Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Houston to New York. Left side wins both ends of the flight. The Manhattan approach on the left is genuinely one of the best urban arrival views in the world, and the Houston departure also favors left for the city skyline and bay views. During the cruise over the mid-Atlantic states, the left side also tracks closer to the Appalachian ridgelines visible in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

During takeoff from George Bush Intcntl Houston (IAH), sit on the Left side for the best views. IAH primarily departs northward or eastward on runways 15/33 and 8/26. On a northeast departure toward New York, the left (north/west) side gives you a clear view back over downtown Houston's skyline as the aircraft banks right. The Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay are also visible to the southeast from the left side during the climbing turn. Notable sights include: Downtown Houston skyline, Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Bay to the southeast, Lake Houston to the northeast.

When landing at La Guardia (LGA), sit on the Left side for the best views. LGA sits on the north shore of Queens and typically lands on runway 13 (southeast approach) or runway 31 (northwest approach). On the common runway 13 approach from the southwest, the left side faces Manhattan directly — you get a prolonged, close view of the entire Manhattan skyline, the Hudson River, and the East River as the aircraft descends low over Queens. This is one of the most dramatic urban approaches in aviation. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline (Midtown and Lower Manhattan), Hudson River, East River, Flushing Bay directly below on final.

The flight from George Bush Intcntl Houston (IAH) to La Guardia (LGA) takes Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes.

The flight tracks northeast over Louisiana and Mississippi, crossing the Mississippi River near Baton Rouge or Memphis depending on routing. Over Tennessee and the Carolinas, the Appalachian Mountains are visible — the Blue Ridge and Ridge-and-Valley sections appear as parallel northeast-southwest trending ridgelines. Over Virginia and Maryland the Chesapeake Bay is a prominent feature. The New Jersey Pine Barrens appear as a large dark forested expanse before the urban density of the New York metro begins.