Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Panama City. While the left side wins at takeoff for the Manhattan skyline, the right side delivers more consistently throughout the flight — the Caribbean coastline of Cuba and Central America, and the spectacular Panama Canal and Bay of Panama on arrival make it the stronger overall choice.

During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK primarily departs eastward on runways 31L/31R or southward on 22L/22R. On a southbound departure toward Panama, aircraft typically climb out over Jamaica Bay and curve southwest. The left side gives you Manhattan's skyline receding to the northwest, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the New Jersey coastline as you bank south. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline to the northwest, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay wetlands directly below, Staten Island.

When landing at Tocumen International (PTY), sit on the Right side for the best views. Tocumen International sits east of Panama City, and aircraft typically approach from the north or northeast on runway 03L/03R or 10. On approach from the north, the right side faces west toward Panama City itself, the Bay of Panama, and the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. You can see the Bridge of the Americas and the canal's Pacific terminus clearly from the right. Notable sights include: Panama City skyline, Bay of Panama, Bridge of the Americas, Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Tocumen International (PTY) takes Approximately 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours.

The flight tracks south-southwest over the Atlantic, crossing the Bahamas archipelago with its vivid shallow turquoise banks visible from altitude, then the north coast of Cuba or the Windward Passage between Cuba and Hispaniola. It continues over the Caribbean Sea, passing the Cayman Islands to the right, then crosses the Yucatan Channel or western Caribbean before reaching the Colombian coast and tracking along the isthmus toward Panama. The Sierra Maestra mountains of eastern Cuba and the mountainous spine of Central America are visible on clear days.