Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Hobart. The left side delivers the iconic Manhattan and New York Harbor departure view, which is one of the great urban aerial spectacles in aviation. The Hobart arrival views on the right are excellent but shorter in duration. Over the long transpacific and Southern Ocean crossing, neither side has a meaningful advantage, so the JFK departure experience tips the balance to the left.

During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK's primary departure runways 31L/31R send aircraft on a northwest heading over Jamaica Bay and then across Brooklyn and Manhattan. The left side gives you a direct view of Lower Manhattan's skyline, the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge as the aircraft banks right toward its oceanic track. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty in Upper New York Bay, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay wetlands directly below.

When landing at Hobart (HBA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Hobart's runway 12/30 is the primary runway. Aircraft approaching from the north on runway 30 track southeast over the Derwent River estuary and descend with the Tasman Peninsula to the right. The right side gives clear views of Mount Wellington (kunanyi) rising steeply above Hobart, the Derwent River, and the Tasman Bridge. Notable sights include: Mount Wellington (kunanyi) above Hobart, Derwent River estuary, Tasman Bridge, Storm Bay at the river mouth.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Hobart (HBA) takes Approximately 22-24 hours with one stop, typically Sydney or Melbourne — no nonstop service exists on this route.

The route tracks south over the Atlantic briefly before turning southeast across the Caribbean and then south over the Pacific Ocean. The flight crosses the vast empty South Pacific, passing east of New Zealand's South Island (visible distantly on the left if routing via that corridor), then crosses the Tasman Sea before descending toward Tasmania. The Southern Ocean approach to Hobart is notable for its remoteness — very little land is visible for many hours before the Tasmanian coastline appears.