Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Philipsburg to Washington. The left side wins overall because the SXM departure view is genuinely spectacular — Simpson Bay Lagoon and Maho Beach at low altitude are among the most photogenic airport departures in the Caribbean. The Dulles arrival views are pleasant but relatively ordinary suburban Virginia scenery. Left side also captures the Puerto Rico coastline and Hispaniola's mountains during the early cruise portion of the northbound flight.

During takeoff from Princess Juliana International (SXM), sit on the Left side for the best views. SXM's primary departure runway is 10/28. Departing on Runway 10 (eastbound), a left-side seat gives you the iconic low-altitude view over Maho Beach and the Simpson Bay Lagoon immediately after rotation. The Dutch and French sides of the island are both visible as the aircraft climbs and turns northward. Notable sights include: Simpson Bay Lagoon, Maho Beach, Saint-Martin's Marigot Bay (French side), Anguilla island to the north.

When landing at Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Dulles typically uses runways 01L/R or 19L/R depending on wind. On the common southerly approach to Runway 01, a right-side seat gives views over the Virginia suburbs, the Potomac River corridor, and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west as you descend. On a northerly departure from Runway 19, right side still captures the Potomac and downtown DC skyline in the distance. Notable sights include: Blue Ridge Mountains (to the west), Potomac River, Dulles Access Road corridor, Tysons Corner urban cluster.

The flight from Princess Juliana International (SXM) to Washington Dulles International (IAD) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.

The flight tracks northwest over the northeastern Caribbean, passing near Puerto Rico's north coast and the Mona Passage, then over the Bahamas archipelago visible as scattered low sandy cays in turquoise water. The flight crosses the Florida Straits and the Gulf Stream, then tracks up the US East Coast over the Carolinas. The Outer Banks of North Carolina may be visible as a thin barrier island strip. The Chesapeake Bay becomes visible on descent, a broad gray-blue estuary, before the aircraft turns inland toward Dulles.