Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Detroit. Left side wins decisively at both ends. The Bosphorus and Istanbul's historic core at departure and the Detroit River and city skyline on approach are both on the left. Over the Atlantic and central Europe the views are largely symmetric, so the departure and arrival experiences tip the balance clearly to the left.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. IST departures heading west on runway 06/24 or northwest on 17R/35L give the left side a sweeping view over the Bosphorus strait, the historic peninsula of Sultanahmet, and the Sea of Marmara. The right side faces inland toward suburban sprawl with far less visual interest. Notable sights include: Bosphorus Strait, Sea of Marmara, Sultanahmet historic peninsula (Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque visible as a dense cluster), Prince's Islands.

When landing at Detroit City (DET), sit on the Left side for the best views. Detroit City Airport (DET) sits on the northeast side of Detroit. Approaches typically come from the east or northeast, meaning the left side will look south over the Detroit River, Windsor Ontario across the border, and the downtown Detroit skyline. The right side faces northeast toward suburban residential areas with little visual distinction. Notable sights include: Detroit River, Windsor Ontario waterfront, downtown Detroit skyline, Lake St. Clair to the northeast.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Detroit City (DET) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The route tracks northwest over Bulgaria and Romania, crosses the Carpathian Mountains in western Romania and Slovakia, passes over southern Germany and the Rhine valley, crosses the English Channel near the Netherlands or Belgium, then heads northwest over the North Atlantic. The Greenland ice sheet may be visible on the northern horizon on clear days. The route descends over Newfoundland and the Great Lakes region of Ontario before reaching Detroit.