Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Madison to Los Angeles. The right seat wins overall because the landing approach into LAX from the east delivers the most dramatic and sustained scenery — the Mojave Desert transition, the San Gabriel Mountains on the horizon during descent, and the Santa Monica Mountains on final. The takeoff left-seat advantage is brief, while the right seat provides compelling views through the Rockies crossing and the California approach.

During takeoff from Dane Co Rgnl Truax Fld (MSN), sit on the Left side for the best views. MSN's primary departure runway 31 sends aircraft northwest, then routing southwest toward LAX. A left (south) seat gives you a view back over Lake Mendota and Lake Monona as the aircraft banks southwest. You'll see the distinctive isthmus of Madison with the State Capitol visible between the two lakes. Notable sights include: Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Madison isthmus with State Capitol, Lake Wingra.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX typically lands on runways 24L/24R from the east, meaning the aircraft approaches from the east over the Los Angeles Basin. A right (north) seat gives you the Santa Monica Mountains, the Hollywood Hills, and the urban sprawl of the San Fernando Valley in the distance, while the left side faces south toward the less scenic South Bay and ocean approach corridor. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Mountains, Hollywood Hills, San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica Bay coastline.

The flight from Dane Co Rgnl Truax Fld (MSN) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.

The flight tracks southwest over Iowa and Nebraska farmland, then crosses the Colorado Rockies including the Wasatch Range foothills, passes over the Great Basin desert of Utah and Nevada with the Mojave Desert visible before descent, and crosses the San Gabriel Mountains on the approach into the Los Angeles Basin.