Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Panama City to San Francisco. Left side wins both ends of the flight. During the cruise over Central America and Mexico, the left side also tracks closer to the Pacific coastline and offers occasional views of the Sierra Madre Occidental ranges of western Mexico in the distance. The right side faces inland over jungle and desert for much of the route with fewer distinctive features.

During takeoff from Tocumen International (PTY), sit on the Left side for the best views. Tocumen typically departs runway 03R/21L or 03L/21R, with northbound departures heading over the Bay of Panama. A left (west) seat gives you Panama City's skyline, the Bridge of the Americas, and the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal as you climb out over the bay. Notable sights include: Panama City skyline (Punta Pacifica towers), Bridge of the Americas, Pacific entrance to Panama Canal, Bay of Panama.

When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO's dominant landing configuration uses 28L/28R, approaching from the east over the bay. A left (south) seat on final approach gives you a clear view of the San Francisco Bay, the San Mateo Bridge, and the South Bay wetlands, with the Santa Cruz Mountains visible beyond. Right seats face north toward the city and Bay Bridge but the left side has more sustained geographic interest on the long bay crossing. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay (South Bay), San Mateo Bridge, South Bay salt evaporation ponds (vivid geometric colors), Santa Cruz Mountains.

The flight from Tocumen International (PTY) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes Approximately 7 to 8 hours.

The route tracks northwest over Costa Rica and Nicaragua, then along or just offshore the Pacific coast of Guatemala and Mexico. The Sierra Madre del Sur and Sierra Madre Occidental ranges of Mexico are visible to the right (east) as distant ridgelines. Baja California appears on the left as the flight crosses into US airspace, with the Gulf of California visible as a long narrow blue channel between Baja and the Mexican mainland. The Central Valley of California is crossed on descent, with the Coast Ranges rising before the final approach into the Bay Area.