Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Panama City to Los Angeles. The right side wins overall. While the left side has a strong takeoff moment over Panama City and the canal, the right side tracks the Pacific coastline of Central America and Mexico during cruise, offers the dramatic Sierra Madre Occidental in the distance over Mexico, and delivers the superior Los Angeles Basin arrival view. The left side faces open ocean for much of the flight.

During takeoff from Tocumen International (PTY), sit on the Left side for the best views. Tocumen typically departs on runway 03L/03R heading north, which puts the left (west) side facing Panama City and the Bay of Panama. You get a clear view of the city skyline, the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, and the Bridge of the Americas as the aircraft climbs and banks northwest. Notable sights include: Panama City skyline, Bay of Panama, Bridge of the Americas, Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX predominantly lands on runways 24L/24R heading west toward the ocean, meaning the right (north) side faces the Los Angeles Basin, Santa Monica Mountains, and the urban grid of the city. The left side faces the Pacific Ocean. The right seat gives you the full panorama of LA's sprawl, the Hollywood Hills, and on clear days the San Gabriel Mountains to the northeast. Notable sights include: Los Angeles Basin urban grid, Santa Monica Mountains, Hollywood Hills, San Gabriel Mountains.

The flight from Tocumen International (PTY) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 6 hours 30 minutes to 7 hours.

The flight tracks northwest over the Pacific coast of Central America, passing offshore of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Over southern Mexico the route crosses above the Tehuantepec Isthmus and then follows the Pacific coast of Oaxaca and Guerrero. The Sierra Madre del Sur is visible inland on the right side. Over Baja California the peninsula is clearly visible below before crossing into Southern California. The Gulf of California appears as a long narrow blue channel on the right side as the route passes north of Cabo San Lucas.