Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Ontario. Left side wins both departure and arrival. At SFO you get the Bay and SF skyline; during the flight you track over the Central Valley and then the Transverse Ranges; at ONT you get the dramatic San Gabriel front range on approach. Right side offers Central Valley farmland views mid-flight but misses the best landmarks at both ends.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO's primary departure runways (28L/28R) head west then aircraft turn south. A left-side seat gives you San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Peninsula as you climb out. You get a clear look back at the Bay Bridge and downtown SF before turning southeast. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, SF city skyline and downtown, San Mateo Bridge, Peninsula hills.

When landing at Ontario International (ONT), sit on the Left side for the best views. ONT typically uses runways 26L/26R for westerly approaches, meaning the aircraft arrives from the east heading west. A left-side seat faces south, giving you the San Gabriel Mountains running along the entire approach, with Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy) prominently visible. You also see the Inland Empire urban sprawl and the Ontario grid below. Notable sights include: San Gabriel Mountains, Mount San Antonio (Mount Baldy at 10,064 ft), Inland Empire urban grid, Chino Hills.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Ontario International (ONT) takes Approximately 55-70 minutes.

The flight tracks southeast over the southern San Joaquin Valley, crossing the Tehachapi Mountains around Tejon Pass, then descending over the western Mojave Desert edge and the Cajon Pass area before entering the Inland Empire. The Tehachapis and the transition from valley agriculture to high desert scrub are the most visually distinct mid-flight features.