Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Right side wins overall because the LAX approach view of the Santa Monica Mountains and the full LA Basin is one of the more dramatic urban arrival views in North America. The YVR departure on the left is excellent but shorter-lived. Right side also catches the Oregon and Northern California coastline during cruise at a distance, and the Channel Islands may be visible off the California coast on clear days.

During takeoff from Vancouver International (YVR), sit on the Left side for the best views. YVR's primary departure runway 26L sends aircraft westward over the Fraser River delta before turning south. Left-side seats face south toward the city of Vancouver, the North Shore mountains, and Burrard Inlet as the aircraft climbs and banks. You get a clear look at downtown Vancouver and the Coast Mountains backdrop before heading over the Strait of Georgia. Notable sights include: Downtown Vancouver skyline, Burrard Inlet, North Shore Mountains (Coast Range), Fraser River delta wetlands.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX primarily uses runways 24L/24R for westward landings, approaching from the east over the Los Angeles Basin. Right-side seats face north and get a clear view of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Hollywood Hills, and the sprawling LA grid on final approach. Left side looks south toward less distinctive suburban sprawl and the South Bay. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Mountains, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles Basin urban grid, Santa Monica Bay coastline.

The flight from Vancouver International (YVR) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes.

The flight tracks south along the Pacific Coast corridor. Over Oregon, the Cascade Range is visible to the east including Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson as distant snow-capped peaks. Over Northern California, Mount Shasta is a prominent isolated volcanic cone visible to the east. The Central Valley of California appears as a flat agricultural patchwork. The Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys are visible before the aircraft descends toward the LA Basin over the Tehachapi Mountains and the northern edge of the Mojave Desert.