Question: Suggestions for AE award routing YYZ AMS
Oct 23, 2011, 9:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Mississauga, ON Canada
Programs: AC, AA, Marriott Rewards, Tim Hortons
Posts: 244
Suggestions for AE award routing YYZ AMS
We are celebrating a significant anniversary next year and are heading to AMS for an equestrian event. My wife has been to Great Britain and Ireland, but never to the continent. I’ll be springing for biz class awards (which she helped accumulate via CC usage!), so I’m looking for suggestions to help maximize the experience for her.
We are also open to suggestions as to which *A carrier we should try on the transatlantic legs, as well as for the European legs. And, following that, which European city we should enjoy in addition to AMS. We are thinking of staying in northern Europe (Germany, Austria, Belgium, etc. in addition to the Netherlands), but open to all suggestions. We are happy to take the train between a couple of cities to expand the mix to three destinations over the two-week trip.
In a perfect world I will also be redeeming some *Wood points for a few nights here and there, including AMS. We are adventurous, but don’t need to live on the edge every day; walking tours are what we usually enjoy. We enjoy good food and drink, but can be happy with local ‘comfort food’ and do not need 3* meals every day. Museums are nice, but so is wandering the streets and watching people.
So, who has the best J product for crossing the Atlantic? Best beds? Or should we try for a daylight flight in both directions? Who has an arrivals lounge on the continent? Do any particular *A carriers shine for the intra-European legs? Are there any airports and/or departure lounges that just ‘have’ to be seen?
Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.
We are also open to suggestions as to which *A carrier we should try on the transatlantic legs, as well as for the European legs. And, following that, which European city we should enjoy in addition to AMS. We are thinking of staying in northern Europe (Germany, Austria, Belgium, etc. in addition to the Netherlands), but open to all suggestions. We are happy to take the train between a couple of cities to expand the mix to three destinations over the two-week trip.
In a perfect world I will also be redeeming some *Wood points for a few nights here and there, including AMS. We are adventurous, but don’t need to live on the edge every day; walking tours are what we usually enjoy. We enjoy good food and drink, but can be happy with local ‘comfort food’ and do not need 3* meals every day. Museums are nice, but so is wandering the streets and watching people.
So, who has the best J product for crossing the Atlantic? Best beds? Or should we try for a daylight flight in both directions? Who has an arrivals lounge on the continent? Do any particular *A carriers shine for the intra-European legs? Are there any airports and/or departure lounges that just ‘have’ to be seen?
Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.
Oct 23, 2011, 9:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 2,409
The cheapest and best experience would be YYZ-YUL-ZRH-AMS on Swiss
The most direct would be YYZ-ORD/IAD-AMS on United, or YYZ-FRA/MUC-AMS on Lufthansa
If you flew Air Canada across the ocean, be ready to spend hundreds of dollars extra per ticket in fuel surcharges.
The most direct would be YYZ-ORD/IAD-AMS on United, or YYZ-FRA/MUC-AMS on Lufthansa
If you flew Air Canada across the ocean, be ready to spend hundreds of dollars extra per ticket in fuel surcharges.
Oct 23, 2011, 9:54 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI
Programs: UA 1K, MR Titanium, IHG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 3,841
I'd suggest doing a routing on LX (whether through YUL or ORD) to AMS and take a stopover in ZRH. You'd be able to see a bit of Switzerland for "free" and then make your way to AMS.
Oct 23, 2011, 10:14 pm
#4
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Agree LX is the way to go if you can get a pair of award seats, very difficult. LH is a passable alternative, but C seats are not the greatest. If you're willing to go via the US, then SK is another alternative via CPH, as would be Spannair via MAD or BCN. I suggest CO rather than UA metal if you're considering that option since UA's new C seats are pretty miserable. Of course, you know to avoid AC at all costs, though may require it to get to YUL or EWR or another US gateway.
Oct 23, 2011, 10:30 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI
Programs: UA 1K, MR Titanium, IHG Gold, National Exec
Posts: 3,841
I actually like SK and CPH, but beware that they're not fully flat in C, as with LH. I think CPH is Europe's greatest little "secret", it's obviously way less hectic as the majors like LHR and FRA but it really stands out among the mid-sized hubs like ZRH or VIE too. Plus the city itself is wonderful, one of my favourites in Europe.
AC option
Oct 24, 2011, 6:48 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: All Accor Plat, 1865 Voyager, AE E35K, HH Gold,Hyatt, Hrtz Gold, Marriott Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 1,669
We are celebrating a significant anniversary next year and are heading to AMS for an equestrian event. My wife has been to Great Britain and Ireland, but never to the continent. I’ll be springing for biz class awards (which she helped accumulate via CC usage!), so I’m looking for suggestions to help maximize the experience for her.
We are also open to suggestions as to which *A carrier we should try on the transatlantic legs, as well as for the European legs. And, following that, which European city we should enjoy in addition to AMS. We are thinking of staying in northern Europe (Germany, Austria, Belgium, etc. in addition to the Netherlands), but open to all suggestions. We are happy to take the train between a couple of cities to expand the mix to three destinations over the two-week trip.
In a perfect world I will also be redeeming some *Wood points for a few nights here and there, including AMS. We are adventurous, but don’t need to live on the edge every day; walking tours are what we usually enjoy. We enjoy good food and drink, but can be happy with local ‘comfort food’ and do not need 3* meals every day. Museums are nice, but so is wandering the streets and watching people.
So, who has the best J product for crossing the Atlantic? Best beds? Or should we try for a daylight flight in both directions? Who has an arrivals lounge on the continent? Do any particular *A carriers shine for the intra-European legs? Are there any airports and/or departure lounges that just ‘have’ to be seen?
Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.
We are also open to suggestions as to which *A carrier we should try on the transatlantic legs, as well as for the European legs. And, following that, which European city we should enjoy in addition to AMS. We are thinking of staying in northern Europe (Germany, Austria, Belgium, etc. in addition to the Netherlands), but open to all suggestions. We are happy to take the train between a couple of cities to expand the mix to three destinations over the two-week trip.
In a perfect world I will also be redeeming some *Wood points for a few nights here and there, including AMS. We are adventurous, but don’t need to live on the edge every day; walking tours are what we usually enjoy. We enjoy good food and drink, but can be happy with local ‘comfort food’ and do not need 3* meals every day. Museums are nice, but so is wandering the streets and watching people.
So, who has the best J product for crossing the Atlantic? Best beds? Or should we try for a daylight flight in both directions? Who has an arrivals lounge on the continent? Do any particular *A carriers shine for the intra-European legs? Are there any airports and/or departure lounges that just ‘have’ to be seen?
Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.
Last edited by allbrosca; Oct 25, 2011 at 10:35 pm
Oct 24, 2011, 10:28 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 583
Oct 24, 2011, 10:46 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,803
(Mind, you, I don't believe there are Star flights from AMS to LHR anymore so the point is more or less moot.)
Oct 24, 2011, 11:30 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: All Accor Plat, 1865 Voyager, AE E35K, HH Gold,Hyatt, Hrtz Gold, Marriott Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 1,669
At the Pulitzer we were able to upgrade to an "executive room" for (I think) an additional 1500 points or so a night.
Oct 25, 2011, 3:11 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Mississauga, ON Canada
Programs: AC, AA, Marriott Rewards, Tim Hortons
Posts: 244
Many thanks for comments and suggestions; currently exploring YUL ZRH on SWISS and will try to spend a few days in ZRH, but open to further suggestions for open jaw cities.
Oct 26, 2011, 12:48 am
#15
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