Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Raiatea Island. The right side wins overall because the Raiatea arrival view — volcanic peaks, the shared lagoon with Tahaa, and the barrier reef — is exceptionally scenic and unique. The left side is better at JFK departure, but the right side's landing view in French Polynesia is the more memorable payoff of the two.

During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK departures on runway 31L/31R head northwest, putting Manhattan directly on the left side. You get a clear view of the full Manhattan skyline, the East River crossings, and Brooklyn below as the aircraft climbs out over Jamaica Bay and turns west. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay, Brooklyn waterfront.

When landing at Uturoa (RFP), sit on the Right side for the best views. Raiatea's airport sits on the northwest coast of the island, and aircraft typically approach from the northwest over the lagoon. A right-side seat gives you the view over the interior of the island — the volcanic ridgeline of Mount Tefaafaiti and the lush green peaks — while also capturing the turquoise lagoon and the barrier reef surrounding both Raiatea and Tahaa. Notable sights include: Mount Tefaafaiti volcanic ridgeline, Raiatea-Tahaa shared lagoon, barrier reef, island of Tahaa.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Uturoa (RFP) takes Approximately 10 to 11 hours nonstop (if operating), though this route typically connects via Papeete (PPT), making total travel time 14 to 17 hours depending on connection.

The flight tracks southwest across the continental US, passing over the American Southwest desert and the Sierra Nevada range, before crossing the California coast near Los Angeles. From there it is an extended overwater crossing of the central Pacific Ocean — one of the longest stretches of open ocean on any commercial route — with no significant landmasses until the Tuamotu Archipelago atolls appear as tiny low-lying coral rings in the deep blue Pacific roughly 200 miles northeast of Tahiti, followed by the Society Islands including Huahine before reaching Raiatea.