Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Auckland to New York. Neither side offers much during the roughly 12-hour Pacific and North American overflight, but the right side edges ahead due to a more scenic Auckland departure with its volcanic islands and harbor, plus potential glimpses of Pacific Northwest coastline or Canadian Rockies on some routings before the flat approach into JFK.

During takeoff from Auckland International (AKL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing AKL to the north/northeast, the right side offers views of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour, the volcanic cones like Rangitoto Island, and the Hauraki Gulf islands before the aircraft turns out over open ocean. The left side mostly shows the Manukau Harbour and Tasman-facing suburbs with less distinctive coastline. Notable sights include: Rangitoto Island, Waitemata Harbour, Hauraki Gulf islands, Auckland city skyline.

When landing at John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. Approaching JFK from the west or south over New Jersey and the New York Bight, the left side typically offers views of the Manhattan skyline, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and Jamaica Bay before landing. The right side on many approach paths shows Long Island's flatter suburban terrain with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay, Rockaway Peninsula.

The flight from Auckland International (AKL) to John F Kennedy International (JFK) takes 17h 40m.

The flight path crosses the vast open Pacific Ocean, passing near or over the International Date Line with no land visible for many hours, potentially passing south of the Hawaiian Islands or near the Aleutian Islands depending on winds and routing, before crossing the North American continent over the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Great Plains.