About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) to Schiphol (AMS)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Atlanta to Amsterdam. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. During the transatlantic cruise at 35,000 feet over the North Atlantic, neither side offers dramatically more, but the left side tracks slightly closer to the southern Greenland ice cap and Iceland's volcanic terrain on the great circle route, giving occasional glimpses of glaciated coastline on clear days.
What can I see during takeoff from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International in Atlanta?
During takeoff from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL), sit on the Left side for the best views. ATL primarily departs northward on runways 8L/8R or southward on 26L/26R, but the dominant departure toward Europe sends aircraft northeast. A left seat gives you the Atlanta skyline and Stone Mountain to the northeast as you climb out, while the right side faces suburban sprawl. Stone Mountain's granite dome is unmistakable from altitude. Notable sights include: Atlanta downtown skyline, Stone Mountain granite dome to the northeast, Lake Lanier reservoir to the north, Chattahoochee River valley.
What can I see when landing at Schiphol in Amsterdam?
When landing at Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Schiphol's primary arrival runways from the west and southwest (Polderbaan 36L or Aalsmeerbaan 18R approaches) bring aircraft in over the Dutch polder landscape. The left side gives a clear view of Amsterdam's canal ring, the IJ waterway, and the North Sea coast as you descend, while the right side faces flat agricultural polder with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Amsterdam canal ring and historic center, IJ waterway and Amsterdam harbor, North Sea coastline and beach barrier, Westpoort industrial port district.
How long is the flight from Atlanta to Amsterdam?
The flight from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) to Schiphol (AMS) takes Approximately 9 hours 30 minutes to 10 hours.
What does the Atlanta to Amsterdam flight path pass over?
The great circle route from ATL to AMS crosses the US Eastern Seaboard near the Carolinas, then the North Atlantic, passing south of Newfoundland and the Grand Banks, arcing toward the southern tip of Greenland where the ice sheet edge may be visible on clear days, then tracking over Ireland and the UK before descending into the Netherlands. Mid-ocean offers only open Atlantic, occasionally broken cloud decks and, rarely, icebergs near the Labrador Sea.