Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Cape Town. While takeoff offers good coastal views, the landing approach into Cape Town provides far more dramatic and distinctive scenery. Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula's unique geography are world-class landmarks visible from the window, making left-side seats the better choice for the overall flight.

During takeoff from Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats capture the Santa Monica Mountains and Pacific coastline as you climb out westbound over the ocean. You'll see the LA basin sprawl and coastal cities receding beneath you. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Mountains, Pacific Ocean coastline, Los Angeles basin urban grid, Santa Catalina Island (distant).

When landing at Cape Town International (CPT), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats offer the best views during the long descent into Cape Town. You'll see Table Mountain dominating the skyline, the Cape Peninsula's distinctive geography, and False Bay's waters before final approach. Notable sights include: Table Mountain, Cape Peninsula, False Bay, Twelve Apostles mountain range.

The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Cape Town International (CPT) takes Approximately 15 hours 30 minutes to 16 hours 30 minutes (depending on winds and routing).

This ultra-long-haul flight crosses the Atlantic Ocean for roughly 7,000 nautical miles. Midpoint occurs over the South Atlantic, typically around 8 hours into the flight near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge region (no visible landmarks from altitude—open ocean). The flight path generally tracks southeast from Los Angeles, passing south of the continental United States, then over the Atlantic with no significant landmass visibility for the majority of the crossing. As you approach Africa (final 4-5 hours), you may glimpse the West African coast near Namibia or southern Angola before turning toward Cape Town. The Benguela Current's cooler waters create occasional cloud patterns visible from altitude in the approach phase.