The left side wins because it bookends the long transatlantic crossing with the only real scenery on the route — Appalachian terrain near Atlanta on departure and a glimpse of the Seine and Paris skyline on arrival — while the right side faces mostly featureless plains and open ocean for the bulk of the flight.
Flight Path
North Atlantic Ocean for several hours, with the flight path passing near Newfoundland's coast and later within sight of the southern Irish coastline (County Kerry/Cork) before crossing the Celtic Sea toward the English Channel.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from ATL
LEFTAs the aircraft climbs out of ATL and turns onto its northeasterly heading toward the East Coast, the left side offers a brief view of downtown Atlanta's skyline and the Chattahoochee River before the terrain rolls into the forested foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains over north Georgia and the Carolinas. The right side mostly shows flat Georgia farmland and suburban sprawl with no real terrain relief.
Landing at CDG
LEFTOn the descent into CDG, flights arriving from the west often swing south of Paris before turning onto final approach, giving left-side passengers a distant look at the Paris skyline (Eiffel Tower and La Defense towers) and the Seine's meandering path through the patchwork farmland of the Ile-de-France. The right side typically only shows flat agricultural plains north of the airport with no landmarks.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Atlanta to Paris. The left side wins because it bookends the long transatlantic crossing with the only real scenery on the route — Appalachian terrain near Atlanta on departure and a glimpse of the Seine and Paris skyline on arrival — while the right side faces mostly featureless plains and open ocean for the bulk of the flight.
What can I see during takeoff from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International in Atlanta?
During takeoff from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL), sit on the Left side for the best views. As the aircraft climbs out of ATL and turns onto its northeasterly heading toward the East Coast, the left side offers a brief view of downtown Atlanta's skyline and the Chattahoochee River before the terrain rolls into the forested foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains over north Georgia and the Carolinas. The right side mostly shows flat Georgia farmland and suburban sprawl with no real terrain relief. Notable sights include: Atlanta downtown skyline, Chattahoochee River, Blue Ridge Mountain foothills, North Georgia forests.
What can I see when landing at Charles De Gaulle in Paris?
When landing at Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the descent into CDG, flights arriving from the west often swing south of Paris before turning onto final approach, giving left-side passengers a distant look at the Paris skyline (Eiffel Tower and La Defense towers) and the Seine's meandering path through the patchwork farmland of the Ile-de-France. The right side typically only shows flat agricultural plains north of the airport with no landmarks. Notable sights include: Seine River, Paris skyline (Eiffel Tower, La Defense towers), Ile-de-France farmland patchwork, Marne River tributary.
How long is the flight from Atlanta to Paris?
The flight from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) takes 8h 50m.
What does the Atlanta to Paris flight path pass over?
North Atlantic Ocean for several hours, with the flight path passing near Newfoundland's coast and later within sight of the southern Irish coastline (County Kerry/Cork) before crossing the Celtic Sea toward the English Channel.