Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Los Angeles. The left side delivers the iconic Manhattan skyline on departure, which is one of the most spectacular urban aerial views in the world. The landing view on the right is good but the approach over the LA Basin is less dramatic. Left wins overall for the departure alone.

During takeoff from La Guardia (LGA), sit on the Left side for the best views. LGA departures heading west on runway 13/31 or using the Expressway Visual typically bank left over Flushing Bay and the East River, putting Manhattan's skyline directly on the left side. You get a clear view of Midtown and Lower Manhattan as the aircraft climbs out over Queens. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline (Midtown and Lower Manhattan), East River, Flushing Bay, Queensboro Bridge.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX arrivals on runways 24L/24R approach from the east over the Los Angeles Basin, and the right side faces south toward the Santa Monica Bay coastline and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. You also get a clear view of the LA urban grid and the Pacific Ocean opening up ahead as you descend. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles urban grid, Pacific Ocean coastline.

The flight from La Guardia (LGA) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 5 hours 30 minutes westbound.

The flight path crosses the Appalachian Mountains over Pennsylvania, then the flat agricultural plains of Ohio and Indiana, the Mississippi River near St. Louis, the Ozark Plateau, the Texas Panhandle, the Sangre de Cristo and Rocky Mountains over New Mexico and Arizona, the Colorado Plateau with its canyon systems, and the Mojave Desert before descending into the LA Basin