Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Calcutta. While the takeoff offers interesting coastal views, the landing approach provides more dramatic and sustained scenery. The Hooghly River delta and Calcutta's urban geography are visually distinctive and occupy a larger portion of the descent. Right seats also capture better views of the transition from the Gangetic plains into the city.

During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left seats offer views of Long Island Sound and the Connecticut coastline during the initial climb-out heading east-northeast. You'll see the irregular shoreline and barrier islands that define the New York area's eastern approach corridor. Notable sights include: Long Island Sound, Connecticut coastline, Jamaica Bay marshlands, Atlantic barrier islands.

When landing at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (CCU), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right seats provide excellent views of the Hooghly River delta and Calcutta's urban sprawl during the descent approach from the northwest. The river's distinctive meanders and the city's grid pattern are clearly visible at 8,000-12,000 feet. Notable sights include: Hooghly River with its characteristic bends, Calcutta urban grid, Sundarbans mangrove delta to the south, Bengal plains.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (CCU) takes Approximately 16-17 hours.

The flight path crosses the Atlantic, then over Europe (Alps visible on clear days), the Mediterranean, Middle East (Persian Gulf, Zagros Mountains), Arabian Sea, and finally the Indian subcontinent. Most dramatic midpoint features include the Zagros Mountains in Iran (visible around 8-10 hours into flight), the Arabian Peninsula's eastern coast, and the Western Ghats mountains as you approach India's west coast before turning toward Calcutta.