Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Bordeaux. Left side wins both ends of the flight. At takeoff you get the Bosphorus and Sea of Marmara, and at landing you get the Gironde estuary and Bordeaux city. During the cruise the left side also faces south toward the Alps and Pyrenees as the route tracks over the Balkans and southern France.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing IST typically uses runway 06 heading northeast or runway 35 heading north. On a westbound flight to Bordeaux, the aircraft turns left after takeoff, putting the left side over the Marmara Sea and the historic Istanbul peninsula. The Bosphorus strait, Golden Horn, and the dense urban sprawl of European Istanbul are clearly visible on the left. Notable sights include: Sea of Marmara, Bosphorus Strait, historic Istanbul peninsula (Sultanahmet/Topkapi area visible as dense urban mass), Prince's Islands in the Marmara.

When landing at Merignac (BOD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Bordeaux Merignac typically uses runway 23 for westerly approaches, meaning the aircraft arrives from the northeast tracking southwest. The left side faces southeast toward the Gironde estuary and the city of Bordeaux itself, with the broad tidal river clearly visible. The right side faces northwest over flat pine forest of the Landes. Notable sights include: Gironde estuary (wide tidal mouth), Garonne River curving through Bordeaux city center, Landes pine forest plateau, Atlantic coast visible to the northwest.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Merignac (BOD) takes Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 50 minutes.

The route crosses northern Greece and Macedonia, then tracks over the Adriatic Sea near the heel of Italy, crosses the Italian peninsula near Rome at cruise altitude, then passes over southern France crossing the Rhone Valley and the Massif Central before descending toward Bordeaux. The Alps are visible to the north as a distant white ridgeline from the left side over northern Italy. The Pyrenees appear on the left horizon during descent into Bordeaux.