Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Charlotte to San Francisco. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. During the transcontinental cruise, the left side also faces generally south, giving views of the Colorado Plateau, Grand Canyon region, and Mojave Desert as the flight tracks northwest. The right side faces north toward less dramatic Great Basin terrain for much of the middle portion.

During takeoff from Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), sit on the Left side for the best views. Charlotte Douglas primarily departs westbound on runway 18C/36C or uses runways oriented north-south. On a westbound departure toward SFO, the left side gives you a view back over uptown Charlotte's skyline and the Catawba River valley. The right side faces south toward undistinguished suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Uptown Charlotte skyline, Catawba River, Lake Norman to the north, Crowders Mountain State Park to the west.

When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO's primary arrival runways 28L and 28R bring aircraft in from the east over the Bay, meaning the left side faces south toward the San Francisco Peninsula, the South Bay, and the Santa Cruz Mountains. The right side faces north toward the city of San Francisco and the Golden Gate, which is also excellent, but the left gives a broader panorama of the Bay's geography including the San Mateo Bridge. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, San Mateo Bridge, Santa Cruz Mountains, South Bay and Silicon Valley sprawl.

The flight from Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 45 minutes westbound.

The flight typically tracks over the southern Appalachians briefly after departure, then crosses the Mississippi River near Memphis, continues over the Ozark Plateau into Oklahoma and Texas panhandle, crosses the Sangre de Cristo and Rocky Mountains in New Mexico or Colorado, traverses the Colorado Plateau with the Grand Canyon visible to the north on left-side seats, crosses the Mojave Desert, and descends over the Central Valley of California before reaching the Bay Area.