Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Sydney. Left side wins both the departure over San Francisco Bay and the arrival over Sydney Harbour, making it the clear choice for the full journey. The mid-flight crossing over the Pacific offers little to see on either side regardless of seat.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO typically departs south on runway 28L/28R heading west, then turns south over the Bay. Left side gives you San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Bay Bridge. Right side faces the Pacific with little to see. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge, downtown SF skyline, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.

When landing at Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Sydney Airport sits on Botany Bay, and aircraft typically land from the north on runway 34L/34R heading south. Left side gives you Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and the CBD as you descend over the city. Right side faces south toward open bay and suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Sydney Harbour, Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Sydney CBD skyline.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) takes Approximately 14-15 hours.

The route tracks southwest from SFO across the open North Pacific, crossing the equator roughly over the central Pacific Ocean near the Line Islands (Kiribati). The flight then continues southwest over Fiji and the Coral Sea before approaching Australia from the northeast. There is very little land visible for the vast majority of the flight — occasional low Pacific atolls may be visible in clear conditions near Fiji, but the crossing is predominantly open ocean.