Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Zurich to New York. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. Over the Atlantic the views are similar on both sides, but the left seat delivers Lake Zurich and the Alps on departure and the Manhattan skyline plus Jamaica Bay on approach — the two most visually rewarding moments of the journey.

During takeoff from Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Zurich typically departs on runway 16 (southward) or 28 (westward). On a westbound departure toward the Atlantic, a left-side seat gives you the city of Zurich and Lake Zurich stretching southeast, then the Jura hills as you turn northwest. On runway 28 departures heading west, the left side looks south toward the Alps. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich (Zürichsee), the Jura ridge to the northwest, the Swiss Plateau farmland patchwork, and on clear days the distant Alps including the Bernese Oberland peaks on the southern horizon.

When landing at John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK typically lands on runways 31L/31R (approaching from the southeast over Jamaica Bay) or runway 22L/22R. On the standard approach from the east over the Atlantic, a left-side seat gives you the clearest view of Lower Manhattan's skyline, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and Brooklyn as you descend over Jamaica Bay. Notable sights include: Lower Manhattan skyline, Jamaica Bay and its wildlife refuge, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the Brooklyn waterfront.

The flight from Zurich (ZRH) to John F Kennedy International (JFK) takes Approximately 9 to 9.5 hours.

The route tracks northwest over the Jura and into France, crosses the English Channel near the UK south coast, then heads out over the North Atlantic via Ireland or Scotland. The mid-Atlantic portion passes near the southern tip of Greenland and over the Labrador Sea. As you approach North America, the coast of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia become visible before the descent toward New York.