Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Zurich. The left side wins overall. The Manhattan and New York Harbor views on departure are among the most iconic urban aerial views in the world, and as the flight tracks northeast over the North Atlantic, the left side also picks up the southern coast of Greenland's ice sheet and Iceland's volcanic terrain if routing goes that way. On arrival the right side is better for Zurich, but the departure spectacle tips the balance to left 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 31L/31R or 22L/22R. On a northeast departure toward Europe, the left side gives you Manhattan's skyline receding to the northwest, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and a clear view over Upper New York Bay. The right side faces the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island's south shore, which is comparatively featureless. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline to the northwest, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Upper New York Bay, the Hudson River corridor heading north.

When landing at Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Right side for the best views. Zurich typically lands on runway 14 or 28, often approaching from the northwest over the Swiss Plateau. On a standard ILS approach to runway 14, the right side faces south and southeast, giving a direct view of Lake Zurich, the city center, and the distant Alps including the Glarus Alps and, on clear days, the Bernese Oberland peaks on the horizon. The left side faces north toward the Jura hills and the German border, which is far less dramatic. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich, Zurich city center and old town, the Glarus Alps to the southeast, the Limmat River valley.

The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Zurich (ZRH) takes Approximately 8 to 8.5 hours.

The flight typically tracks northeast over Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, then crosses the North Atlantic. Depending on routing, the southern tip of Greenland's ice cap may be visible, followed by the Norwegian Sea. The route then passes over the British Isles or northern France before descending into Switzerland over the Jura plateau and the Swiss Plateau.