Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Milano to Washington. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. Departure gives you the Italian Alps including Monte Rosa and Lake Maggiore, and arrival gives you the Potomac River and Washington DC. Over the mid-Atlantic the views are ocean on both sides, so the departure and arrival scenery is what decides it, and left dominates both.

During takeoff from Malpensa (MXP), sit on the Left side for the best views. Malpensa typically departs on runway 35L/35R heading roughly north, then turns west-northwest toward the Atlantic. A left seat gives you the Alps to the north and northwest, including Monte Rosa and the main Alpine chain, as the aircraft climbs and banks left toward its transatlantic heading. The right side faces south toward the Po Valley flatlands, which is far less dramatic. Notable sights include: Monte Rosa massif (4,634m), Lake Maggiore directly below during climb-out, the main Alpine chain stretching northwest toward Mont Blanc, Lago di Varese.

When landing at Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Dulles typically lands on runways 01L/01R or 19L/19R depending on wind. On the common northbound approach (runway 01), aircraft come in from the south-southwest over Virginia, and the left side faces east toward Washington DC, giving clear views of the Potomac River, the National Mall axis, and the Capitol dome if visibility is good. The right side looks west into the Virginia suburbs and wooded hills with little of note. Notable sights include: Potomac River, Washington DC skyline and National Mall axis, Arlington and the Pentagon visible near final approach, Tysons Corner urban cluster.

The flight from Malpensa (MXP) to Washington Dulles International (IAD) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

After clearing the Alps the route crosses southern France and the Bay of Biscay, then tracks over the North Atlantic following a great circle arc that passes south of Iceland and Greenland. Depending on the day's routing, the southern tip of Greenland or Labrador coastline may be visible. The route then crosses Newfoundland and Nova Scotia before descending over New England and the Mid-Atlantic states toward Dulles.