Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Zurich. The right side wins at takeoff for the California coast, but the left side delivers the more dramatic and sustained views: over Greenland's ice sheet, the Norwegian coast, and crucially the spectacular Lake Zurich and Alpine arrival. The left side also tracks closer to the Canadian Rockies and Greenland ice cap during the polar routing. On balance, left side wins the full journey.

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 before turning north, so the right side faces south toward the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the coastline. As the aircraft banks north, the right side picks up the Santa Monica Bay, Malibu coast, and eventually the Santa Monica Mountains. Left side faces the ocean with little to see. Notable sights include: Palos Verdes Peninsula, Santa Monica Bay, Malibu coastline, Santa Monica Mountains.

When landing at Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. ZRH arrivals typically use runway 14 or 28 depending on wind. On the common runway 14 approach from the northwest, the left side faces south toward the city of Zurich, Lake Zurich stretching southeast, and the Alps on the horizon. The right side faces north toward less dramatic terrain. Even on runway 28, the left side catches Lake Zurich and the city center on final. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich, Zurich city center, Swiss Alps on southern horizon, Glarus Alps.

The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Zurich (ZRH) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The great circle route from LAX to ZRH tracks northeast over the Sierra Nevada, then across the Canadian Rockies and Hudson Bay, arcing over southern Greenland's ice sheet and glaciated coastline, crossing Iceland or just south of it, then descending over the North Sea and into central Europe via the Netherlands and Germany before entering Swiss airspace.