About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) to Cyril E King (STT)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Atlanta to St. Thomas. The left side wins overall because the STT arrival view of St. John, Pillsbury Sound, and the BVI chain is genuinely spectacular and hard to beat. During the cruise over the Bahamas and Caribbean, the left side also gets slightly better angles on the island chains below. The right side advantage at ATL departure is real but shorter-lived.
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 Right side for the best views. ATL's primary departure runways (8L/8R/9L/9R) head eastward, putting the Atlanta skyline and Stone Mountain to the right (south side). Departing southeast toward STT, the right side also picks up Lake Lanier and the rolling Piedmont terrain as you climb out. Notable sights include: Atlanta downtown skyline, Stone Mountain (granite dome ~16 miles east of downtown), Lake Lanier to the northeast, Piedmont plateau terrain.
What can I see when landing at Cyril E King in St. Thomas?
When landing at Cyril E King (STT), sit on the Left side for the best views. STT's runway 10 approach comes in from the west over open Caribbean water, with St. John and the British Virgin Islands visible to the left (north). The left seat gets the dramatic view of St. John's green hills, Pillsbury Sound, and the BVI chain on the horizon as you descend. Notable sights include: St. John island and Virgin Islands National Park, Pillsbury Sound, Tortola and the British Virgin Islands chain on the horizon, Charlotte Amalie harbor below.
How long is the flight from Atlanta to St. Thomas?
The flight from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) to Cyril E King (STT) takes Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes.
What does the Atlanta to St. Thomas flight path pass over?
The flight tracks southeast over Georgia and South Carolina, then out over the Atlantic near Savannah or Jacksonville. It crosses the Bahamas archipelago — Great Abaco, Eleuthera, and the Exuma chain are all visible below as shallow turquoise banks contrasting with deep blue Atlantic water. The flight then crosses over or near Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic) with the Cordillera Central mountains visible, before descending toward the Virgin Islands through the northeastern Caribbean.