Zurich to Los Angeles flight path: ZRH to LAX

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Zurich to Los Angeles. While the left side offers a brief but strong Alps view on departure, the right side wins overall by combining the dramatic mountain-backed descent into LAX with the northern great-circle routing that passes near Greenland's ice sheet and the Canadian Rockies during cruise, giving it more sustained visual interest across the full flight.

During takeoff from Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing Zurich, the westbound climb-out gives left-side passengers a clear view of Lake Zurich and the city below before the Swiss Alps rise dramatically on the southern horizon. The right side mostly shows the flatter Swiss plateau and Lake Constance region toward Germany, which is comparatively unremarkable. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich, City of Zurich, Bernese Alps peaks on the horizon, Albis ridge.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. In LAX's typical west-flow arrival, aircraft descend from the east across the Los Angeles basin, and the right side faces north toward the San Gabriel Mountains rising sharply above the sprawling city. The left side mainly faces the flatter South Bay and ocean haze, with less visual drama. Notable sights include: San Gabriel Mountains, Downtown Los Angeles skyline, San Gabriel Valley sprawl, Santa Monica Bay in the distance.

The flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes about 11 hours 30 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,925 miles (9,535 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Southern tip of Greenland's ice sheet, the Labrador Sea, and the forested lake country of central Canada near Hudson Bay, followed later by the Canadian and northern U.S. Rockies as the route curves south toward California.