Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Detroit to Istanbul. While the left side offers a decent Detroit River departure view, the right side delivers the spectacular Istanbul approach over the Sea of Marmara and Bosphorus — one of the most visually rewarding urban arrivals in the world. The right side also tracks the northern coast of the Black Sea and parts of the Romanian and Bulgarian coastlines during cruise.

During takeoff from Detroit City (DET), sit on the Left side for the best views. Detroit City Airport typically departs northeast on runway 33/15. A left-side seat on a northeasterly departure gives you a clear view back over the Detroit River, Windsor Ontario across the border, and the downtown Detroit skyline receding to the southwest. The river acts as a natural visual divider between the two countries. Notable sights include: Detroit River and Ambassador Bridge, Downtown Detroit skyline, Lake St. Clair to the northeast, Windsor Ontario urban grid.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Right side for the best views. Ataturk Airport (IST) predominantly uses runways oriented roughly east-west (06/24 and 05/23). Arrivals from the west typically land heading east, putting the right side of the aircraft facing south toward the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus strait, and the historic peninsula of old Istanbul. This is one of the most dramatic urban approach views in aviation. Notable sights include: Sea of Marmara, Bosphorus Strait, Historic Peninsula of Istanbul (Sultanahmet), Prince's Islands in the Marmara.

The flight from Detroit City (DET) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 10 to 11 hours.

The route crosses the Atlantic's eastern edge near Newfoundland, then tracks over the UK and northern Europe, crosses the Alps or Carpathian Mountains depending on routing, passes over Romania and Bulgaria with the Black Sea visible to the right, and descends toward the Bosphorus and Sea of Marmara on approach to Istanbul.