Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Toronto to New York. The right side delivers the most dramatic single moment of the flight — the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario on departure — and also catches glimpses of the Hudson Valley and northern New Jersey on the descent. The left side has a strong JFK approach but the overall scenic balance tips right.

During takeoff from Lester B Pearson International (YYZ), sit on the Right side for the best views. YYZ typically departs eastbound on runways 05 or 06R/06L, so a right-side seat faces south toward downtown Toronto and Lake Ontario. You get a clear view of the CN Tower, the downtown skyline, and the lake shoreline as the aircraft climbs and turns southeast toward New York. Notable sights include: CN Tower and downtown Toronto skyline, Lake Ontario shoreline, Toronto Islands and Billy Bishop Airport, Port Credit and Mississauga waterfront.

When landing at John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK arrivals from the north typically use runway 31L or 22L, with approaches over Jamaica Bay and Long Island. A left-side seat on approach from the northwest gives views of Manhattan's skyline to the north, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the full sweep of New York Harbor before touchdown. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline including Empire State Building and One World Trade Center, Jamaica Bay and its wildlife refuge, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Long Island Sound coastline.

The flight from Lester B Pearson International (YYZ) to John F Kennedy International (JFK) takes Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.

After leaving Lake Ontario the route tracks southeast over the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, where the long narrow glacial lakes are clearly visible from cruising altitude. The flight then crosses the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River Valley before descending over northern New Jersey and the outer boroughs of New York City.