Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Melbourne. The San Francisco departure on the left offers the most dramatic and iconic scenery of the flight — the Bay, the bridge, and the city skyline in one sweep. The Melbourne arrival on the right is excellent but the departure view is rarer and more visually striking overall. Left side also catches the Hawaiian Islands if flying via that corridor.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO typically departs northward on runways 28L/28R heading west, then turns south over the Bay. Left side seats get the San Francisco city skyline, the Bay Bridge, and the peninsula coastline as the aircraft banks. Right side faces the East Bay hills and suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: San Francisco skyline and downtown, Bay Bridge, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo Peninsula coastline.

When landing at Melbourne International (MEL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) typically uses runways 16/34 or 27/09. On the common approach from the north over Port Phillip Bay, right side seats get views of the bay, the CBD skyline, and the Yarra River delta. Left side faces inland suburban Melbourne with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne CBD skyline, Yarra River, Dandenong Ranges on the eastern horizon.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Melbourne International (MEL) takes Approximately 16 to 17 hours nonstop.

The route tracks southwest from SFO, passing over the Hawaiian Islands (Hawaii and Maui visible on clear days), then crosses the vast open South Pacific with no significant landmasses until approaching New Zealand's North Island or passing north of it, before crossing the Tasman Sea and making landfall on the southeastern Australian coast near Victoria.