Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Shanghai to Los Angeles. The right side wins overall because the LAX arrival view of the Santa Monica Mountains and the LA Basin is one of the most visually rewarding approaches in the US. The takeoff from PVG on the left side is compelling but shorter-lived. Over the Pacific crossing itself, both sides see open ocean, so the arrival scenery tips the balance.

During takeoff from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Left side for the best views. PVG typically departs eastward on runways 16L/16R or 34L/34R. On a northeasterly departure heading toward the Pacific, the left (east/southeast) side gives you a clear view back over the Huangpu River delta, the sprawling Pudong district grid, and the dense urban fabric of central Shanghai. The right side faces inland toward less distinctive suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Huangpu River snaking through central Shanghai, Pudong financial district skyline, Chongming Island in the Yangtze mouth, East China Sea coastline.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX approaches typically come in from the east or northeast over the Los Angeles Basin on runways 24L/24R or 25L/25R, heading westward toward the ocean. The right (north) side gives you the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Fernando Valley, and the Hollywood Hills, while the left side looks south over less visually interesting suburban sprawl toward Long Beach. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Mountains ridge, San Fernando Valley floor, Hollywood Hills and Griffith Observatory area, Santa Monica Bay coastline.

The flight from Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours eastbound across the North Pacific.

The great circle route arcs north over the western Pacific, passing south of the Aleutian Islands chain and the Gulf of Alaska. Passengers may see the Aleutian Islands as a string of volcanic peaks emerging from the ocean on the right side at cruise altitude. The Alaskan coastline and the Alaska Range including Denali may be distantly visible on clear days as the route curves back south toward California. The vast majority of the flight is over open North Pacific ocean with no land features.