Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Auckland. The left side wins overall because the Auckland arrival view on the left — with the Sky Tower, Waitemata Harbour, and Rangitoto Island all visible simultaneously — is one of the more dramatic urban arrival views in the Southern Hemisphere. The right side at LAX departure is excellent, but the Auckland arrival on the left edges it out for the full journey.

During takeoff from Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX departures heading west over the Pacific typically use runways 24L/24R, meaning the right side faces north toward Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Mountains, and the Los Angeles basin sprawling inland. The left side faces south over the relatively featureless South Bay and Palos Verdes Peninsula coastline. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay coastline, Santa Monica Mountains ridge, Downtown Los Angeles skyline to the northeast, Malibu coastline stretching northwest.

When landing at Auckland International (AKL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Auckland Airport sits on the Manukau Harbour side of the isthmus, and aircraft typically approach from the north on runway 23L/23R heading south. The left side faces east toward the Waitemata Harbour, the Auckland CBD skyline, and the Hauraki Gulf with its islands. The right side faces west over the Manukau Harbour and the Tasman Sea. Notable sights include: Auckland CBD skyline and Sky Tower, Waitemata Harbour, Rangitoto Island volcanic cone in the Hauraki Gulf, Manukau Harbour to the west.

The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Auckland International (AKL) takes Approximately 12 to 13 hours.

The flight tracks southwest across the open South Pacific Ocean, one of the most remote stretches of ocean on Earth. The route passes north of French Polynesia, with Tahiti and the Society Islands potentially visible far to the south in clear conditions. The Cook Islands lie roughly beneath the flight path in the mid-Pacific. The crossing involves no significant landmasses for roughly 6,500 miles. The International Date Line is crossed approximately 3 to 4 hours before arrival, and the Kermadec Islands may be visible as tiny specks in the ocean roughly 90 minutes north of Auckland.