West Chicago to Amsterdam flight pathDPAAMS

Sit on the right side of the plane

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Which side of the plane?

Pick the window seat with the view. 13,500 routes answered — landmarks, coastlines and cities, wing by wing.

Flight time7h 50m
Distance4,124
Heading045° → 121°
Best side
Right
★ 2.5 left·★ 3.0 right

The right side wins on both ends of the flight: Chicago and Lake Michigan during climb-out, and Amsterdam's cityscape plus the North Sea coast during the approach turn, while the cruise portion over Canada and the North Atlantic is similar on both sides.

Flown DPA to AMS? Did we get it right?

Flight Path

Flight path overview

West Chicago to Amsterdam is 4,124 miles (6,638 km), a flight of about 7 hours 50 minutes.

Labrador coast, Davis Strait, southern tip of the Greenland ice sheet, open North Atlantic

Great circle distance and headings ›

Phase by phase

Takeoff from DPA

RIGHT

Climbing out of DPA on a northeast heading toward the transatlantic track, the right side faces southeast and catches the Chicago skyline and the western shore of Lake Michigan sliding past below. The left side only shows flat DuPage County farmland and suburban grids.

Chicago downtown skylineLake Michigan shorelineFox River valley
DPA Du PageWest Chicago, United States
Aerial window seat view during landing at Amsterdam (right side) — Amsterdam canal ring, IJ waterway, North Sea coast and dunes near Zandvoort, Dutch polder fields

Landing at AMS

RIGHT

On approach to Schiphol's Zwanenburgbaan with a southbound landing, the aircraft banks right over the Amsterdam area before lining up on final, giving right-side passengers a view of the city's canal rings and the IJ waterway, followed by the North Sea coastline and dune-backed beaches near Zandvoort. The left side mainly shows flat, repetitive polder farmland.

Amsterdam canal ringIJ waterwayNorth Sea coast and dunes near ZandvoortDutch polder fields
AMS SchipholHub for KLM, Transavia

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About This Route

Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Du Page (DPA) to Schiphol (AMS)?

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from West Chicago to Amsterdam. The right side wins on both ends of the flight: Chicago and Lake Michigan during climb-out, and Amsterdam's cityscape plus the North Sea coast during the approach turn, while the cruise portion over Canada and the North Atlantic is similar on both sides.

What can I see during takeoff from Du Page in West Chicago?

During takeoff from Du Page (DPA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Climbing out of DPA on a northeast heading toward the transatlantic track, the right side faces southeast and catches the Chicago skyline and the western shore of Lake Michigan sliding past below. The left side only shows flat DuPage County farmland and suburban grids. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline, Lake Michigan shoreline, Fox River valley.

What can I see when landing at Schiphol in Amsterdam?

When landing at Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Right side for the best views. On approach to Schiphol's Zwanenburgbaan with a southbound landing, the aircraft banks right over the Amsterdam area before lining up on final, giving right-side passengers a view of the city's canal rings and the IJ waterway, followed by the North Sea coastline and dune-backed beaches near Zandvoort. The left side mainly shows flat, repetitive polder farmland. Notable sights include: Amsterdam canal ring, IJ waterway, North Sea coast and dunes near Zandvoort, Dutch polder fields.

How long is the flight from West Chicago to Amsterdam?

The flight from Du Page (DPA) to Schiphol (AMS) takes about 7 hours 50 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 4,124 miles (6,638 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

What does the West Chicago to Amsterdam flight path pass over?

Labrador coast, Davis Strait, southern tip of the Greenland ice sheet, open North Atlantic