Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to San Jose. While left side wins at JFK for the Manhattan and bay views, right side delivers the more dramatic and sustained scenery — the Yucatan Peninsula coastline during cruise, and the spectacular volcanic approach into Costa Rica's Central Valley make right the better choice for the full journey.

During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK typically departs eastward on runways 13L/13R or westward on 31L/31R depending on winds. On the dominant eastward departure (runway 13), a left-side seat gives you Manhattan's skyline as the aircraft banks south, with the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and Upper New York Bay clearly visible. On westward departures (runway 31), left side still captures Jamaica Bay and the Brooklyn waterfront. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline to the northwest, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay and its wildlife refuge directly below, Brooklyn waterfront.

When landing at Juan Santamaria International (SJO), sit on the Right side for the best views. SJO sits in the Central Valley with the Cordillera Central directly to the north. Aircraft typically approach from the east on runway 07 or from the west on runway 25. On the common westward approach (runway 07, landing heading east), the right side faces north toward the Poás and Barva volcanoes of the Cordillera Central, which are dramatically visible rising above the valley floor. On runway 25 approaches, right side still captures the valley and volcanic peaks. Notable sights include: Volcán Poás (2,708m) to the north, Volcán Barva to the northeast, the Central Valley urban sprawl of San José, the green coffee-plantation slopes of the valley walls.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Juan Santamaria International (SJO) takes Approximately 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours.

The flight tracks south-southwest over the Atlantic off the US East Coast, then crosses Cuba or the western Caribbean, passes over or near the Yucatan Peninsula where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean, crosses the Gulf of Honduras, then transits Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica. The Nicaraguan lakes (Lago de Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America) are visible on the right side during descent. The Pacific coastline of Costa Rica may be briefly visible on approach.