Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Paris to Minneapolis. The left side wins both departure and arrival. Over the Atlantic and Canadian Shield the views are similar on both sides, but the left side captures Paris on takeoff and Minneapolis plus the Mississippi River on landing — the two most visually rewarding moments of the flight.

During takeoff from Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Left side for the best views. CDG typically departs westward on runways 26L/26R or northward on 09/27 configuration. A westbound departure on 26L/26R puts the left side facing south toward Paris city center, with the Eiffel Tower, Seine river bends, and the dense urban grid clearly visible during climb-out before turning northwest toward the Atlantic. Notable sights include: Paris city center and Eiffel Tower to the south, Seine river meanders through the urban grid, La Défense business district towers to the west, Bois de Boulogne park visible as a large green rectangle.

When landing at Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP), sit on the Left side for the best views. MSP primarily uses runways 12L/12R or 17 for arrivals from the east, meaning the aircraft approaches from the northeast and tracks southwest. The left side faces southeast toward downtown Minneapolis, the Mississippi River gorge, and the chain of lakes in south Minneapolis — the most visually interesting features on approach. Notable sights include: Downtown Minneapolis skyline along the Mississippi River, Mississippi River gorge and Ford Parkway bluffs, Chain of Lakes (Lake Calhoun/Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet) in south Minneapolis, Fort Snelling at the river confluence.

The flight from Charles De Gaulle (CDG) to Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP) takes Approximately 9 to 9.5 hours.

The route tracks northwest from Paris over the English Channel near Cherbourg, then across southern Ireland and out over the North Atlantic. The great circle path crosses southern Greenland where the ice sheet and coastal fjords are visible if skies are clear — one of the most dramatic overflights on any transatlantic route. The aircraft then crosses Labrador and Quebec, with the vast boreal forest and Canadian Shield lakes below, before entering the Great Lakes region over Lake Superior's southern shore and tracking southwest into Minnesota.