Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Sao Paulo to New York. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. During the long overwater cruise over the Caribbean and Atlantic, neither side has a significant advantage, but the left side offers the better views at both departure and arrival, making it the clear overall choice.

During takeoff from Guarulhos (GRU), sit on the Left side for the best views. GRU typically departs northeast on runway 09R/10R or north on 28L. A left-side seat gives you a view back over the Serra da Cantareira hills and the sprawling São Paulo metropolitan area as you climb out. The dense urban grid of São Paulo's northern zones and the Tietê River valley are clearly visible before you clear the plateau. Notable sights include: Serra da Cantareira hills, Tietê River valley, São Paulo urban grid, Guarulhos industrial zone.

When landing at John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK approaches are typically from the southwest or west on runways 13L/13R or 22L/22R. A left-side seat on approach from the southwest gives you a clear view over Jamaica Bay, the Rockaway Peninsula, and lower Manhattan's skyline in the distance to the northwest. The right side faces the Atlantic Ocean with little to see. Notable sights include: Jamaica Bay, Rockaway Peninsula, Lower Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn waterfront.

The flight from Guarulhos (GRU) to John F Kennedy International (JFK) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

The route tracks north-northeast from São Paulo, crossing the Brazilian interior briefly before reaching the Atlantic coast near Rio de Janeiro or Vitória. The flight then crosses the open South Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, passing east of the Lesser Antilles island chain (Barbados, Martinique visible as small specks on clear days), then over the Bahamas archipelago before reaching the US East Coast near the Carolinas and tracking up to New York.