Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Mexico City. The right side wins overall. While left is better at takeoff for the bay views, the right side captures the Baja California peninsula coastline as you fly south over the Pacific side, and delivers the dramatic volcanic peaks of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl on descent into Mexico City, which is the most spectacular single view of the flight.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO typically departs south on runways 28L/28R heading west then turning south, or on runways 01L/01R heading north. On the dominant westerly departures, a left turn southbound puts the left side over San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Peninsula. Left seats get the bay and city; right seats face the Pacific. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, downtown SF skyline, San Mateo Bridge, Santa Cruz Mountains.

When landing at Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX), sit on the Right side for the best views. Mexico City's airport sits on the eastern edge of the city. Aircraft typically approach from the north or east on runway 05R/05L heading southwest, or from the south on runway 23. On the common northeast approach heading southwest, the right side faces northwest over the city center, Chapultepec, and the volcanic peaks of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl to the southeast. Notable sights include: Popocatepetl volcano, Iztaccihuatl volcano, Mexico City urban grid, Texcoco lakebed.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX) takes Approximately 4 hours 30 minutes.

The flight tracks south-southeast over the California coast and then over the Pacific just off Baja California. The long narrow spine of the Baja Peninsula is visible to the left side for a significant portion of the flight. The Gulf of California appears as a narrow blue channel separating Baja from mainland Mexico. As the route crosses into mainland Mexico over Sinaloa and Jalisco, the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range becomes visible, a broad rugged highland running parallel to the coast. Approaching Mexico City the terrain rises sharply into the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.