Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Minneapolis to Paris. While the left side offers a decent Minneapolis departure view, the right side delivers the more dramatic payoff: the approach into CDG from the west or north puts the entire Paris basin — Seine, La Défense, and the city center — on the right side. Over the Atlantic and Canadian Shield the views are largely featureless regardless of side, so the landing experience tips the balance.

During takeoff from Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP), sit on the Left side for the best views. MSP primarily departs east or southeast on runways 12L/12R, putting the left (north) side facing back toward the Minneapolis city core, the Mississippi River gorge, and the chain of lakes. The downtown skyline and the river's distinctive bend are clearly visible during the climbing left turn that typically follows departure. Notable sights include: Downtown Minneapolis skyline, Mississippi River gorge and Ford Bridge area, Lake Nokomis and Lake Hiawatha, St. Paul Cathedral dome across the river.

When landing at Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Right side for the best views. CDG typically lands from the west on runways 27L/27R or from the north on 09R approaches, with the final approach track passing over or near the northern Paris suburbs. The right side faces south toward central Paris, giving views of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, and the dense Haussmann boulevard grid of the city center during descent. Notable sights include: Seine River winding through central Paris, Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars, La Défense business district towers, Sacré-Cœur on the Montmartre hill.

The flight from Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) takes Approximately 8 to 8.5 hours.

The great circle route from MSP to CDG tracks northeast over the Canadian Shield and Quebec, crosses the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Newfoundland, then arcs over the North Atlantic. Visible features include the fragmented lake country of the Canadian Shield, the St. Lawrence River estuary, Newfoundland's rocky coastline, and on clear days the southern tip of Greenland or Iceland's coast depending on routing. Over the Atlantic itself the view is open ocean. The route then crosses Ireland and southern England before descending into northern France.