Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Taipei. The left side wins at both ends of the flight. Over the Pacific the views are largely ocean regardless of side, but the left side also gets better angles on the Aleutian Island chain if the polar routing passes near Alaska, and delivers the superior Taipei Basin arrival view.

During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK departures heading east on runway 13L/13R or northeast on 22L/22R give the left side a clear view back over Jamaica Bay, the Manhattan skyline, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The right side faces the Atlantic Ocean with little to see. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline to the northwest, Jamaica Bay wetlands directly below, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge spanning the harbor, Brooklyn waterfront.

When landing at Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE), sit on the Left side for the best views. Taoyuan Airport typically uses runways 05L/05R or 23L/23R. On the common approach from the northeast over the Taiwan Strait, the left side faces south toward Taipei Basin, with the city and surrounding mountains clearly visible. The right side looks out over the flat coastal plain and open water. Notable sights include: Taipei Basin and city center, Yangmingshan volcanic mountains to the north, Central Mountain Range peaks to the east, Taiwan Strait coastline.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE) takes Approximately 15 to 16 hours.

The great circle route from JFK to TPE tracks northeast over New England and Nova Scotia, then arcs across the North Pacific, passing south of the Aleutian Islands chain. The flight crosses the International Date Line roughly midway. Over Japan, the route typically passes near or over Hokkaido or the northern Japanese islands before descending toward Taiwan. The vast majority of the flight is over open Pacific Ocean with occasional cloud systems visible below.