Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Toronto to Vancouver. Left side wins both takeoff and landing. During the cruise over the Prairies the left side faces south, which is largely flat and featureless, but the Rocky Mountains crossing is roughly symmetrical. The decisive advantage is the Toronto departure view of Lake Ontario and the CN Tower, and the Vancouver approach over the Fraser delta.

During takeoff from Lester B Pearson International (YYZ), sit on the Left side for the best views. YYZ typically departs westbound on runways 23 or 24L/R, meaning a left-side seat faces south toward Lake Ontario. You get a clear view of the Toronto waterfront, the downtown skyline including the CN Tower, and the lake stretching east toward Hamilton. The city grid is sharp and readable during the initial climb. Notable sights include: CN Tower and downtown Toronto skyline, Lake Ontario shoreline, Toronto Islands and Billy Bishop Airport, Hamilton Harbour to the southwest.

When landing at Vancouver International (YVR), sit on the Left side for the best views. YVR's primary arrival from the east is typically runway 26L or 26R, meaning the aircraft approaches from the east heading west. A left-side seat faces south, giving you the Fraser River delta, the flat farmland of the Fraser Valley, and then the city of Richmond and Vancouver's downtown peninsula as you descend. The North Shore mountains are visible to the right but the left side captures the dramatic contrast of the river delta and city. Notable sights include: Fraser River delta and its braided channels, Richmond farmland grid, Vancouver downtown peninsula and False Creek, Boundary Bay to the south.

The flight from Lester B Pearson International (YYZ) to Vancouver International (YVR) takes Approximately 4 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 50 minutes westbound.

After leaving Ontario the flight crosses the flat Canadian Shield briefly before the Prairies open up over Manitoba and Saskatchewan — almost entirely flat with a grid of section roads and grain fields visible on clear days. Winnipeg is visible to the left if routing takes you near it. Over Alberta, Calgary's urban sprawl may be visible to the south. The most dramatic segment is the Rocky Mountain crossing over the Continental Divide, where the jagged peaks of the Canadian Rockies including the Banff and Jasper ranges are visible on both sides, with glaciated summits, valley glaciers, and deep river valleys. The Fraser River canyon is visible during descent into BC.