Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Albany to Charlotte. The left side wins overall. The Hudson River valley and Catskill views on departure are genuinely spectacular and hard to beat. Through the cruise portion heading southwest over Pennsylvania and into the Carolinas, the left side also tracks closer to the Appalachian ridgelines of the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky foothills on the horizon. The right side is better for the Charlotte landing approach, but the departure and en-route scenery tips the balance left.

During takeoff from Albany International (ALB), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing Albany typically heads south or southwest. The left side gives you a clear look at the Hudson River valley stretching south, with the Catskill Mountains rising to the west across the river. You'll also catch the city of Albany and the State Capitol area just after rotation. Notable sights include: Hudson River valley, Catskill Mountains, Albany city center and Capitol building, Helderberg Escarpment to the southwest.

When landing at Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), sit on the Right side for the best views. Charlotte Douglas typically receives traffic from the northeast, with approaches often from the north or northeast on runways 18C/18L. The right side on final gives you a view over the Charlotte skyline and Uptown district as you descend, with Lake Norman visible further north in the distance earlier in the approach. Notable sights include: Charlotte Uptown skyline, Lake Norman to the north, Catawba River corridor, Bank of America Stadium.

The flight from Albany International (ALB) to Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) takes Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours.

The flight tracks southwest over the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, then crosses the broad Ridge and Valley province of central Pennsylvania with its parallel Appalachian ridges clearly visible as long linear forested folds. Over Maryland and northern Virginia the terrain flattens into the Piedmont. Crossing into North Carolina, the Blue Ridge escarpment appears on the western horizon, and the Piedmont Triad cities of Greensboro and Winston-Salem are visible as urban clusters before descent into Charlotte.