Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Hong Kong to New York. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. At departure you get Hong Kong's iconic harbour and skyline; at arrival you get the Manhattan skyline and Jamaica Bay on approach. Over the Pacific and North America the views are largely symmetric, but the left side edges it with slightly better angles over coastal Alaska and the Canadian Rockies as the polar route curves east.

During takeoff from Hong Kong International (HKG), sit on the Left side for the best views. HKG typically departs eastward on runway 07L/07R, putting the left side facing north toward Lantau Island's mountainous interior and the dense urban sprawl of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. You get a sweeping view of Victoria Harbour, the Central skyline, and the dramatic ridgeline of the New Territories as the aircraft climbs and turns northeast. Notable sights include: Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island skyline, Lantau Peak (934m) and the Lantau highlands, Kowloon Peninsula urban grid, Tolo Harbour and the New Territories hills.

When landing at John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK typically lands on runway 31L/31R from the southeast, meaning the aircraft approaches from over the Atlantic and turns over Jamaica Bay. The left side faces southwest, giving clear views of Lower Manhattan's skyline, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the Brooklyn waterfront as you descend. The right side mostly sees the open Atlantic and suburban Queens. Notable sights include: Lower Manhattan skyline, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay and its barrier islands, Brooklyn waterfront and Coney Island.

The flight from Hong Kong International (HKG) to John F Kennedy International (JFK) takes Approximately 16 to 17 hours.

The route follows a polar great-circle track northeastward over the South China Sea, then across southern Japan and the North Pacific. It crosses the Aleutian Islands chain, then arcs over the Gulf of Alaska and the Alaska panhandle, where the St. Elias Mountains and coastal glaciers are visible in clear conditions. The route then crosses the Canadian Rockies and the vast boreal forest of central Canada before descending over the Great Lakes region and the northeastern US seaboard toward New York.