Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Philipsburg. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. Departing JFK you get Manhattan and Jamaica Bay, and arriving at SXM you get the best view of Simpson Bay Lagoon and the island's geography. The flight tracks southeast over the open Atlantic for most of its duration, so mid-flight views are similar on both sides — deep blue ocean with occasional cloud formations.

During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK primarily departs eastward on runways 22L/22R or 31L/31R depending on winds. On the dominant southwesterly departure (runway 22L/22R), the left side gets Manhattan's skyline as the aircraft banks south over Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic. On northwesterly departures (31L/31R), the left side still captures the Manhattan skyline across the water to the northwest. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline to the northwest, Jamaica Bay wetlands directly below, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the west, Long Island shoreline stretching east.

When landing at Princess Juliana International (SXM), sit on the Left side for the best views. Princess Juliana's runway 10 is the primary arrival direction, with aircraft approaching from the east over the Caribbean and touching down heading westward. The left side faces south toward the open Caribbean and the island of St. Barths on the horizon, while the right side faces north toward the famous Maho Beach. However, on runway 28 arrivals (less common), the left side gets the dramatic low approach over Simpson Bay Lagoon. Overall the left side on the standard runway 10 approach gives a broader view of the island's geography including the French side hills. Notable sights include: Simpson Bay Lagoon directly below on approach, St. Maarten's green hillsides of the French side (Pic Paradis), Maho Beach and the runway threshold, St. Barths visible as a low silhouette roughly 15 miles to the southeast.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Princess Juliana International (SXM) takes Approximately 4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes.

After departing New York the route tracks southeast over the open Atlantic, passing well east of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Around the midpoint the Bermuda archipelago may be visible roughly 100 miles to the west if conditions are clear, appearing as a faint low landmass. The flight then crosses the Sargasso Sea and the northern Caribbean, with the islands of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands appearing on the left (east) side roughly 45-60 minutes before landing as low green silhouettes on the horizon.