Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Amsterdam to La Rioja. The takeoff right-side advantage over Amsterdam is real but brief. Over the long flight south, the left side tracks the Atlantic coast of Iberia, the Strait of Gibraltar, and on descent delivers the spectacular Sierra de Velasco approach. The landing views on the left are among the most dramatic of the entire route.

During takeoff from Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Right side for the best views. Schiphol's most common departure runway is the Polderbaan (36L/18R) or Zwanenburgbaan heading roughly south or southwest. A right-side seat gives you views over Amsterdam city center, the IJ river, and the historic canal ring as you climb out heading southwest toward the coast. The left side faces open polder farmland with fewer distinguishing features. Notable sights include: Amsterdam canal ring and Amstel river, IJ river and Amsterdam Centraal waterfront, Westpoort harbor industrial area, North Sea coastline near Zandvoort.

When landing at La Rioja (IRJ), sit on the Left side for the best views. IRJ serves La Rioja city and the runway orientation (roughly 09/27, east-west) means aircraft typically approach from the east heading west. A left-side seat on approach gives views of the Sierra de Velasco and the broader Sierras Pampeanas rising dramatically to the west and southwest, while the right side looks out over flat scrubland of the Llanos de La Rioja. The mountains are the defining visual feature of this approach. Notable sights include: Sierra de Velasco mountain range, Sierras Pampeanas foothills, La Rioja city grid in the valley, Río Huaco dry riverbed channels.

The flight from Schiphol (AMS) to La Rioja (IRJ) takes Approximately 14 to 15 hours with one stop, or around 13 hours nonstop if operated — most routings connect via São Paulo (GRU) or Buenos Aires (EZE), making total travel time 16 to 20 hours.

Bay of Biscay crossing, Iberian Peninsula with the Meseta Central plateau and Sierra Morena, Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco visible to the left, then the South Atlantic Ocean for the bulk of the flight, the Brazilian coast near Recife or Natal, the Cerrado and Chaco scrubland of central South America, and the Sierras Pampeanas on descent into La Rioja