Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Santa Ana to Seattle. Right side wins at takeoff for the Santa Ana Mountains and coast, but left side delivers the bigger payoff for most of the flight: the Sierra Nevada passes by on the left in central California, the Cascades come into view in Oregon, and Mount Rainier on final approach into SeaTac is one of the most dramatic arrival views in domestic aviation.

During takeoff from John Wayne Arpt Orange Co (SNA), sit on the Right side for the best views. SNA typically departs runway 20R heading south before turning northwest. The right side gets a clear view of the Santa Ana Mountains and Saddleback Mountain (Santiago Peak) as you bank north, plus the Orange County coastline and Catalina Island in the distance. Left side faces inland sprawl. Notable sights include: Santiago Peak and Saddleback Mountain, Catalina Island offshore, Newport Beach coastline and harbor, the Santa Ana River corridor.

When landing at Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Left side for the best views. SeaTac typically lands on runways 16L/16R heading south, meaning the approach comes from the north over Puget Sound. The left side faces east toward Mount Rainier, which is unmistakably dominant on clear days, and the Cascade Range. Right side looks west over Puget Sound and the Olympic Peninsula. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier (14,411 ft), the Cascade Range, Lake Washington and the I-90 floating bridge, downtown Seattle skyline.

The flight from John Wayne Arpt Orange Co (SNA) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) takes Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes.

The flight tracks northwest up the California coast or slightly inland, passing over the Central Valley with the Sierra Nevada visible to the east. Over northern California, Mount Shasta (14,179 ft) is a prominent landmark visible from both sides. Crossing into Oregon, the Cascade volcanoes appear — Mount McLoughlin, Crater Lake may be visible in clear conditions, then Mount Jefferson and Mount Hood as you approach the Columbia River. The Columbia River Gorge is visible before entering Washington state, followed by the broad flat agricultural land of the Willamette and Puget Sound lowlands on descent.