While both bookends favor the right side, the seven-plus hour cruise dominates the flight's total scenic value, and the great-circle route north of the U.S.-Canada border, over Hudson Bay and Labrador, and past Greenland's ice cap and Iceland's coast gives the left side sustained, dramatic terrain that the ocean-dominated right side lacks.
Flown MSP to CDG? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Minneapolis to Paris is 4,210 miles (6,775 km), a flight of about 7 hours 55 minutes.
The route's midpoint falls near the Labrador Sea and southern Greenland, where passengers can see the edge of Greenland's ice sheet and fjords near Cape Farewell before the track continues toward Iceland and Ireland.
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from MSP
RIGHTMSP typically departs on runway 30 to the northwest, then banks right toward the northeast routing, putting the Minneapolis-St. Paul skyline and the Mississippi River directly under the right wing during the turn. The left side only shows flat farmland receding into haze.
Landing at CDG
RIGHTCDG's westerly arrival flow (runways 26/27) often has aircraft arriving from the north Atlantic swing south of the city before turning onto final approach, briefly putting Paris on the right side. Passengers can catch the Eiffel Tower and La Défense towers rising above the Seine valley farmland before the runway threshold appears.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Minneapolis to Paris. While both bookends favor the right side, the seven-plus hour cruise dominates the flight's total scenic value, and the great-circle route north of the U.S.-Canada border, over Hudson Bay and Labrador, and past Greenland's ice cap and Iceland's coast gives the left side sustained, dramatic terrain that the ocean-dominated right side lacks.
What can I see during takeoff from Minneapolis St Paul International in Minneapolis?
During takeoff from Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP), sit on the Right side for the best views. MSP typically departs on runway 30 to the northwest, then banks right toward the northeast routing, putting the Minneapolis-St. Paul skyline and the Mississippi River directly under the right wing during the turn. The left side only shows flat farmland receding into haze. Notable sights include: Minneapolis downtown skyline (IDS Center, U.S. Bank Stadium), the Mississippi River's bend past downtown, the Chain of Lakes (Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet), and St. Paul's Cathedral dome.
What can I see when landing at Charles De Gaulle in Paris?
When landing at Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Right side for the best views. CDG's westerly arrival flow (runways 26/27) often has aircraft arriving from the north Atlantic swing south of the city before turning onto final approach, briefly putting Paris on the right side. Passengers can catch the Eiffel Tower and La Défense towers rising above the Seine valley farmland before the runway threshold appears. Notable sights include: The Seine River winding through Normandy and into the Paris basin, the Eiffel Tower and La Défense skyline in the distance, patchwork farmland of the Île-de-France, and CDG's terminal complex ahead.
How long is the flight from Minneapolis to Paris?
The flight from Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) takes about 7 hours 55 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 4,210 miles (6,775 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Minneapolis to Paris flight path pass over?
The route's midpoint falls near the Labrador Sea and southern Greenland, where passengers can see the edge of Greenland's ice sheet and fjords near Cape Farewell before the track continues toward Iceland and Ireland.