Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Jose to Charlotte. The right side delivers the more dramatic scenery at departure — Costa Rica's volcanic peaks and Central Valley are genuinely spectacular and hard to beat. The landing view of Charlotte from the left is good but relatively modest. For the full flight, right-side passengers also get better views of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and Nicaragua during the climb-out phase before the aircraft tracks north over open water and Central America.

During takeoff from Juan Santamaria International (SJO), sit on the Right side for the best views. SJO's primary departure runway is 07, heading east-northeast. A right-side seat gives you a clear view south toward the Talamanca mountain range and Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes as the aircraft climbs out over the Central Valley. The volcanic peaks are distinctive and often snow-capped or cloud-wreathed at their summits. Notable sights include: Irazú Volcano (3,432m), Turrialba Volcano (3,340m), Central Valley of Costa Rica, Talamanca mountain range to the south.

When landing at Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), sit on the Left side for the best views. Charlotte Douglas typically uses runways 18C/36C or 18L/36L oriented north-south. On approach from the south, a left-side seat faces east and gives a clear view of uptown Charlotte's skyline as the aircraft descends over the southern suburbs. The compact cluster of glass towers is easily identifiable against the Piedmont flatlands. Notable sights include: Uptown Charlotte skyline, Lake Norman to the north (visible on northerly approaches), Catawba River corridor, Charlotte's suburban grid spreading across the Piedmont.

The flight from Juan Santamaria International (SJO) to Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 45 minutes.

After departing Costa Rica the route tracks north over Nicaragua and Honduras, crossing the Caribbean coast near the Yucatán Peninsula or Gulf of Honduras. The flight then crosses the Gulf of Mexico or Cuba depending on routing, before making landfall over Florida or the Gulf Coast. The Appalachian foothills become visible on the right side during descent into Charlotte from the northwest.