Flight Connections via Atlanta vs. Amsterdam

Well, my first thought is winter - Atlanta - 😬. If there is any ice or snow there will be major issues. I’m guessing there is just one flight to Madrid per day on Delta?

My other thought with the KLM leg from Amsterdam is that you will need to meet the KLM size and weight restriction for carry on bags. The weight restriction is 26.5# for your suitcase and personal item. I’m also guessing there are multiple flights per day from AMS to Madrid. I would not be as concerned about weather in Amsterdam HOWEVER if one of the Dutch folks says different, listen to them!

I fly from the Spokane airport and just got back on Saturday from a flight that was Edinburgh->AMS->SEA->Spokane. I was quite worried about my bags making the weight limit as I had more coming back than going out. However noone at the gate batted an eye and I managed the bag down the 2 flights of stairs tothe tarmac in Edinburgh and up the plane steps.

BTW, I am a Delta flyer.

The sunshine in Spain in February will be welcome!

The Plane Train at ATL makes connections there much easier than connections in many other airports. I have never connected in Amsterdam.

I fly out of Atlanta all the time. The airport is easy to transfer through with the plane train but I am with Pam I would be nervous about the weather in February as you never know. This past winter my parents were supposed to fly to Florida to get on a cruise and a winter storm was threatening. They ended up cancelling their flight and leaving 2 days early to miss it and drove to Ft. Lauderdale. I like Amsterdam even though it can be a lot of walking.

I'd choose Amsterdam over Atlanta for the main reason stated already, that there is likely more than one Madrid flight daily if anything goes awry on your connection. As noted you'll need to meet the KLM carry on requirements. Four hour layover at either is probably sufficient on the way. However, Atlanta is my nemesis airport due to missed connections more than once returning home from Europe. Are your layover times on return similar?

I would connect thru Amsterdam because once you’re in Europe there always seems to be more options if there’s any problems.

margie beat me to it, those are my exact thoughts. Once in AMS, you'll have more options in case you can't make your flight. And you are so much closer.
I've flown enough through Atlanta that I can close my eyes and do my connection in my mind. But I would still pick AMS.

We’re Delta, carry-on flyers out of Seattle, and Amsterdam (AMS) is our go-to connecting airport in Europe. We did that SEA/AMS/MAD flight February 2024. I would choose that flight over Atlanta (or another US airport) for one reason - flexibility in the event your flight from Seattle is seriously delayed. KLM has 2 later flights to Madrid and Delta has just the one flight a day from Atlanta to Madrid.

Our transfer to KLM was seamless. We’re light packers and we weigh our bags at home to make sure we’re in compliance, so our carry-on luggage wasn’t an issue. But I can see that the KLM baggage weight restriction of 26.5# combined carry-on and personal item might be an issue for some.

Madrid in February was a wonderful antidote to Seattle’s “Big Dark.” We’re currently planning a return for February 2028.

Amsterdam would be my choice, as I've connected to Hamburg and Hannover with only carry-on and no issues. Connecting thru Atlanta is super easy also, but I'd be leery of winter weather.
Enjoy your travels!

@JenS - does KLM weigh your bags when connecting in AMS? I'll be flying on Delta SEA-AMS then on KLM to Krakow in a couple of weeks. My ticket bought on Delta (Comfort+) can be accessed through KLM app as well. My return is on Premium Comfort.
For the whole itinerary, it shows I have 1 small bag, 2 pieces of hand baggage, and 1 checked bag. I'm only bringing 1 carry-on and backpack, but combined will be more than 26lbs. Hope not an issue!

You never know until it's the day of your given flight and they either weigh it or don't.

Amsterdam would be my choice. Everyone I know who has connected through Atlanta in the winter has had delays. Not to be a Debbie downer.

The thing I like about Amsterdam is that the airport is so easy to navigate and there's a hotel on site should you get delayed. In fact, I'm planning to use AMS as my destination in Feb/March 2027 and book a separate ticket to Poland, since there are no direct flights from my home town to Poland. I had a nasty experience flying through Frankfurt to Poland the last time I went there. There were airline strikes in Frankfurt. Never again. I will book a round trip flight to AMS and then fly to Poland the next day. Return from Poland to AMS, spend a night, then fly home the next day. It's much easier this way than depending on making connecting flights. It's so easy to get into AMS from the airport, walk around a few hours, then get a hotel room at the airport and fly out the next morning.

If at all possible, I prefer to get “over the pond” on my first flight to Europe. So I would choose AMS over Atlanta. I figure that once I’m in Europe, there are many more options to get to my final destination should there be some kind of delay (more flights, bus, train). If I get delayed in the States, well I’m stuck, often until the next day. This is especially true in winter.

As others have said, Amsterdam, while very busy, is easy to navigate. I’ve connected many times between Delta and KLM, and never had any issues.

I’d always chose the European layover, as you are so much closer to your destination.
Plus, even at it’s worst, I’d rather be in AMS than ATL on any day. That airport is an absolute monster.

Amsterdam it is! I didn't know Atlanta had so many winter weather issues. And adding a couple of extra days as a stopover at AMS is tempting. This forum is so great -- thanks for the feedback!

Joy, I honestly don’t remember if our bags were weighed at the gate in AMS by KLM, but I wouldn’t risk it. As Kim says above “you never know…” I’ve had my carry-ons and personal items weighed at the gate by other airlines enough times that I wouldn’t take a chance with luggage I knew was over-weight.

“I didn't know Atlanta had so many winter weather issues.”

Well, that’s kind of it. They don’t have enough winter weather to be fully prepared for it. Kind of like Seattle streets and snow, lol!

@Joy - how much overweight are your bags? I’d get as close to the 26.5# as you can even if it means getting lighter luggage. Are you taking a rain jacket? Can you prepare to offload heavy stuff to pockets if you see they’re weighing stuff?

Joy -
KLM will have it's own rules, they would have given you a confirmation code separate from Delta, I hope, that should say your class of service. Then I would look up the KLM rules for that class regarding your inter-European flight and not use Delta as a guide. Over 26# is a lot! Since you're allowed one checked bag, would you consider checking a bag to get the weight down, carry a few essentials in your carryon? Good luck and hope I didn't miss your departure date!

Sorry for hijacking your post ippin789.
To answer a few questions that came my way.... The combined weight limit for a carry-on bag and a personal item in KLM International economy is 12 kg (26.5 lbs). I started packing yesterday and I'm about 22lbs total so I think I'm safe. I'm keeping my roller at 8kg max which is their rule. (Still need to add snacks and my water bottle but those are easy to store in a jacket pocket if needed (and dump water).

I'm only at my first destination for 3 days then off to another flight. I've had my checked bag delayed multiple times and completely lost once. So I now only do carry-on on the way there, but may check it on the way back. I fly this coming weekend!

No worries! I feel I'm a reasonably light packer, but the 8kg limit is a challenge since a backpack isn't an option for me. For this trip I might just check a small duffel, carryon the international size roller and combine them on arrival. For now I need to turn my attention to next month's trip to England and my trial run of a Travelpro spinner . . .

Atlanta is my home airport so I'd be partial to that!

But I think it comes down to less about the airport but more about your preference for connection before or after crossing the ocean. As someone who almost always flies non-stop (an advantage to living in Atlanta!) my own preference would be to make the domestic connection. I say that only because I'd rather make the connection at the beginning of my trip when I'm still fresh, and then get on the long leg of the flight and arrive directly at my destination in Europe. I think that would be more relaxing than arriving in Europe after a long flight and having to wait four hours for your connection when you're tired and just want to get to your hotel.

But that's just my own personal take on it.