Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Guatemala City. The volcanic approach into Guatemala City on the right side is one of the most dramatic arrival sequences in Central America. While the left side wins at JFK departure, the right side's volcanic panorama on arrival is the highlight of the flight. Over Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula mid-flight, the right side also faces the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico coastline.

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. On the common 31L/31R departure, a left-bank turn heading southwest gives you Manhattan's skyline across the water, with the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and Upper New York Bay clearly visible. Right side gets the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island suburbs. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline to the northwest, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Upper New York Bay, Jamaica Bay wetlands directly below.

When landing at La Aurora (GUA), sit on the Right side for the best views. La Aurora airport sits in Guatemala City's southern urban area, and aircraft typically approach from the north or east on runway 02. A right-side seat on approach gives you the volcanic chain to the west — Volcán de Agua, Acatenango, and Fuego are all visible on the right as you descend over the city. Left side faces the eastern highlands with less dramatic topography. Notable sights include: Volcán de Agua (3,760m), Volcán Acatenango, Volcán de Fuego (actively smoking), Guatemala City urban sprawl in the valley.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to La Aurora (GUA) takes Approximately 5 hours 30 minutes.

The flight tracks southwest over the Appalachians, then crosses the Florida Straits and Cuba's central mountain ranges (Sierra Maestra visible to the south), continues over the western Caribbean Sea, crosses the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico with its flat limestone karst terrain and coastal lagoons, then enters Guatemala over the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes highlands before descending into the Guatemala City basin surrounded by the Pacific volcanic chain