New Orleans to Los Angeles flight path: MSY to LAX

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New Orleans to Los Angeles. The right side wins on both ends of the flight: a rare wide-water view of Lake Pontchartrain and its causeway right after takeoff, and a dramatic mountain-and-valley view of the San Gabriels and LA basin during descent, giving it far more visual variety than the flatter, less distinctive left side.

During takeoff from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing MSY on runway 29 toward the northwest, the right side of the aircraft looks north over Lake Pontchartrain, with the Bonnet Carré Spillway and the 24-mile Causeway bridge visible cutting across the water. The left side only offers the Mississippi River and flat West Bank suburbs, which are far less distinctive. Notable sights include: Lake Pontchartrain, Bonnet Carré Spillway, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. On the descent into LAX from the east, the right side faces north toward the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Fernando Valley, with the Hollywood Hills and downtown LA skyline visible as the aircraft crosses the basin before turning for final approach. The left side mostly shows flatter suburban sprawl toward the South Bay until very late in the approach. Notable sights include: San Gabriel Mountains, San Fernando Valley, Hollywood Hills, downtown Los Angeles skyline.

The flight from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes about 3 hours 45 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 1,667 miles (2,682 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

The route crosses the Texas Hill Country and Chihuahuan Desert near the Rio Grande, passing close to the Franklin Mountains at El Paso before continuing over the desert ranges of southern New Mexico and Arizona.