Birmingham to Paris flight path: BHM to CDG

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Birmingham to Paris. The right side wins because it captures the Appalachian foothills near Birmingham on departure, coastal U.S. cities during the climb toward the Northeast, and the Seine valley and Parisian outskirts on arrival — all while the Atlantic crossing itself is equally featureless from either side.

During takeoff from Birmingham International (BHM), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing BHM to the northeast, the right side offers a view back over Birmingham's downtown skyline and the wooded ridges of the southern Appalachian foothills (Red Mountain and the Ridge-and-Valley terrain) as the aircraft climbs. The left side mostly shows flat farmland and suburban sprawl with no distinguishing terrain. Notable sights include: Downtown Birmingham skyline, Red Mountain ridge, Appalachian foothill ridgelines.

When landing at Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Right side for the best views. On approach to CDG from the west, the right side gives passengers a view over the Seine river valley and patches of French farmland and forest as the plane descends toward Paris, along with fleeting glimpses of the city's northern outskirts. The left side typically faces open farmland with fewer recognizable features. Notable sights include: Seine river bends, French countryside patchwork fields, Paris northern suburbs.

The flight from Birmingham International (BHM) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) takes about 8 hours 45 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 4,485 miles (7,218 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Southern Appalachian ridges near takeoff, the U.S. East Coast (Carolinas, Virginia, New York area) during climb, then a long transatlantic crossing over the North Atlantic before reaching the Irish and English coastlines and the Seine valley on approach to Paris.