Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Seattle to Palm Springs. The right side wins overall. While the left side offers a good Rainier view on departure, the right side captures the dramatic San Jacinto Mountain approach into PSP — one of the most visually striking arrivals in commercial aviation — plus views of the Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert during the cruise portion of the flight.

During takeoff from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Left side for the best views. SEA's primary departure runways (16L/16R) head south, putting the left side facing east toward the Cascade Range. You get a clear view of Mount Rainier dominating the skyline, with the Seattle skyline and Elliott Bay visible during the initial climb-out to the north. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier, Elliott Bay and Seattle skyline, Lake Washington, Cascade Range foothills.

When landing at Palm Springs International (PSP), sit on the Right side for the best views. PSP typically uses runway 31L for arrivals from the north, meaning the aircraft approaches from the northeast and turns to land heading northwest. The right side faces north and east into the San Jacinto Mountains, which rise dramatically over 10,000 feet directly above the airport — one of the most striking airport approaches in the US. Notable sights include: San Jacinto Mountains (Mount San Jacinto at 10,834 ft), Coachella Valley floor, Salton Sea to the southeast, Palm Springs urban grid.

The flight from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) to Palm Springs International (PSP) takes Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.

The flight tracks south-southeast over the Oregon Cascades including Mount Jefferson and the Three Sisters volcanic peaks, then crosses the Klamath Mountains and enters California over the Sacramento Valley. The route then passes over the Sierra Nevada range, with the high peaks of the southern Sierra visible, before descending over the Mojave Desert and into the Coachella Valley. The Salton Sea is often visible on descent.