Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Shanghai to Seoul. Right-side seats win overall due to superior takeoff views of Shanghai's river and skyline. While landing views favor the left, the takeoff experience from PVG is more visually distinctive, and the flight path northeastward means right windows also capture the Yangtze estuary and Korean coastline during cruise.

During takeoff from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats capture the Huangpu River winding through Pudong's high-rise corridor and the East China Sea beyond. PVG typically departs eastbound (runways 08L/08R), so right windows face north initially, showing the river's distinctive curves and Shanghai's urban density before climbing over water. Notable sights include: Huangpu River (sharp meanders through central Shanghai), Pudong skyline (Oriental Pearl Tower visible in the cluster), East China Sea (open water to the east), Yangtze River estuary (wider waterway visible further north at altitude).

When landing at Incheon International (ICN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats offer views of the Han River and Seoul's urban sprawl during approach. ICN typically lands westbound (runways 15L/15R), so left windows face south, showing the Han River's broad curves, Incheon's industrial zones, and the transition from water to the airport's island location. Notable sights include: Han River (wide, distinctive meanders south of Seoul), Incheon's port and industrial areas (visible as geometric patterns of containers and facilities), Seoul city proper (dense urban grid visible inland), Incheon International Airport island (reclaimed land, geometric shape).

The flight from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) to Incheon International (ICN) takes Approximately 2 hours.

The flight path crosses the Yellow Sea heading northeast. At cruise altitude (33,000-35,000 feet), the sea appears as a flat, featureless expanse with occasional shipping traffic visible as small dots. The Korean peninsula's western coastline becomes visible in the final 30 minutes of flight, with the Gyeonggi Bay and inlets appearing as darker water patterns. On clear days, the Taebaek Mountains' northern ridges may be faintly visible as a distant linear feature on the horizon as the aircraft approaches ICN from the southwest.