Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Manila to Brisbane. Right side wins both ends of the flight. At takeoff it captures Laguna de Bay and the Sierra Madre; on approach it gets the Brisbane CBD, river, and Glass House Mountains. During the cruise over the Coral Sea and Arafura Sea the views are largely open ocean on both sides, so the departure and arrival phases drive the decision.

During takeoff from Ninoy Aquino International (MNL), sit on the Right side for the best views. NAIA's primary departure runway 06 sends aircraft northeast over Manila Bay on the left, but the right side captures the dense urban sprawl of Metro Manila, Laguna de Bay (one of Southeast Asia's largest lakes), and the Sierra Madre mountain range rising to the east. Runway 24 departures heading southwest give the right side views over Manila Bay and Cavite. Notable sights include: Laguna de Bay (massive inland lake southeast of Manila), Sierra Madre mountain range (eastern horizon), Metro Manila urban grid, Manila Bay coastline.

When landing at Brisbane International (BNE), sit on the Right side for the best views. Brisbane Airport's primary arrival runway 01 brings aircraft in from the south over Moreton Bay, and the right side faces west toward the Brisbane CBD skyline, the Brisbane River snaking through the city, and the Glass House Mountains visible to the northwest. This is consistently the more dramatic approach view. Notable sights include: Brisbane CBD skyline and Story Bridge, Brisbane River meanders, Moreton Bay and its islands, Glass House Mountains (northwest horizon).

The flight from Ninoy Aquino International (MNL) to Brisbane International (BNE) takes Approximately 7 to 8 hours.

The route tracks southeast from Manila across the Sulu Sea, then over the Banda Sea and Arafura Sea north of Australia. Depending on routing, the aircraft may pass near the island of Timor or overfly the Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland before descending toward Brisbane. The Coral Sea dominates the final third of the flight. Landmasses are sparse through the Indonesian archipelago at altitude, with occasional volcanic island groups visible as dark specks in the sea.