Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Melbourne. The Melbourne arrival on the left side delivers a genuinely spectacular approach over Port Phillip Bay and the CBD skyline, which outweighs the LAX departure advantage on the right. For the bulk of the 16-hour transpacific flight the view is open ocean regardless of side, so the landing experience tips the balance.

During takeoff from Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX departures on runways 24L/24R head west over the Pacific, then turn northwest. Right side passengers get a sweeping look back at the Santa Monica Bay coastline, the Santa Monica Mountains, and the LA Basin sprawl before the aircraft heads out over open ocean. Left side faces south toward the Palos Verdes Peninsula but quickly becomes ocean. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay coastline, Santa Monica Mountains ridge, Downtown LA skyline in the distance, Palos Verdes Peninsula.

When landing at Melbourne Essendon (MEB), sit on the Left side for the best views. Essendon Airport sits just north of Melbourne's CBD, and aircraft typically approach from the north or northwest on runway 17/26. Left side passengers get a direct view over Port Phillip Bay, the Melbourne CBD skyline, and the Yarra River as the aircraft descends. Right side faces north toward suburban sprawl with fewer distinctive features. Notable sights include: Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne CBD skyline, Yarra River, Maribyrnong River.

The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Melbourne Essendon (MEB) takes Approximately 15 to 17 hours depending on winds and routing.

The flight tracks southwest from LAX across the open North Pacific, passing well south of Hawaii. The route crosses the equator roughly over the central Pacific, then continues southwest over the South Pacific. Fiji and Vanuatu may be within a few hundred miles of the track depending on routing. The final approach crosses the Tasman Sea before making landfall over Victoria's coastline near Geelong or the Mornington Peninsula. For most of the flight the view is unbroken open ocean with occasional cloud formations.