Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Seattle to Shanghai. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. At departure you get the Cascades and Mount Rainier; at arrival you get the Yangtze delta and Shanghai's urban sprawl. The transpacific cruise at 35,000 ft over the North Pacific offers little to see regardless of side, so the departure and arrival views are the deciding factor.

During takeoff from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Left side for the best views. SEA typically departs north on runways 16L/16R (heading ~160°) or south depending on winds. On a northbound departure climbing out over Puget Sound, the left side faces east toward the Cascade Range with Mount Rainier dominating the skyline. Even on southbound departures, the left side picks up Rainier and the Cascades as the aircraft banks toward the Pacific. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier (14,411 ft, unmistakable volcanic cone to the southeast), Puget Sound (the broad inland sea directly below during climb), the Seattle city skyline and Elliott Bay to the north, Mount Adams visible further south on clear days.

When landing at Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Left side for the best views. PVG sits on the eastern edge of Shanghai and aircraft typically approach from the east over the East China Sea on runway 16/34 or 17/35 configurations. A left-side seat on approach from the east gives a clear view of the Yangtze River delta, the sprawling Shanghai urban grid, and the Huangpu River snaking through the city center to the west. Notable sights include: Yangtze River mouth (massive brown sediment plume visible from altitude), Shanghai urban grid and Pudong skyline, Huangpu River winding through central Shanghai, Chongming Island in the Yangtze delta.

The flight from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) takes Approximately 11 to 13 hours depending on winds and routing.

The great circle route arcs north over British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska before crossing the Aleutian Islands chain (visible as a string of volcanic islands on clear days), then descends south over the Kamchatka Peninsula with its active volcanoes, crosses the Sea of Okhotsk, passes over Hokkaido and Honshu in Japan, and finally crosses the East China Sea to Shanghai. The Aleutians and Kamchatka volcanic peaks are the most visually dramatic features if skies are clear, though cloud cover over the North Pacific is frequent.