The left side bookends the short flight with two recognizable city skylines — Manhattan on departure and downtown Boston on arrival — which outweigh the right side's more general coastal views of Long Island Sound and Boston Harbor.
Flight Path
The route's midpoint lies over central Long Island Sound and the Connecticut shoreline near New Haven, with Rhode Island Sound and Block Island visible further along before the descent into Boston.
Great circle distance and headings ›Phase by phase
Takeoff from JFK
LEFTDeparting JFK toward the northeast, the initial climb and turn put Manhattan off the left side of the aircraft, with the skyline briefly visible before the plane settles onto its course over Long Island Sound. The right side mostly shows the flatter marshes of Jamaica Bay and the Queens/Long Island shoreline.
Landing at BOS
LEFTOn approach to Logan's runway 4 from the southwest, the aircraft's left side faces northwest, giving passengers a clear view of downtown Boston, the Charles River, and Back Bay just before touchdown. The right side instead shows the open harbor and outlying islands, which are pleasant but less distinctive.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Boston. The left side bookends the short flight with two recognizable city skylines — Manhattan on departure and downtown Boston on arrival — which outweigh the right side's more general coastal views of Long Island Sound and Boston Harbor.
What can I see during takeoff from John F Kennedy International in New York?
During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing JFK toward the northeast, the initial climb and turn put Manhattan off the left side of the aircraft, with the skyline briefly visible before the plane settles onto its course over Long Island Sound. The right side mostly shows the flatter marshes of Jamaica Bay and the Queens/Long Island shoreline. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline (Empire State Building, One World Trade Center), East River, Jamaica Bay wetlands, western Long Island Sound.
What can I see when landing at General Edward Lawrence Logan International in Boston?
When landing at General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS), sit on the Left side for the best views. On approach to Logan's runway 4 from the southwest, the aircraft's left side faces northwest, giving passengers a clear view of downtown Boston, the Charles River, and Back Bay just before touchdown. The right side instead shows the open harbor and outlying islands, which are pleasant but less distinctive. Notable sights include: Boston Financial District skyline, Back Bay towers (Prudential and John Hancock buildings), Charles River, Beacon Hill.
How long is the flight from New York to Boston?
The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS) takes 1h 20m.
What does the New York to Boston flight path pass over?
The route's midpoint lies over central Long Island Sound and the Connecticut shoreline near New Haven, with Rhode Island Sound and Block Island visible further along before the descent into Boston.