬🇧 British Airways

• 🏠 Base: London Heathrow (LHR)
• ✈️ Best For: Connecting through London from almost any US city, with tons of daily flights to Amsterdam
• 💺 Cabin Options: World Traveller (economy), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), Club World (business), First
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Executive Club / Avios (Oneworld alliance)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag in economy; 2 in business and first
• 🧠 Pro Tip: BA runs up to 14 daily flights from Heathrow to Amsterdam, so if you miss your connection or want to extend a London layover, rebooking is painless

British Airways doesn’t fly direct from the US to Amsterdam, but they arguably make the one stop connection easier than anyone else. BA serves over 25 American cities from Heathrow, including nine daily flights from JFK alone. The London to Amsterdam hop takes barely an hour. If you time it right, you can be through Terminal 5 and on your connecting flight before the jet lag even kicks in.

The big question with BA business class right now is whether you’ll get the new Club Suite or the old layout. On your transatlantic leg, most 777s and all A350s flying from Heathrow now have the updated 1-2-1 suites with closing doors. It’s a genuinely good seat. The short flight to Amsterdam will be on a narrow body, so don’t expect anything fancy for that part. What I’d recommend is using a London connection as an excuse to spend a night or two in the city before continuing to the Netherlands. BA’s Heathrow arrivals lounge has showers and breakfast, which makes an early morning layover much more bearable.

If you collect American Airlines AAdvantage miles, you can book BA flights with them. Avios also transfer from Chase, Amex, and Capital One, and short European flights like London to Amsterdam cost surprisingly few points. Free Starlink Wi-Fi is rolling out across the fleet in 2026, which I’m looking forward to. BA isn’t the most glamorous option on this list, but for flexibility and frequency, it’s hard to argue with.

8. 🇹🇷 Turkish Airlines

• 🏠 Base: Istanbul Airport (IST)
• ✈️ Best For: The best airline food you’ve ever had, ridiculous network reach, and business class fares that undercut the competition
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Business (no first class)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Miles & Smiles (Star Alliance)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 2 checked bags in Economy (23kg each); 2 in Business (32kg each)
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Try to route through Istanbul on a 787-9 or A350 for the newer 1-2-1 business class layout. The 777 is comfortable but uses an older 2-3-2 configuration with less privacy

Turkish Airlines flies to more countries than any other airline on the planet. With over 300 international destinations funneling through Istanbul, they’ve built the kind of hub that makes a one stop connection to Amsterdam feel effortless. The IST to AMS flight is about three and a half hours, and they run multiple departures daily using a mix of A350s, A330s, and 787s.

From the US side, you have 14 nonstop gateways to Istanbul, covering every major hub from JFK and LAX to newer additions like Denver and Detroit. That’s more US cities than Emirates or Qatar serve. The connection math works out to roughly 16 to 20 hours total depending on where you start, which puts Turkish in the same ballpark as the Gulf carriers but with one massive advantage: the food.

I’m not exaggerating when I say Turkish serves the best meals in commercial aviation. Their catering partner Do&Co prepares everything fresh. On long haul business class flights you get an onboard chef who will prepare dishes to order. The Istanbul lounge is equally absurd, with live cooking stations, a golf simulator, massage service, showers, and plenty of space.

Star Alliance membership means United MileagePlus miles work for booking. Award availability on Turkish tends to be much better than what you’ll find on competitors. If you care more about eating well and flying affordably than having a suite with a closing door, I highly recommend Turkish.

9. 🇩🇪 Lufthansa

• 🏠 Base: Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC)
• ✈️ Best For: Dual hub flexibility with Germany’s two biggest airports, both a short hop from Amsterdam
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, First (on select routes)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Miles & More (Star Alliance)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag in Economy (23kg); 2 in Business (32kg each)
• 🧠 Pro Tip: If you want the new Allegris cabin, book flights specifically on A350 routes out of Munich. Frankfurt is catching up, but Munich has had it longer and on more destinations

Lufthansa is in the middle of the most expensive cabin overhaul in European aviation history, and the timing works in your favor if you’re headed to Amsterdam in 2026. Their new Allegris product, rolling out on A350s, features five different business class seat types ranging from standard lie flat beds to fully enclosed suites with closing doors. The top end suites are genuinely world class.

The catch is that you need to know what you’re booking. Not every Lufthansa flight has the new cabin, and the airline charges extra to select the better seats within Allegris. If you end up on an older 747 or A330, you’ll get the previous generation product, which is significantly less impressive. Check the seat map before you book, and look for the 1-2-1 layout that confirms the new configuration.

From the US, Lufthansa serves roughly a dozen cities from Frankfurt and another half dozen from Munich, covering most major gateways. Frankfurt to Amsterdam takes about 70 minutes, Munich slightly longer at 95. Both hubs run frequent daily service to Schiphol.

The Star Alliance membership means United miles work for booking, and Lufthansa tends to release decent award availability on European connecting flights. First class exists on select long haul routes and the new Allegris version is stunning. For most travelers, targeting an Allegris business class privacy seat on the A350 is the sweet spot between cost and experience.

10. 🇭🇰 Cathay Pacific

• 🏠 Base: Hong Kong International (HKG)
• ✈️ Best For: Adding a Hong Kong stopover to your Amsterdam trip
• 💼 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business (Aria Suite on select 777s), First (limited)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Cathay / Asia Miles (Oneworld alliance)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag in Economy (23kg); 2 in Business (32kg each)
• 🧠 Pro Tip: The Amsterdam route flies an A350-1000 with seatback screens, Wi-Fi, and a solid premium economy cabin. If business class is on your radar, the new Aria Suite is only on select 777s from the US to Hong Kong, not the Amsterdam leg

Cathay Pacific doesn’t fly from the US to Amsterdam. Every routing goes through Hong Kong, which means two flights and a longer trip than anyone on a direct KLM or Delta service. I get that’s not for everyone. But if you’ve already visited Amsterdam a few times and want to build a bigger trip around it, connecting through Hong Kong is a brilliant excuse to spend a couple of days eating dim sum in Mong Kok before heading to Europe.

The Amsterdam leg is a daily A350-1000, about 12 hours from Hong Kong to Schiphol with 96% on-time reliability. Economy gets personal screens, a hot meal, and Wi-Fi. Premium economy is worth a look too, especially on a flight that long. You’ll enjoy a bigger seat, better food, and extra legroom without the business class price tag. Cathay serves seven US cities nonstop including New York, LA, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, and Seattle. The Hong Kong connection is easy from most parts of the country.

Because Cathay is Oneworld, American Airlines miles work for booking. That’s useful if you’ve already got a stash of AAdvantage points and want to stretch them on a two-destination trip. The airline is in the middle of a huge investment push, over 100 billion Hong Kong dollars going into new planes, lounges, and cabin upgrades through 2027. It’s a good time to fly them.

• Plan your layover: 12 Fun Things to Do in Hong Kong at Night in 2026