Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Minneapolis to Zurich. Left side wins both ends of the flight. Over the Atlantic the views are similar on both sides, but the left side also gets better angles on the southern tip of Greenland's ice sheet and Iceland's coastline if the routing goes that way, plus the superior Alpine and Lake Zurich views on descent make left the clear overall choice.

During takeoff from Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP), sit on the Left side for the best views. MSP primarily uses runways 12L/12R and 17 for southeasterly departures, or 30L/30R heading northwest. On the most common eastbound departures toward the Atlantic, a left-side seat gives you views over downtown Minneapolis, the Mississippi River gorge, and the chain of lakes in south Minneapolis. Right side faces suburban sprawl toward the south. Notable sights include: Downtown Minneapolis skyline, Mississippi River gorge and Ford Bridge area, Lake Nokomis and Lake Hiawatha, Minnesota River confluence with the Mississippi.

When landing at Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Zurich Airport uses runway 14 or 16 for southeasterly landings, or runway 28/32 for westerly approaches. On the common approach from the northwest over Lake Constance and the Rhine valley, a left-side seat gives you the Swiss Alps panorama to the south — the Glarus Alps and Bernese Oberland peaks visible on the horizon — plus Lake Zurich stretching away to the southeast. Right side faces the Jura hills and German flatlands. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich (Zürichsee), Lake Constance (Bodensee) on approach, Glarus Alps and Säntis massif to the southeast, Rhine River valley below.

The flight from Minneapolis St Paul International (MSP) to Zurich (ZRH) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

The flight typically tracks northeast over the Great Lakes (Lake Superior visible early on), then across Ontario and Quebec, out over the North Atlantic near Newfoundland, potentially skirting southern Greenland or Iceland depending on the day's routing, then across Scotland or Ireland, over the North Sea or northern Germany, and finally descending across the Swiss Plateau. The Greenland ice cap edge and the Scottish Highlands are the most visually striking midpoint features on a clear day.