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Air Canada launches new summer route from Montreal to Amsterdam

March 16, 2023
3 min read
amsterdam buildings
Air Canada launches new summer route from Montreal to Amsterdam
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A new nonstop Montreal to Amsterdam route will take off this summer thanks to strong demand for European travel, Air Canada announced.

Canada’s flag carrier will fly its Boeing 787 Dreamliners from the country’s second-largest city to the popular Dutch capital five times weekly between June 2 and Oct. 14.

The route will depart Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) at 10:10 p.m. (local time) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, arriving at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) at 11 a.m. the following day. The journey will take about six hours and 50 minutes in total.

Flights from AMS will depart at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, arriving at YUL at 3:30 p.m. that same afternoon.

Tickets are available to buy now via Air Canada’s website.

The new route is set to launch in early June, operating until mid-October. AIR CANADA

Air Canada already offers direct routes to Amsterdam year-round from Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) and one-stop routes from YUL, with one stopover in either YYZ or Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Germany.

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“We continue to see strong demand for travel to Europe and we are thrilled to increase service and add new, non-stop service between Montreal and Amsterdam for summer 2023, complementing our year-round service between Toronto and the Dutch capital," the airline’s senior vice president of network planning, Mark Galardo, said of the news.

“With up to double daily flights between Canada and Amsterdam this summer from two of our global hubs, customers on both sides of the Atlantic have an abundance of convenient choices to visit and explore each other’s countries and beyond. Customers can start planning ahead and book with confidence," Galardo added.

Air Canada currently has its own Aeroplan loyalty program and is a founding member of Star Alliance alongside Lufthansa, Swiss, Thai Airways and United Airlines.

If you're planning to fly this route, it’s useful to know that you can now enter the Star Alliance lounge at AMS with pay-as-you-go access — not just if you’re a Gold member.

It’s also worth noting that KLM offers nonstop flights from Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Calgary International Airport (YYC) to AMS. The carrier is a member of SkyTeam, which could now be very useful for Virgin Points-collecting Flying Club members.

Featured image by GREG GIBB/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
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Rewards Rate

5XEarn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5XEarn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • Intro Offer
    Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

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  • Annual Fee

    $695
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

    670-850
    Excellent/Good

Why We Chose It

Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip.

Pros

  • The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at $1,600.
  • This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. (Enrollment required for select benefits.)
  • The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway.

Cons

  • The high annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost.
  • Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories.
  • The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards.
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and other participating providers. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
  • American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back each year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
  • $189 CLEAR® Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees