Cheapest way to get from US to Amsterdam?
January 31, 2011 1:37 PM Subscribe
What's the absolute cheapest way to get from anywhere in the US to Amsterdam? I am in Columbus Ohio, am cash strapped but have time to spare. The cheapest I've found is $420 from JFK to Amsterdam, can this price be beat? Thanks everyone.
Response by poster: This spring or summer, timing is not important.
To Burhanistan, yes, $420 on Icelandic, but I've heard of seats going for just over $200.
posted by Benzle at 1:51 PM on January 31, 2011
To Burhanistan, yes, $420 on Icelandic, but I've heard of seats going for just over $200.
posted by Benzle at 1:51 PM on January 31, 2011
In general, though: Look into flights through Paris and Brussels which have been cheaper lately. Check Iceland Air. If it's for summer check Iceland Express. $420 is pretty good these days. It will be difficult to beat without ending up spending more than the difference on trains and meals taking a longer route.
posted by Nothing at 1:52 PM on January 31, 2011
posted by Nothing at 1:52 PM on January 31, 2011
If you're a student or recently graduated, take a look at the discounted flights on Student Universe. I looked briefly at flights between NYC and Amsterdam just now and there were some (round trip) at ~$350.
posted by bubukaba at 1:57 PM on January 31, 2011
posted by bubukaba at 1:57 PM on January 31, 2011
That's a great price - you should jump on that before it goes up.
I would cross summer off your list. Prices will double (or even triple) in June, July, and August.
I have absolutely never heard of $200 round trip airfares from an inland US city to anywhere in northern Europe. Whoever told you that was possible was making it up. I remember 8-10 years ago, when airfares were crazy cheap, sometimes seeing specials from New York to London in that range during the bleak winter months when few vacationers travel to Europe. But Ohio to Amsterdam in summer for that price? No. Not in a million years. Not in your wildest dreams. $200 won't even cover the taxes.
posted by Sara C. at 1:59 PM on January 31, 2011
I would cross summer off your list. Prices will double (or even triple) in June, July, and August.
I have absolutely never heard of $200 round trip airfares from an inland US city to anywhere in northern Europe. Whoever told you that was possible was making it up. I remember 8-10 years ago, when airfares were crazy cheap, sometimes seeing specials from New York to London in that range during the bleak winter months when few vacationers travel to Europe. But Ohio to Amsterdam in summer for that price? No. Not in a million years. Not in your wildest dreams. $200 won't even cover the taxes.
posted by Sara C. at 1:59 PM on January 31, 2011
Looks like SpanAir is running some very cheap specials to Geneva and Venice for under $350. A low-cost-carrier or a booked in advance train could get you to Amsterdam for less than $420.
Anyone advertising round trip for $200 is probably not including taxes, which are nearly $100 on this flight.
posted by smackfu at 2:01 PM on January 31, 2011
Anyone advertising round trip for $200 is probably not including taxes, which are nearly $100 on this flight.
posted by smackfu at 2:01 PM on January 31, 2011
Response by poster: To, The World Famous,
Yes, that is what I am expecting
posted by Benzle at 2:02 PM on January 31, 2011
Yes, that is what I am expecting
posted by Benzle at 2:02 PM on January 31, 2011
Response by poster: Found D.C. to Amsterdam, $320 is the new price to beat.
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posted by Benzle at 2:05 PM on January 31, 2011
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posted by Benzle at 2:05 PM on January 31, 2011
Looks like SpanAir is running some very cheap specials to Geneva and Venice for under $350.
I've been trying to book one of those Venice flights and having trouble making it work out - Kayak seems to have some sort of glitch in its system, because when it sends you to the Spanair website (which is very poorly translated into English), it quotes $700+.
posted by Sara C. at 2:32 PM on January 31, 2011
I've been trying to book one of those Venice flights and having trouble making it work out - Kayak seems to have some sort of glitch in its system, because when it sends you to the Spanair website (which is very poorly translated into English), it quotes $700+.
posted by Sara C. at 2:32 PM on January 31, 2011
Found D.C. to Amsterdam, $320 is the new price to beat.
How will you get from Columbus to DC? I can't imagine it would cost less than $100 rt. $420 from where you actually live to where you actually want to go is probably your best bet.
(I say all this because I'm in almost exactly your predicament - trying to get from New York to any major Italian city as cheaply as possible sometime this spring.)
posted by Sara C. at 2:34 PM on January 31, 2011
How will you get from Columbus to DC? I can't imagine it would cost less than $100 rt. $420 from where you actually live to where you actually want to go is probably your best bet.
(I say all this because I'm in almost exactly your predicament - trying to get from New York to any major Italian city as cheaply as possible sometime this spring.)
posted by Sara C. at 2:34 PM on January 31, 2011
Just as an observation, because your question suggests you are not -- don't forget to factor in the cost of getting from Columbus to the city from which your flight originates (and the reverse when you return, assuming we're talking round trip).
posted by J. Wilson at 3:02 PM on January 31, 2011
posted by J. Wilson at 3:02 PM on January 31, 2011
Once you establish a target and hone in on low-demand days, you could also try bidding through Priceline.com's "Name Your Own Price" option. You might get lucky with a Columbus ticket or be able to choose a more convenient city than NYC or DC.
posted by carmicha at 3:56 PM on January 31, 2011
posted by carmicha at 3:56 PM on January 31, 2011
The second time I ever went to the US was London to Orlando so I could go to Gainesville. I flew for £320 which was probably just over $500 at the time and remember that was the cheapest I could find. Around the same time lots of smaller airlines were going bust and I remember being terrified that my flight would be canceled. If you are booking a really cheap flight, just bare in mind that if it's not a hugely reputable company, there is a slim-ish chance they might not be around in six months.
posted by stackhaus23 at 4:07 PM on January 31, 2011
posted by stackhaus23 at 4:07 PM on January 31, 2011
Keep an eye on the Mileage Run Deals forum on FlyerTalk, as they are very good at ferreting out mistake fares and other good airfare deals.
Also, if you really have time to spare, learn how to use the ITA Matrix tool, start reading this thread on FT and learn how to start eliminating that YQ surcharge (read: fuel surcharge). For some airlines the savings can be tremendous.
posted by armage at 8:26 PM on January 31, 2011 [2 favorites]
Also, if you really have time to spare, learn how to use the ITA Matrix tool, start reading this thread on FT and learn how to start eliminating that YQ surcharge (read: fuel surcharge). For some airlines the savings can be tremendous.
posted by armage at 8:26 PM on January 31, 2011 [2 favorites]
Possibly making it more complicated than necessary: find a cheapish flight to somewhere else in Europe, then take RyanAir or EasyJet. Note that AMS isn't the only airport in The Netherlands. RyanAir flies into Eindhoven, which is a 17 Euro train trip away from downtown A'dam.
posted by knile at 11:10 PM on January 31, 2011
posted by knile at 11:10 PM on January 31, 2011
I've been trying to book one of those Venice flights and having trouble making it work out
I was only able to get the Geneva ones that are listed on Orbitz work.
posted by smackfu at 5:40 AM on February 1, 2011
I was only able to get the Geneva ones that are listed on Orbitz work.
posted by smackfu at 5:40 AM on February 1, 2011
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posted by Nothing at 1:45 PM on January 31, 2011