Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from East London to New Orleans. While the takeoff offers coastal scenery, the landing approach over the Mississippi River and New Orleans provides more dramatic and distinctive geography. The river's crescent shape and the contrast between urban development and surrounding wetlands create a more visually compelling final descent than the initial climb-out.

During takeoff from East London (ELS), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats offer views of the Indian Ocean coastline and the Eastern Cape's dramatic coastal cliffs as the aircraft climbs eastward over the sea before turning northwest toward the Atlantic crossing. Notable sights include: Algoa Bay, the Indian Ocean coastline near Humewood Beach, the Eastern Cape escarpment inland, and Port Elizabeth's urban sprawl.

When landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats provide excellent views of the Mississippi River's distinctive meanders and the New Orleans metropolitan area during descent, particularly the river's crescent bend that defines the city's geography. Notable sights include: The Mississippi River with its characteristic meanders, Lake Pontchartrain to the north, the New Orleans urban grid in the river crescent, and the surrounding bayou wetlands.

The flight from East London (ELS) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) takes Approximately 14-15 hours with typical routing.

The flight path crosses the Atlantic Ocean for roughly 8-9 hours with no significant landmarks visible. The aircraft will pass south of the Azores (not visible at cruise altitude), cross the Caribbean waters approaching the Gulf of Mexico, and may offer views of the Yucatan Peninsula or Gulf Coast depending on the specific routing chosen by the airline. The Gulf of Mexico crossing provides open water views for the final 2-3 hours before Louisiana approach.