Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to East London. The left side wins overall due to the dramatic JFK departure views of Jamaica Bay and the Manhattan skyline. The flight tracks southeast across the Atlantic then down the African coast, and at cruising altitude neither side offers dramatically more than open ocean for most of the journey. The departure experience on the left is the most visually rewarding single moment of the flight.

During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK primarily departs eastward over Jamaica Bay on runways 31L/31R or southward on 22L/22R. A left seat on an eastward departure gives you Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway Peninsula immediately below, then the Atlantic coastline. On a northward climbout via runway 13L/13R, left side captures Manhattan's skyline across the bay as the aircraft banks. Notable sights include: Jamaica Bay and its barrier islands, Rockaway Peninsula, Lower Manhattan skyline to the northwest, Long Island's south shore barrier beaches.

When landing at East London (ELS), sit on the Right side for the best views. East London Airport sits on the coast of the Eastern Cape, with the Buffalo River mouth and Indian Ocean to the south. Aircraft typically approach from the west or southwest on runway 07, meaning a right-side seat faces north toward the city of East London and the Buffalo River valley. On a runway 25 approach from the east, right side still captures the Indian Ocean coastline and the river mouth. Notable sights include: Buffalo River mouth and estuary, East London city center and harbor, Indian Ocean coastline, Eastern Cape coastal hills.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to East London (ELS) takes Approximately 16 to 17 hours nonstop, though most routings connect via Johannesburg (OR Tambo), making total travel time 20 to 24 hours.

The great circle route crosses the North Atlantic southeast of Bermuda, then tracks across the central South Atlantic passing well west of the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. The route crosses the equator over open ocean roughly midway, then approaches the African continent near the Angola or Namibia coast, passing over or near the Kalahari and Eastern Cape interior before descending to East London. The South African highveld and coastal escarpment are briefly visible on descent.