Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Beijing to Whakatane. Right seats capture the dramatic departure from Beijing's mountains and the equally striking arrival over New Zealand's Bay of Plenty and White Island. The landing view is particularly rewarding, with the volcanic cone and coastal geography providing strong visual interest.

During takeoff from Capital (PEK), sit on the Left side for the best views. PEK typically departs north or northeast. Left seats face toward the Great Wall's northern sections and the Yanshan Mountains, which are genuinely visible during climb-out. Right seats see the flat North China Plain extending eastward. Notable sights include: Great Wall of China (northern sections near Badaling, ~40 miles north), Yanshan Mountains (northeast, forming the horizon), Ming Tombs area (north-northwest), Chaobai River valley (northeast).

When landing at Whakatane (WHK), sit on the Right side for the best views. Whakatane's single runway (16/34) typically uses 16 for landing (northeast approach). Right seats face southeast toward the Bay of Plenty and the Pacific coastline. Left seats see inland terrain and the Raukumara Range to the southwest. Notable sights include: Bay of Plenty (sparkling blue water, immediate offshore), White Island/Whakaari volcano (smoking cone ~30 miles northeast), Whakatane River estuary (brown-tinted water meeting the bay), Raukumara Range (southwest, forested ridges).

The flight from Capital (PEK) to Whakatane (WHK) takes Approximately 12-13 hours.

This ultra-long-haul route crosses the entire Asian continent and Pacific Ocean. Notable features along the flight path include: the Taklamakan Desert and Tian Shan Mountains (western China, ~4 hours out); the Hindu Kush and Himalayas (Afghanistan/Pakistan border region); the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean (crossing south of India); the vast expanse of the southern Indian Ocean (featureless for many hours); and finally the approach to New Zealand with the North Island's volcanic plateau and geothermal features visible during descent. The route typically passes south of the equator over open ocean for approximately 7-8 hours of the flight.