In previous posts on this blog, we have explained what procedures Argentine, Mexican, or Chilean citizens must follow to come to this country. But in today’s article, we explain how to travel to Jordan from the United States, as many North American tourists decide to fly from so far away to visit this country, which is in the collective imagination of many people thanks to movies like Indiana Jones or The Martian. Below, we tell you about the two main aspects to consider: flights and visas.
Flights from the United States to Jordan
Fortunately for many, there are several direct routes between cities in the United States and the capital of Jordan, Amman (Queen Alia International Airport). The cities that usually offer non-stop flights are:
- Detroit (International Airport)
- New York (JFK Airport)
- Chicago (O’Hare Airport)
- Washington DC (Washington Dulles Airport)
And the airline that usually operates these direct routes is Royal Jordanian, although other North American companies may also have some of these connections in their catalogs, such as United Airlines. The duration of these routes varies depending on the geographical location of the departure airport, but it is usually not less than 11 and a half hours.
In any case, in addition to direct routes, there are many other options with one stopover. This transfer extends the duration of the trip, usually over 13 hours, depending on each case. But the good news is that this option does not necessarily imply a higher cost: on the contrary, many tickets with a stopover are more economical than direct ones. These prices vary greatly depending on the season, but the most economical tickets can cost less than €1,000 if booked in advance and during the low season.
To make this equation possible, many other companies come into play that are not necessarily Royal Jordanian or a U.S. airline. In this sense, one or both segments of the route can be operated by companies such as the German Lufthansa, the Qatari Qatar Airways, or the Turkish Turkish Airlines. And as for stopover airports, the options are also varied: Istanbul, Madrid, or Frankfurt are among them.
Regarding arrival cities, all direct routes and most routes with one stopover have as their final destination the Queen Alia Airport in Amman. However, some routes with a stopover can also take you to the country’s second airport: King Hussein Airport in Aqaba.
And of course, the options multiply for those who don’t mind traveling with two stopovers. In that case, the duration of the trip can exceed 24 hours.
Visa for U.S. citizens
As we explain on this visa page, all U.S. citizens must obtain a visa. But the good news is that this visa is a mere automatic procedure that only requires paying the fees upon entering the country, for example at the arrival terminal of Queen Alia Airport in Amman.
The fees for this tourist visa may change from year to year, but in 2024 that figure was 40 Jordanian dinars, which at the exchange rate is about 55 dollars. However, the option preferred by most tourists is the Jordan Pass, a visa that not only includes these fees but also entry to some of the most important sites in the country, such as Petra. Its price ranges between 70 and 80 Jordanian dinars (between 95 dollars and 110 dollars, approximately), depending on the number of consecutive days of entry to Petra.
For all these reasons, traveling to Jordan from the United States is simpler than one might think, both in terms of the flight and entry procedures, which any citizen can complete without difficulty.
