Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Istanbul to Karachi. The right side wins overall. The departure view over the Bosphorus and Sea of Marmara is the most spectacular moment of the flight. En route, the right side also faces south over the Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey, the eastern Mediterranean coast near Adana, and later the rugged terrain of Balochistan. The left side has the better landing view at Karachi, but the departure and cruise scenery tips the balance to the right.

During takeoff from Ataturk (IST), sit on the Right side for the best views. IST typically departs eastward on runway 06, so the right (south) side gives you the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus strait, and the dense urban sprawl of Istanbul's European and Asian sides. The left side faces north toward the Black Sea coast with less visual interest at departure. Notable sights include: Sea of Marmara, Bosphorus strait, Prince's Islands (Adalar), Istanbul city center with its dense rooftop skyline.

When landing at Jinnah International (KHI), sit on the Left side for the best views. KHI typically lands from the west or southwest on runway 25L/25R, meaning the left (south) side faces the Arabian Sea coastline and the Karachi harbor area. The right side looks inland over flat, featureless scrubland of Sindh province. Notable sights include: Arabian Sea coastline, Karachi harbor and port facilities, Clifton Beach and Defence Housing Authority coastal strip, Manora Island at the harbor mouth.

The flight from Ataturk (IST) to Jinnah International (KHI) takes Approximately 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours.

After departing Istanbul, the route crosses the Anatolian plateau over central Turkey, then the Taurus Mountains near Adana. It then tracks southeast over northern Syria and Iraq, crossing the Zagros Mountains of western Iran. The route continues over the Iranian plateau and the vast Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut desert basins before descending over the rugged Makran coast of Balochistan and into Karachi.