Flights to Alaska pass over some of the most dramatic terrain in North America: the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, the St. Elias Range (home to the highest peaks in Canada), and the Chugach Mountains that ring Anchorage. The views depend entirely on which side of the plane faces inland versus open ocean.
The pattern is consistent: the right side faces inland on most routes to Anchorage, toward the mountain chains and glaciated terrain. The left side faces the Pacific — open water for most of the flight. Exceptions apply on routes from San Francisco and Portland.
From Seattle, Los Angeles, or Chicago: sit on the right — the Coast Mountains, St. Elias Range, and Chugach are on the right throughout the flight.
From San Francisco or Portland: sit on the left — the routing puts better terrain views on the left.
Anchorage → Los Angeles return: sit on the left — Turnagain Arm and the Chugach departure are spectacular on the left.
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Look up my flight →From Seattle (SEA)
Seattle → Anchorage (SEA → ANC)
Right wins throughout — Mount Rainier and the Cascade Range on departure from Seattle, then during the cruise over British Columbia the right side faces inland toward the Coast Mountains and the St. Elias Range, with massive icefields and glaciated peaks. On approach into Anchorage, Turnagain Arm and the Chugach appear on the right. The left faces open Pacific the entire flight.
Full recommendation →Anchorage → Seattle (ANC → SEA)
Right wins both ends — Turnagain Arm and the Chugach Mountains on departure from Anchorage, then Elliott Bay and Mount Rainier on the approach into Sea-Tac. During cruise over British Columbia, the right side also tracks the Coast Mountains with occasional glacier views.
Full recommendation →From Los Angeles (LAX)
Los Angeles → Anchorage (LAX → ANC)
Right wins both departure and arrival. During cruise over the Gulf of Alaska and southern Alaska coast, the right side faces inland toward the Alaska Range and coastal mountain ranges — Wrangell–St. Elias, the Kenai Mountains — while the left faces open ocean. On approach, the Chugach Range and Turnagain Arm are on the right.
Full recommendation →Anchorage → Los Angeles (ANC → LAX)
Left wins — the departure view of the Chugach Mountains and Turnagain Arm from Anchorage is on the left and genuinely spectacular: steep glaciated peaks rising directly from a tidal fjord. During cruise over British Columbia the left side also tracks closer to the Coast Mountains. The LA arrival advantage is on the right, but the Alaskan departure wins the overall route.
Full recommendation →From San Francisco & Portland
San Francisco → Anchorage (SFO → ANC)
Left wins — the SF Bay departure is spectacular on the left, and crucially the routing from SFO to ANC faces the left side south and east along the Alaska coast, picking up the Gulf of Alaska shoreline, the St. Elias Mountains, and the Kenai Peninsula on descent. Right wins on the Anchorage landing, but left is the better overall choice for the full flight.
Full recommendation →Portland → Anchorage (PDX → ANC)
Left wins — the Cascade Range puts on a show on departure from Portland, with Mount Hood visible to the southeast and Mount St. Helens on the horizon. During the long northbound cruise over BC wilderness, the left side provides better views of the mountain terrain. Right wins on the Anchorage landing, but left takes the full flight.
Full recommendation →From Chicago (ORD)
Chicago → Anchorage (ORD → ANC)
Right wins — the left side has Chicago's skyline on departure, but the right side delivers the more dramatic sustained scenery: the Canadian Rockies visible mid-flight, then the stunning Chugach Range approach into Anchorage with Turnagain Arm. The Alaskan mountain scenery on the right outweighs the Chicago departure on the left.
Full recommendation →What to look for on an Alaska flight
Turnagain Arm — The most reliable and dramatic landmark on any Anchorage arrival or departure. This narrow fjord-like inlet southeast of the city is flanked on both sides by the Chugach Mountains rising steeply from sea level. It's unmistakable: a long, straight arm of water with almost no development on its shores, surrounded by glaciated peaks. On some days you can see bore tides — a visible wave front moving up the inlet. Visible on the right side on most approaches.
The Chugach Mountains — The range that rings Anchorage to the east and south, rising to over 13,000 feet just 40 miles from the city. Glaciers fill the high valleys, and on a clear day the contrast between the glaciated peaks and Cook Inlet below is extraordinary. This is the defining view on the Anchorage approach from the south.
Coastal glaciers in British Columbia — The right side on Seattle and LA routes passes over or near the Wrangell–St. Elias region, one of the largest non-polar glacier systems on Earth. On clear days, wide tongues of blue-white ice descending to the sea are visible in the mountain valleys. These views are weather-dependent but unforgettable when visible.
Denali (Mt. McKinley) — At 20,310 feet the tallest peak in North America, Denali sits roughly 130 miles north of Anchorage. It's not directly on the flight path of most routes, but on a clear day from the right seat it can be spotted as an enormous white pyramid rising above everything around it. It's most visible on northbound approaches on the right side.
Flying to a different Alaskan city or from a city not listed?
Get my window seat recommendation →Frequently asked questions
Which side of the plane is best on flights to Alaska?
The right side wins from most US cities — Seattle, Los Angeles, and Chicago flights to Anchorage all favor the right, because it faces inland toward the Coast Mountains, St. Elias Range, and Chugach. Exceptions: San Francisco and Portland routes favor the left. The return from Anchorage to LA also favors the left for the Turnagain Arm departure.
Can you see Denali (Mt. McKinley) from the plane?
Denali is occasionally visible on very clear days — it's roughly 130 miles north of Anchorage and not directly on most flight paths. The more consistently visible landmark on Anchorage approaches is Turnagain Arm and the Chugach Range. Seattle and northbound routes have the best chance of a distant Denali sighting from the right side.
What is Turnagain Arm and which side can I see it from?
Turnagain Arm is a dramatic fjord-like inlet southeast of Anchorage, flanked by the Chugach Mountains on both sides. It has some of the world's most extreme tidal bores. On departure from Anchorage heading south and on arrival from the south, Turnagain Arm is on the right side.
Which side of the plane from Seattle to Anchorage?
Sit on the right side for SEA to ANC. Right captures Mount Rainier on departure, then the Coast Mountains and St. Elias icefields during cruise, and Turnagain Arm and the Chugach on arrival. The left side faces open Pacific the entire flight.
Which side of the plane from Los Angeles to Anchorage?
Sit on the right side for LAX to ANC. Right wins both departure (LA basin and coastline) and arrival (Chugach Range and Turnagain Arm). During cruise over the Gulf of Alaska, right faces inland toward the Alaska Range while left faces open ocean.
Can you see glaciers from the plane on an Alaska flight?
Yes — on Seattle and LA routes to Anchorage, the right-side windows face the Coast Mountains and Wrangell–St. Elias region. On clear days, massive glaciers descending to the sea are visible — wide rivers of blue-white ice in deeply carved mountain valleys. Weather-dependent but spectacular when visible.