Airport. Flying from Amsterdam to the United States

I'd go with the recommended 3 hours for international flights to the US. Might be bit of overkill for Schipol, but there are plenty of things to do to kill time there. There is always extra security for flights to the US.

6:30 is about right. The airline will say when you try to check-in on line 24 hours before the flight. Sometimes there is extra screening after you pass the first security checkpoint so it takes a lot of time.

What Jazz+Travels said. I flew back from AMS to SEA on Delta in late June.

I first was directed to special gate, I think it was D1, where they checked my passport, and put a sticker on it. I can't remember if they stamped it there or at another station shortly after along the way.

It was a long trek to the boarding gates. Food and drink options disappeared the closer I got.

The gates are off individual glassed-in rooms. While we waited, our passports were checked multiple times. If you had the sticker from D1, it was usually a cursory check, but passports were more thoroughly checked before we were allowed down the gangway.

There were sniffer dogs. Even though we had all gone through security at the beginning of the trek, some people were pulled aside to have their luggage opened up and searched.

Keep in mind that people from many different countries will be flying on your flight. The earlier you go through passport control, the better.

I've only flown out from AMS three times, but each time we've been there about three hours early and each time was very different. The first time we had a horrendous time getting through security with bags completely unpacked, etc. We still had a few minutes to spare before boarding for the flight.
The second time we were through easily and had plenty of time to wander, have a last smoke, etc.
The third time we were still through in decent time but I got the SSSS on my boarding card and had to go through extra security with Delta at the boarding area. We still had some extra time.
All in all, I would rather be sitting or walking around for a little bit and not be rushed, so would again arrive three hours early.

Thanks this is very useful information. Another question. We are staying in oils west on Jacob lennepkade. Will one recommend a taxi to get to the airport or use public transport. The trams are outside our door and I know there is a bus station to get a bus to the airports. I am comfortable with public transport and have light luggage. Any suggestion s

Take the taxi since you have to be there at 6:30 am.

Or stay by the airport the night before

I also recommend 3 hours before flight. But if you want refund taxes for purchases I recommend 6-7 hours before flight

vijayramraj, I'm not sure where the place is you're staying, but the last time we were in Amsterdam we took the bus to the airport, and it was fine. Not too crowded, cheap, and they didn't mind your getting on with luggage. The bus stop was just a couple blocks from our hotel, an easy walk. Do check how early the bus and trams run, however.

I've done both ways to the airport, Centraal and train to airport, and private car to airport.

Of course the easiest and most comfortable is via private car. A timely pickup and then we were whisked right to the departures terminal.
Via train, we walked from our apt. to Centraal, and even though it was cold and dark it wasn't an issue. A squirrely probable pickpocket on the train did make us nervous but we just kept an eye on our stuff... and on him, until he was removed from the train by ticket inspector.
No problems either way but private car felt simply luxurious vs that cold walk in the dark.

9292.nl/en will show you your public transit options.
For a weekday, suggests taking the 283 bus from Kinkerstraat to Lelylaan station, then train to Schipol as the quickest. Start at 5:30 am and gets to Schipol at 6 am. There are trains to Schipol every few minutes from Lelylaan if you miss one.

We arrive 3 hours before departure for transatlantic flights.

3 hours is more than enough....but don't try to shave off time. I have had several 9:30 flights out of AMS and always arrive at least 2 1/2 hours ahead of time. I have breezed through and then sat at the gate for a long time and I have feared missing my flight because the check in and security lines were bonkers.

Flying to Washington DC from Amsterdam morning of the 14th June. Have a Hertz rental car to return in the airport area. Any suggestions for a hotel night before? Should we return the car at the airport or night before and get a hotel then shuttle to the apt?

I'd return the car the day before and get a hotel near a subway stop. The local underground runs right into the airport and it's easy to use.

There's a bus, as well. We had a hotel near the Van Gogh museum, and caught the bus nearby.

Ok where is the gate for Aer Lingus at AMS? Have a rental car. How hard is it to return it (Hertz) at the apt then proceed to the gate or should be stay at a hotel near the airport, return the car the night before, and get a shuttle to the Airport? Take off is at 9:30 Am. Where can we get breakfast? are restraunts at the apt open early?

Flying to Washington DC from Amsterdam morning of the 14th June. Have
a Hertz rental car to return in the airport area. Any suggestions for
a hotel night before? Should we return the car at the airport or night
before and get a hotel then shuttle to the apt?

Return the rental car the night before. We stay at the Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Airport as we are HH members and get great promotions. Rate always includes breakfast which you can take with you in a bag if need be. There is a hotel shuttle and there is also the local train at Hoofddorp if you prefer taking the train.

If you have status with another hotel chain, there is probably a property at or near Schiphol with shuttle service.

Have a rental car. How hard is it to return it (Hertz) at the apt then
proceed to the gate or should be stay at a hotel near the airport,
return the car the night before, and get a shuttle to the Airport?
Take off is at 9:30 Am. Where can we get breakfast? are restraunts at
the apt open early?

As I recommended above, return the rental car the night before and stay at a hotel at or near Schiphol. If the hotel doesn't offer breakfast, you can buy it easily after security. For 9:30am flights, we're there at 6:30. There have been times we've needed those 3 hours because the lines had been long. Other times, we had plenty of time to spare. There is no way to predict.