Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Sydney to San Francisco. The right side wins overall because the Sydney departure view — sweeping over one of the world's most iconic harbours with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge clearly visible — is exceptional and hard to beat. The SFO arrival on the left is also strong, but the Sydney departure is the highlight of this route. On the long transpacific crossing, both sides see only open ocean, so the departure view is the deciding factor.

During takeoff from Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Sydney departures on runway 16R head southeast over Botany Bay, then curve northeast toward the Pacific. The right side gives you Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and the CBD skyline as the aircraft banks left after departure. Left side faces inland toward suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Sydney Harbour and Heads, Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, CBD skyline and Darling Harbour, Royal National Park coastline to the south.

When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO arrivals typically come in from the southeast on runway 28L/28R, approaching over the bay from the east. The left side faces south and gives you the best view of the San Francisco Peninsula, the city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, and Marin Headlands as you descend over the bay. The right side looks north toward the East Bay hills. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay and the Bay Bridge, San Francisco city skyline and the Peninsula, Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge to the south.

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

The great circle route from Sydney to San Francisco arcs northeast across the South Pacific, passing east of New Zealand's North Island (visible on the right side shortly after departure if weather is clear), then crossing the vast open expanse of the central Pacific Ocean. The route passes north of the Hawaiian Islands — Hawaii itself is typically 200 to 400 miles to the left of the track and not visible. The flight crosses the equator roughly 8 to 9 hours in. The only land visible for most of the crossing is the occasional remote atoll or island group such as Kiribati or the Line Islands, which appear as tiny low atolls barely above sea level if the track passes close enough. The California coastline appears on the right side during descent, with the Sierra Nevada visible as a distant snow-capped range to the east.