Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Washington. While the right side wins at takeoff with the LA Basin panorama, the left side delivers more consistently across the full flight: it picks up the Colorado Plateau and Four Corners region in the cruise, and then provides the iconic DCA River Visual approach with the National Mall laid out below. The landing view is one of the most spectacular approaches in US commercial aviation.

During takeoff from Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX typically departs westward over the ocean on runways 24L/24R, then turns northeast. Right side passengers get the sweep back over the LA Basin, with the Santa Monica Mountains, downtown LA skyline, and the San Gabriel Mountains visible as the aircraft banks. Left side faces the Pacific during the initial climb. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Mountains, Downtown LA skyline, San Gabriel Mountains, Griffith Observatory area.

When landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), sit on the Left side for the best views. DCA sits on the west bank of the Potomac River, and aircraft typically approach from the south or north along the river corridor. On the standard River Visual approach to runway 19, left-side passengers get direct views of the National Mall, the Capitol, and the monuments as the plane follows the Potomac northbound before turning to land. Right side faces Virginia suburbs. Notable sights include: Potomac River, National Mall and monuments, US Capitol, Arlington Memorial Bridge area.

The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) takes Approximately 4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes westbound, 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours eastbound.

Mojave Desert and Joshua Tree region shortly after departure, Colorado River crossing near Needles, the Colorado Plateau and Grand Canyon region visible to the north around the Arizona-Utah border, Four Corners area, New Mexico high desert, Texas Panhandle plains, Oklahoma and Arkansas lowlands, Tennessee River valley, Appalachian Mountains crossing into Virginia