Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Miami to Long Beach. The right side wins overall due to the spectacular Miami Beach and Biscayne Bay departure view, which is one of the most visually striking urban coastal departures in the US. The landing view from the left is good but the LA Basin approach is largely flat urban sprawl until the final miles. Right-side passengers also get Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Coast views during the cruise portion of the flight.

During takeoff from Miami International (MIA), sit on the Right side for the best views. MIA typically departs westbound on runway 09/27 or northbound on 12/30. A right-side seat during a westbound departure gives you Biscayne Bay, the Miami Beach barrier islands, and the Atlantic Ocean as the aircraft banks northwest. The downtown Miami skyline and Port of Miami are clearly visible to the right during the initial climb. Notable sights include: Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach barrier islands, Port of Miami cruise terminals, downtown Miami skyline.

When landing at Long Beach (LGB), sit on the Left side for the best views. LGB approaches typically come in from the east or southeast over the Los Angeles Basin. A left-side seat gives you the best view of the LA harbor complex, the Long Beach waterfront, and the dense urban sprawl of the LA Basin. The San Gabriel Mountains are visible as a dramatic backdrop to the north on the left side during final approach. Notable sights include: Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles harbor complex, San Gabriel Mountains, LA Basin urban grid, Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The flight from Miami International (MIA) to Long Beach (LGB) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 45 minutes.

The flight tracks northwest across the Florida Everglades shortly after departure, then crosses the Gulf of Mexico toward the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast. The route passes over the Texas Hill Country and crosses the Chihuahuan Desert of west Texas and New Mexico. The aircraft then crosses southern Arizona including the Sonoran Desert before entering California over the Colorado Desert and the Salton Sea, which is clearly visible as a large inland body of water. The final approach crosses the Santa Ana Mountains and the LA Basin.