Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Milano. The left seat wins at takeoff for the Manhattan skyline, but the right seat delivers the more sustained and dramatic scenery: as the flight tracks northeast over the Atlantic and then across Europe, the right side picks up the southern coast of Ireland, the English Channel, northern France, and then the spectacular Alpine approach into Malpensa with Lake Maggiore. The Alpine arrival alone makes right the better overall choice.

During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK typically departs eastward over Jamaica Bay on runways 31L/31R or 22L/22R. A left seat on a northeast departure gives you Manhattan's skyline receding to the northwest, with the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and Upper New York Bay clearly visible. The grid of Brooklyn and Queens spreads out directly below before the Atlantic opens up. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline to the northwest, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay wetlands directly below, Long Island Sound as you climb out.

When landing at Malpensa (MXP), sit on the Right side for the best views. Malpensa typically lands on runways 35L/35R (northward) or 17L/17R (southward). On a standard approach from the south or southeast, the right side gives a clear view of Lake Maggiore and its islands, with the Alps rising sharply behind. The Po Valley's flat agricultural patchwork fills the foreground on approach. Notable sights include: Lake Maggiore with Borromean Islands, the Alps (Monte Rosa massif to the north), Po Valley agricultural plain, Ticino River valley.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Malpensa (MXP) takes Approximately 8 to 8.5 hours.

The route typically tracks northeast over the North Atlantic, passing south of Newfoundland, then crossing southern Ireland or Cornwall, the English Channel, northern France (Loire Valley region), Switzerland or southern Germany, and finally descending over the Po Valley into Malpensa. The Swiss and French Alps are visible on the descent, and on clear days the Rhine Valley is identifiable from altitude over central Europe.