Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Rome. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. Over the Atlantic the views are similar on both sides, but the left seat delivers Manhattan on departure and the Alban Hills with Lake Albano on arrival — two genuinely distinctive and memorable views.

During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK's primary departure runways (31L/31R) head northwest, putting Manhattan directly on the left side as the aircraft climbs out over Jamaica Bay. You get a clear view of the entire Manhattan skyline, the East River bridges, and the Hudson River before turning east. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Jamaica Bay, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, East River and its bridges.

When landing at Ciampino (CIA), sit on the Left side for the best views. Ciampino's main runway (15/33) means arrivals from the northwest on runway 15 track southeast over the Alban Hills. A left window seat gives you the Castelli Romani volcanic hills, Lake Albano, and a clear view toward central Rome and the Tiber valley before touchdown. Notable sights include: Alban Hills (Castelli Romani), Lake Albano, Tiber River valley, Rome's historic center.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Ciampino (CIA) takes Approximately 8 to 9 hours.

The route tracks northeast from JFK over Long Island Sound, then crosses the North Atlantic via a great circle arc passing south of Newfoundland and over the southern tip of Greenland or Iceland depending on the jet stream. The Irish coast and southwest England or northern France are crossed before descending over the Alps or northern Italy. Passengers may see the Alps as a broad white mountain chain on the horizon during descent, and the Po Valley of northern Italy as a flat hazy plain before the Apennines and the approach to Rome.