Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Houston to San Diego. The right side misses the best of the Houston departure but wins decisively on landing with the spectacular San Diego Bay approach. During the cruise over West Texas and New Mexico, the right side also gets slightly better views of the Sacramento Mountains and the terrain approaching the Salton Sea basin. The San Diego arrival alone makes right the clear overall winner.

During takeoff from George Bush Intcntl Houston (IAH), sit on the Left side for the best views. IAH typically departs northwest on runways 26L/26R or north on 15L/15R. On a westbound departure, the left (south) side gives you a clear view back over downtown Houston's skyline and the Ship Channel industrial complex. You can also see the sprawling suburban grid of west Houston spreading toward the horizon. Notable sights include: Downtown Houston skyline, Houston Ship Channel, Lake Houston to the northeast, Hobby Airport in the far southeast.

When landing at San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN), sit on the Right side for the best views. SAN runway 27 is the primary arrival, meaning aircraft approach from the east over Mission Valley and bank over the bay. The right (north) side gives you the iconic view of San Diego Bay, Coronado Island, and Point Loma as you descend over the city. This is one of the most dramatic urban approaches in the US. Notable sights include: San Diego Bay, Coronado Island and the Hotel del Coronado, Point Loma peninsula, downtown San Diego Gaslamp Quarter.

The flight from George Bush Intcntl Houston (IAH) to San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN) takes Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.

The flight tracks west-northwest over the Texas Hill Country, then crosses the Guadalupe Mountains near El Paso, the White Sands region of New Mexico, the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, the Colorado River near Yuma, and finally the Salton Sea and Anza-Borrego Desert before descending into San Diego