Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Cancun to London. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. At departure you get the spectacular Cancun lagoon and Caribbean reef colors, and at arrival you get the best view of the English countryside on approach. Over the Atlantic the views are similar on both sides, but the bookend experiences favor the left.

During takeoff from Cancun International (CUN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Cancun's main runway 12/30 means northeastward departures toward Europe typically involve a left turn climbing out over the Caribbean. The left side gives you the Hotel Zone strip, Nichupte Lagoon, and the turquoise shallows of the Caribbean before the aircraft tracks north over the Yucatan Peninsula. Notable sights include: Nichupte Lagoon (the narrow lagoon separating the Hotel Zone from the mainland), Isla Mujeres visible offshore to the northeast, the Hotel Zone barrier strip, and the shallow reef-colored Caribbean waters.

When landing at Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Gatwick's single runway 08/26 means westbound arrivals typically approach from the east on runway 26. On final approach from the east, the left side faces south and gives views over the Surrey Hills and the urban sprawl of Crawley, while the right side faces north toward London. However, on a standard ILS approach to runway 26, the left side offers the clearest view of the distinctive North Downs ridge and the Weald countryside below. If landing runway 08 (eastbound), the left side looks north toward London's southern suburbs including Croydon and the city skyline on the horizon. Notable sights include: The North Downs chalk ridge visible to the north, the flat Low Weald farmland directly below on approach, Crawley town grid visible to the south, and on clear days the London skyline on the northern horizon.

The flight from Cancun International (CUN) to Gatwick (LGW) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

After departing the Yucatan, the route tracks northeast over the Gulf of Mexico, then crosses Cuba or the Florida Straits, before heading out over the open North Atlantic. The flight passes south of Newfoundland and the Grand Banks, then crosses the North Atlantic tracking toward Ireland. Landfall is typically made over the southwest of Ireland or Wales, with the Celtic Sea and Irish Sea visible before crossing into England. The Azores archipelago may be visible far to the south in clear conditions at cruising altitude.