Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Johannesburg to Zurich. The left side misses the Joburg skyline on departure but wins decisively on arrival with the Lake Zurich and Alpine panorama. Over the flight path, the left side also faces east toward the Nile Valley and Red Sea coast during the cruise over East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, offering more geographic interest at altitude.

During takeoff from Johannesburg International (JNB), sit on the Right side for the best views. O.R. Tambo typically departs northward on runway 03L/03R, putting the Johannesburg city skyline and the Witwatersrand ridge to the right (east). You get a clear view of the dense urban grid of Sandton and Joburg CBD as you climb out over the Highveld plateau. Notable sights include: Johannesburg CBD skyline, Sandton financial district towers, Witwatersrand ridge, Midrand urban sprawl.

When landing at Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Zurich Airport typically lands on runway 14 or 28 depending on wind. On the common runway 14 approach from the north, the left side faces west toward the city of Zurich, Lake Zurich stretching southeast, and the Alps on the southern horizon. The left seat gives you the city, the lake, and the distant Alpine panorama simultaneously. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich, Zurich city center and old town, Swiss Plateau farmland, Alps on southern horizon.

The flight from Johannesburg International (JNB) to Zurich (ZRH) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The route tracks north over Zimbabwe and Zambia, crosses Tanzania and Kenya, then over the Horn of Africa region or Sudan depending on routing, crosses the Red Sea and Egyptian desert, overflies the Mediterranean near Greece or Italy, then descends across the Alps into Switzerland. Key features include the East African Rift Valley lakes visible from altitude, the Nile River corridor through Sudan and Egypt, the deep blue of the Red Sea, the Mediterranean coastline, and the Alps on descent.