Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Bangkok. Left side wins both departure and arrival. During the transpacific cruise at 35,000 feet there is little to distinguish sides over open ocean, but the left side delivers the better views at both ends of the flight where scenery actually matters.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO departures on runways 28L/28R head west over the Bay before turning northwest, giving left-side passengers a clear view back over San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Bay Bridge. The right side faces south toward the peninsula with less dramatic scenery. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge, San Francisco city skyline, Marin Headlands.

When landing at Bangkok International (BKK), sit on the Left side for the best views. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) typically uses runways 19L/19R for southward landings or 01L/01R for northward approaches. On the common southward approach over Bangkok, left-side seats look east over the city center, Chao Phraya River bends, and the dense urban grid. On northward approaches, left side still captures the river and city to the west. Notable sights include: Chao Phraya River, Bangkok urban grid, Bang Pakong River delta wetlands, Gulf of Thailand coastline.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Bangkok International (BKK) takes Approximately 17 to 18 hours nonstop.

The great circle route from SFO to BKK tracks northwest from California, crossing the Aleutian Island chain of Alaska (visible as dark volcanic islands in gray subarctic ocean), then arcing southwest over the North Pacific. The route passes south of the Kamchatka Peninsula, crosses the Sea of Japan, overflies the Korean Peninsula and southern Japan including Kyushu, then descends over the South China Sea and Indochina before reaching Bangkok. The Aleutians and Japanese coastline are the only significant land features on an otherwise ocean-dominated route.