Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Edinburgh. The right side delivers the spectacular LAX departure view over Santa Monica Bay and the LA coastline, and over Greenland and Iceland in the mid-flight, the right side also faces south toward the more dramatic icecap and coastal fjord scenery. The Edinburgh arrival is slightly better on the left, but the takeoff and mid-route views give the right side the edge overall.

During takeoff from Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX departures heading west over the ocean typically use runways 24L/24R, meaning a right-side seat faces north toward Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Mountains, and the LA Basin sprawl. You get a clear view of the coastline curving up toward Malibu and the Hollywood Hills behind it. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay coastline, Santa Monica Mountains/Malibu ridgeline, LA Basin urban grid, Griffith Park hills.

When landing at Edinburgh (EDI), sit on the Left side for the best views. Edinburgh Airport uses runway 06/24; arrivals from the west on runway 06 approach from the southwest, putting the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh city center, and Arthur's Seat on the left side. You get a direct view of the castle rock and the city's distinctive layout as you descend. Notable sights include: Firth of Forth and Forth Bridges, Arthur's Seat volcanic plug, Edinburgh city center and Old Town ridge, Pentland Hills to the south.

The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Edinburgh (EDI) takes Approximately 10 to 11 hours.

The great circle route tracks north over the Sierra Nevada and Rockies, then across southern Canada and Hudson Bay, over the southern tip of Greenland with its ice sheet and fjords, across Iceland where the volcanic interior and coastline are visible, then over the North Atlantic and Scotland's west coast before descending into Edinburgh. The Greenland ice sheet and Icelandic lava fields are the most dramatic mid-flight features.