Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Lompoc to Lisbon. Left seats capture the dramatic California departure over mountains and coast, and although right seats have the advantage on landing, the takeoff views are more visually distinctive and sustained. The westbound climb over the Santa Ynez range and Point Conception is unmatched on this route.

During takeoff from Vandenberg Afb (VBG), sit on the Left side for the best views. Vandenberg AFB typically departs runway 30 (westbound). Left seats face north during initial climb, giving direct views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the dramatic coastal escarpment. Right seats see only the Pacific Ocean immediately. Notable sights include: Santa Ynez Mountains (north), Point Conception headland (northwest), Santa Maria Valley (northeast), Pacific coastline.

When landing at Lisboa (LIS), sit on the Right side for the best views. Lisbon approaches typically use runway 03 (northbound) or runway 21 (southbound). For a transatlantic arrival, runway 03 is most common. Right seats on descent face east, providing views of the Tagus River estuary, the city's hillside districts, and the bridge approaches. Left seats see only the Atlantic. Notable sights include: Tagus River estuary (Tejo), 25 de Abril Bridge, Lisbon's Alfama and Graça districts on north bank, Cristo Rei monument on south bank.

The flight from Vandenberg Afb (VBG) to Lisboa (LIS) takes Approximately 10.5 to 11.5 hours.

The flight crosses the Atlantic at high altitude (35,000+ feet). Notable features visible during cruise include: the Azores archipelago (if routed south of 40°N), the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (not visible but the flight path crosses it), and approaching Europe, the Bay of Biscay, the Iberian Peninsula's western coast, and the Portuguese highlands inland from Lisbon. Most of the transatlantic portion offers only open ocean and cloud formations.