Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New Orleans to East London. Right-side seats capture the dramatic departure over the Mississippi Delta and Louisiana wetlands, which is visually distinctive and geographically significant. While the landing approach over Algoa Bay is scenic, the takeoff view is more consistently rewarding for the first 2-3 hours of flight.

During takeoff from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), sit on the Right side for the best views. MSY typically departs eastbound (Runway 10L/10R). Right-side seats face north across Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River delta, offering views of the extensive wetlands and waterway network that define the New Orleans landscape during climb-out. Notable sights include: Lake Pontchartrain (massive freshwater lake north of airport), Mississippi River (visible as a meandering brown ribbon through the delta), the New Orleans urban grid (downtown skyline visible to the east), Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (wetland expanse to the northeast).

When landing at East London (ELS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Approaching ELS typically uses Runway 03 (northeast heading). Left-side seats face southeast during descent, providing views of the Indian Ocean coastline, the Algoa Bay waters, and the Eastern Cape landscape including the coastal dunes and the city of East London spreading inland from the shore. Notable sights include: Algoa Bay (large coastal indentation with distinctive turquoise-blue water), the Indian Ocean (darker blue water beyond the bay), East London city center (visible as urban sprawl along the coast), the Sundays River estuary (visible as a darker water feature entering the bay from the west).

The flight from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) to East London (ELS) takes Approximately 14-15 hours (including typical routing via European airspace and refueling considerations; direct great-circle distance is roughly 5,200 nautical miles).

The flight path crosses the Atlantic Ocean eastbound, passing south of the Azores (visible only on clear days at high altitude, roughly 8-10 hours into flight). The route then crosses the African continent, typically passing over or near the Sahara Desert and West African nations. The final approach descends over the South African interior plateau before reaching the coastal region of the Eastern Cape. Notable geographic features along the route include the Atlas Mountains (if routing permits northern Africa passage), the Kalahari semi-arid region, and the Great Karoo plateau in South Africa's interior.