Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Melbourne to Manila. The right side wins overall. The takeoff view over Port Phillip Bay and the Melbourne skyline is the more dramatic departure experience, and during the cruise the right side tracks the eastern coast of Australia briefly before crossing the Coral Sea, offering occasional glimpses of the Queensland coast and Great Barrier Reef lagoon color in the early portion of the flight. The landing view on the left is excellent but shorter in duration.

During takeoff from Melbourne International (MEL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Melbourne's runways 16/34 are the primary runways. Departing northbound on runway 34, the right side faces east toward the Dandenong Ranges and Port Phillip Bay's eastern shore. A southbound departure on runway 16 puts the right side over the bay itself with views back toward the CBD skyline and the Mornington Peninsula. Notable sights include: Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne CBD skyline, Dandenong Ranges, Mornington Peninsula.

When landing at Ninoy Aquino International (MNL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Ninoy Aquino International sits just south of Manila Bay. Aircraft typically approach from the south over Laguna de Bay or from the north over Manila Bay. On the common southward approach over Manila Bay, the left side looks east directly over the Manila waterfront, Intramuros, and the dense urban core of Metro Manila. Notable sights include: Manila Bay, Metro Manila urban core, Laguna de Bay, Laguna de Bay shoreline and Rizal province lowlands.

The flight from Melbourne International (MEL) to Ninoy Aquino International (MNL) takes Approximately 8 to 9 hours.

After departing Melbourne the route tracks northeast over regional Victoria and southern New South Wales before crossing the Queensland coast near Rockhampton or Mackay. The vivid turquoise of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon is visible from the right side at cruise altitude in good visibility. The flight then crosses the Coral Sea, passes over or near the Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula, crosses the Gulf of Carpentaria, and enters Indonesian airspace over the Banda Sea and Sulawesi before descending toward the Philippines through the Sulu Sea region.