Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Raleigh-durham to Paris. Left side wins both ends of the flight. Over the Atlantic the views are similar on both sides, but the left seat delivers the Raleigh metro on departure and the iconic Paris cityscape on approach, making it the clear choice for the full journey.

During takeoff from Raleigh Durham International (RDU), sit on the Left side for the best views. RDU's primary departure runway 23L sends aircraft southwest before turning northeast toward the Atlantic. The left side faces southeast toward downtown Raleigh and the Research Triangle urban sprawl. You get a clear look at the city grid and Jordan Lake to the southwest as the aircraft banks north. Notable sights include: Downtown Raleigh skyline, Jordan Lake reservoir, Research Triangle Park campus clusters, Falls Lake to the north.

When landing at Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Left side for the best views. CDG's primary transatlantic arrivals typically use runways 26L or 27R, approaching from the east over central Paris. A left-side seat on this approach gives you a direct view south over the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, and the dense Haussmann grid of central Paris before the aircraft tracks northwest toward the airport. Notable sights include: Seine River bends through central Paris, Eiffel Tower, La Défense business district towers, Stade de France near Saint-Denis.

The flight from Raleigh Durham International (RDU) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) takes Approximately 8 to 8.5 hours.

The flight tracks northeast from RDU, crossing the North Carolina Piedmont and the Virginia coast near the Chesapeake Bay mouth, then out over the North Atlantic. The great circle route passes south of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, crosses the North Atlantic at roughly 50-55 degrees north latitude, then approaches the British Isles near southern Ireland or Cornwall before crossing the English Channel and descending into northern France. Mid-ocean you may see occasional icebergs or pack ice near the Labrador Sea in winter, and the Irish coastline and English Channel shipping lanes are visible on descent.