Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Detroit to Seattle. While takeoff offers Great Lakes views, the landing descent into Seattle provides more dramatic scenery—the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier are iconic and visible on clear days, plus Puget Sound's complex island geography. Left side captures the most visually distinctive portion of the entire route.

During takeoff from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right side offers views of the Detroit metropolitan area and the Great Lakes shoreline as you climb northwest out of DTW. You'll see Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River system clearly from altitude. Notable sights include: Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, Detroit city grid, Lake Huron (distant northeastern horizon).

When landing at Boeing Fld King Co International (BFI), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left side provides excellent views during the descent approach into Seattle. You'll see the Cascade Range prominently, plus Puget Sound and the Seattle waterfront as you descend toward Boeing Field. Notable sights include: Cascade Range (Mount Rainier visible on clear days), Puget Sound, Lake Union, Seattle downtown skyline.

The flight from Detroit Metro Wayne Co (DTW) to Boeing Fld King Co International (BFI) takes Approximately 4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes.

Over Montana and northern Idaho, the flight passes south of Glacier National Park and crosses the Rocky Mountain chain. The Continental Divide is visible as a ridge of peaks running north-south. Flathead Lake in Montana appears as a large blue rectangle in the terrain. As you approach Washington, the Cascade Range becomes increasingly prominent on the western horizon, with numerous volcanic peaks visible including Mount Baker and Mount Shasta (on the southern horizon). The Columbia River basin and its tributary system create visible drainage patterns across eastern Washington.