Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Madrid to Santiago. Right seats capture the Andes on approach, which is the most visually dramatic segment of this 12-hour flight. The takeoff view from Madrid is comparable between sides, but the landing view heavily favors right.

During takeoff from Barajas (MAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Madrid-Barajas typically departs runways 32L/R (northwest heading). Left seats face toward the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains and the northern Madrid sprawl during initial climb. Right seats see the southern plains with less dramatic terrain. Notable sights include: Sierra de Guadarrama (mountain range 30 miles north), Madrid city center and Retiro Park district, Manzanares River valley, suburban sprawl extending south toward Toledo.

When landing at Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Santiago typically lands on runways 34L/R (northwest approach) or 16L/R (southeast approach). For northwest approaches, right seats face the Andes Mountains directly ahead during descent. For southeast approaches, right seats see the Maipo River valley and the Andes' eastern face. Either way, right offers superior mountain views. Notable sights include: Andes Mountain Range (dominant, snow-capped peaks visible 40+ miles away), Maipo River valley (agricultural plain immediately below approach), Santiago city sprawl in the central valley, Cerro San Cristóbal (urban peak within the city).

The flight from Barajas (MAD) to Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL) takes Approximately 12 hours 15 minutes.

This route crosses the Atlantic Ocean for roughly 6 hours with minimal landmarks. The flight path passes south of the Azores (visible only on certain routing), then crosses open ocean. Approaching South America, the Andes become visible from 200+ miles away as a distant mountain range on the horizon. The flight crosses the Atacama Desert region of northern Chile before descending into the central valley where Santiago sits. No significant landmarks are visible during the mid-Atlantic portion; the ocean crossing offers only cloud patterns and occasional weather systems.