Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Zurich to Manchester. The left side wins overall. At takeoff you get Lake Zurich and the Jura ridgeline. During the cruise the flight tracks northwest over eastern France, crossing the Rhine valley and then over the Vosges and Lorraine before entering the English Channel area near the Pas-de-Calais. The left side keeps you oriented toward the more interesting terrain of northeastern France and the Channel crossing. The right side is better for the Manchester approach, but the takeoff and mid-flight views on the left are more consistently rewarding.

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 Manchester, a left-side seat gives you views over Lake Zurich stretching southeast and the city center below. As the aircraft turns northwest, the left side picks up the Jura mountains and the Swiss Plateau. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich, Zurich city center, Jura mountain ridgeline, Swiss Plateau farmland.

When landing at Manchester (MAN), sit on the Right side for the best views. Manchester typically lands on runway 23L/23R (southwest approach) or 05R/05L (northeast approach). On the common southwest approach, the aircraft tracks over the Peak District and descends over Greater Manchester from the east. A right-side seat gives views over the Peak District moorland and then the Manchester urban sprawl including the city center and MediaCityUK at Salford Quays. Notable sights include: Peak District moorland, Manchester city center, Salford Quays, Manchester Ship Canal.

The flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Manchester (MAN) takes Approximately 2 hours.

The route crosses the Rhine near Basel, tracks over the Vosges mountains and the Lorraine plateau in northeastern France, passes over or near Luxembourg and Belgium, crosses the English Channel near the Strait of Dover or slightly south, then enters England over Kent or the Thames Estuary before tracking north over the English Midlands toward Manchester.