Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Raleigh-durham to Keflavik. While takeoff favors the left, the landing approach provides superior views of the airport's geography and the Neuse River valley. For a transatlantic flight where the landing experience matters more, right-side seats offer better visual context during descent and approach.

During takeoff from Raleigh Durham International (RDU), sit on the Left side for the best views. RDU typically departs runway 05L/23R or 05R/23L depending on wind. Westbound departures on runway 05 (northeast heading) give left-side passengers views of the Neuse River valley and Durham/Chapel Hill urban areas. Left seats capture the Piedmont terrain transition better during initial climb. Notable sights include: Neuse River (visible as a winding waterway below), Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan area (urban sprawl to the west), Piedmont plateau terrain (rolling forested landscape), Jordan Lake (visible as a large water body southwest of the airport).

When landing at Keflavik Nas (KEF), sit on the Right side for the best views. Approaching RDU from the northeast (typical transatlantic routing), aircraft descend on runway 05L/23R or 05R/23L. Right-side passengers on a runway 05 approach get views of the Neuse River valley and the airport's eastern approach corridor. Right seats also capture the transition from rural Piedmont into the airport complex. Notable sights include: Neuse River (prominent waterway marking the airport's western boundary), White Deer Park (visible as a green space east of the airport), RDU airport complex itself (runways and taxiways becoming increasingly detailed), surrounding Piedmont forest and scattered residential development.

The flight from Raleigh Durham International (RDU) to Keflavik Nas (KEF) takes Approximately 6.5 to 7 hours.

The flight path crosses the Atlantic northeast from RDU, passing over the Appalachian Mountains (visible during early climb as a ridge system to the northwest), then over the Atlantic Ocean. Mid-flight offers views of the North Atlantic with occasional weather systems and cloud formations. As the aircraft approaches Iceland, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge features become relevant geologically but are not visible from altitude. The approach to KEF brings views of Iceland's volcanic terrain, the Reykjanes Peninsula (dark lava fields), and the Atlantic coastline. The Irminger Current and Denmark Strait separate the two regions but are not distinctly visible from cruise altitude.