About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL) to John F Kennedy International (JFK)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Santiago to New York. The right side wins overall because the Andes departure view is one of the most spectacular in commercial aviation — a wall of 6,000m+ peaks at close range. The landing advantage on the left is real but more modest. For the bulk of the flight over the Amazon basin, Caribbean, and open ocean, neither side has a decisive edge, but the right side's Andes moment at takeoff is the highlight of the route.
What can I see during takeoff from Arturo Merino Benitez International in Santiago?
During takeoff from Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Santiago's primary departure runway is 17/35, with northbound departures on Runway 35 heading roughly north. A right-side seat faces east toward the Andes, giving you a direct view of the dramatic Cordillera including peaks like Tupungato and the ski resorts above the city. The left side looks west over the flat Central Valley and coastal range, which is far less dramatic. Notable sights include: Cerro El Plomo (5,424m), Volcán Tupungato (6,570m), the Santiago urban grid spreading across the valley floor, the snow line of the Andes foothills.
What can I see when landing at John F Kennedy International in New York?
When landing at John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK primarily uses runways 31L/31R for westerly arrivals, with aircraft approaching from the east over the Atlantic and turning over Jamaica Bay. A left-side seat on approach gives you Lower Manhattan's skyline, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and Brooklyn directly in view. The right side looks south over the open Atlantic and the Rockaways barrier beach. Notable sights include: Lower Manhattan skyline, Jamaica Bay, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Brooklyn waterfront.
How long is the flight from Santiago to New York?
The flight from Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL) to John F Kennedy International (JFK) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.
What does the Santiago to New York flight path pass over?
The route tracks north-northwest from Santiago, crossing the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, then over the Bolivian Altiplano and the Amazon basin of Brazil and Venezuela. The vast, largely featureless Amazon rainforest canopy dominates the middle portion of the flight. The route then crosses the Caribbean Sea — the turquoise shallow waters of the Lesser Antilles and Greater Antilles may be visible in good weather — before crossing Cuba and the Bahamas on descent toward the US East Coast.