Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to Amsterdam. Left side wins both ends of the flight. During the transatlantic cruise at 35,000 feet, the left side also faces north toward southern Greenland's ice sheet and the Canadian Maritime coastline depending on the exact routing, while the right side faces south toward open ocean. Left is the clear choice for the full journey.

During takeoff from Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. IAD typically departs east on runway 01R/19L or northeast on runway 12/30. A left-side seat during an eastward or northeastward departure gives you views over the Potomac River and the Washington DC skyline including the National Mall, Capitol, and monuments as the aircraft banks north. The right side faces toward the Virginia suburbs with little of note. Notable sights include: Potomac River, Washington DC National Mall and monuments, Dulles Access Road corridor, Tysons Corner urban cluster.

When landing at Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Schiphol typically lands on runways oriented roughly northeast-southwest (18R/36L, 18C/36C) or east-west (09/27). On a transatlantic arrival from the west, aircraft generally approach from the northwest or west. A left-side seat on approach gives views over the North Sea coast, the Dutch coastline with its distinctive straight canal grid, and central Amsterdam including the concentric canal rings. The right side faces south toward open polder farmland. Notable sights include: North Sea coastline and beach barrier, Amsterdam canal ring (grachtengordel), IJmeer and IJsselmeer, Dutch polder grid with windmills.

The flight from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Schiphol (AMS) takes Approximately 7 to 8 hours.

The great circle route from IAD to AMS passes northeast over Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, then crosses the North Atlantic tracking toward southern Ireland and the UK. Depending on winds, the route may arc toward the southern tip of Greenland. Visible features at altitude include the Canadian Maritime coastline, the open North Atlantic, the Irish coastline near Cork or Galway, southern England or Wales, and the English Channel before descent into the Netherlands.