Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Manila to Los Angeles. Right side wins both ends of this flight. At departure you get Laguna de Bay and the Metro Manila urban landscape; at arrival you get the Southern California coastline and Palos Verdes. During the transpacific crossing the views are largely ocean, but the right side also picks up the Aleutian Islands chain if the routing goes far north, appearing as dark volcanic islands against grey subarctic water.

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, the Pasig River threading through the city, and the Laguna de Bay — the largest lake in the Philippines — coming into view as the aircraft climbs. Runway 24 departures heading southwest give the right side a clear look at Manila Bay and the Cavite peninsula. Notable sights include: Laguna de Bay (massive inland lake southeast of Manila), Manila Bay and its curved shoreline, the Pasig River delta, Metro Manila urban grid.

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, putting the right side facing south toward the South Bay, Long Beach, and the Pacific coastline. The left side faces north toward downtown LA and the Santa Monica Mountains, which is also excellent, but the right side's view of the coastline curving from Palos Verdes to Santa Monica and the open Pacific is the more dramatic and geographically distinctive arrival view. Notable sights include: Palos Verdes Peninsula and its cliffs above the Pacific, the South Bay coastline from Redondo Beach to Manhattan Beach, Long Beach harbor and its breakwater, the Pacific Ocean stretching to the horizon.

The flight from Ninoy Aquino International (MNL) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 14 to 15 hours.

The great circle route from Manila to LAX arcs northeast over the Philippine Sea, then across the western Pacific toward Japan's Ryukyu Islands, continues northeast over the open North Pacific, often passing south of or near the Aleutian Islands chain (Alaska), then descends southeast across the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Coast toward Southern California. The majority of the flight is over open ocean with no land visible. If routing passes near the Aleutians, dark volcanic island silhouettes may be visible from high altitude. The dateline is crossed roughly over the central North Pacific.