Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Santiago. The Andes approach on the left side at landing is one of the most spectacular views in commercial aviation — a continuous wall of 6,000m+ peaks filling the window for 30+ minutes on descent. While the right side at Heathrow departure offers good London views, the Andean arrival on the left is the highlight of this route and tips the balance decisively.

During takeoff from Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Right side for the best views. Heathrow departures heading east on runway 27L/27R (westbound) or turning south give the right side a clear view over central London. You get the Thames snaking through the city, the City of London skyline, and Canary Wharf towers before the aircraft climbs out over Surrey and the North Downs. Notable sights include: River Thames bends through central London, Canary Wharf cluster, Windsor Castle and Great Park to the west, M25 orbital motorway arc.

When landing at Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Aircraft approaching SCL typically land on runway 17 heading south, or depart/arrive from the north. The left side faces east toward the Andes, giving a prolonged and dramatic view of the full Andean cordillera including Aconcagua and the snow-capped peaks above Santiago. The right side faces west over the flat Central Valley and coastal range with far less visual interest. Notable sights include: Aconcagua (6,961m, highest peak in the Americas), the main Andean cordillera wall east of Santiago, the flat Central Valley (Valle Central) below, Cerro El Plomo above the city.

The flight from Heathrow (LHR) to Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL) takes Approximately 14 to 15 hours.

The route tracks south over France and Spain, crosses the Strait of Gibraltar, then heads southwest over the Atlantic Ocean for the majority of the flight. It crosses the equator roughly over the mid-Atlantic, then approaches the South American coast over northeastern Brazil or the Guianas. The flight then tracks south over the Amazon basin — a vast unbroken green canopy visible in daylight — before crossing into Bolivia and descending toward Santiago over the Atacama Desert and the Andean cordillera.