Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles. Right side wins both takeoff and landing with the best urban and coastal scenery. During the long overwater Pacific crossing the difference is minimal, but the bookend views of Port Phillip Bay departing and Santa Monica Bay arriving make right the clear choice for the whole journey.

During takeoff from Melbourne International (MEL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Melbourne's primary departure runway 34 sends aircraft northward over the city. The right side gives you Port Phillip Bay sweeping south toward the Mornington Peninsula, plus the Melbourne CBD skyline and the Yarra River snaking through it. Left side gets industrial western suburbs. Notable sights include: Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne CBD skyline, Yarra River, Mornington Peninsula.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX's primary arrival runways 24L/24R have aircraft approaching from the east over the Los Angeles Basin. The right side faces south, giving clear views of the South Bay coastline, Santa Monica Bay, and the Pacific Ocean as you descend over the LA grid. Left side looks north toward the San Fernando Valley and Santa Monica Mountains. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay, Los Angeles Basin street grid, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Pacific Ocean coastline.

The flight from Melbourne International (MEL) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 15 to 16 hours.

The route tracks northeast across the Tasman Sea, passing north of New Zealand's South Island, then arcs across the vast central Pacific Ocean with no significant landmasses visible — just open ocean for roughly 10,000 km. The flight crosses the equator and the International Date Line before approaching the Hawaiian Islands chain, which may be visible in the distance on the right side depending on the exact routing. The final approach descends over the California coast.