A lot depends on how you value time vs $. I would take a hard look at One World and AA - where you could fly to Chicago, and via Chicago on AA metal to a number of cities in Europe to connect to a OW airline (BA for example) to Amsterdam. Aadvantage to this...AA allows upgrades from any fare, and I believe with their new configuration across the atlantic, they will have more, not less award seats in J available. Read the AA board - you'll see a largely happy group. Good luck - spent 4 years working in AMS -

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Askworldtraveler, EXP,4 million AA miles+++Hilton Gold (thanks to EXP)