Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Zurich to Vancouver. Left side delivers the Swiss Alps on departure and the Fraser River delta plus Mount Baker on arrival. The right side offers little of comparable drama at either end, and the polar routing over Greenland and northern Canada is largely featureless tundra regardless of side.

During takeoff from Zurich (ZRH), sit on the Left side for the best views. Zurich typically departs on runway 16 heading south or runway 28 heading west. On a westbound departure toward North America, the aircraft turns northwest, putting the Swiss Alps — including the Bernese Oberland and the distinctive Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau massif — on the left side. Lake Zurich also appears clearly on the left during initial climb. Notable sights include: Lake Zurich, Glarus Alps to the southeast, Bernese Oberland peaks (Eiger/Jungfrau) on the southern horizon, Rhine Valley below.

When landing at Vancouver International (YVR), sit on the Left side for the best views. YVR's primary arrival runway is 26L/26R, meaning aircraft approach from the east heading west over the Fraser Valley. On this approach, the left side faces south, giving a clear view of the Fraser River delta, the city of Richmond, and the North Shore mountains including the Garibaldi Range reflected behind Vancouver. The right side faces north toward the Burrard Inlet and North Shore but is partially obscured by the fuselage angle on final. Notable sights include: Fraser River delta and its braided channels, Richmond's flat grid below, Mount Baker on the distant southern horizon (in Washington State), North Shore mountains including Grouse Mountain visible ahead-left.

The flight from Zurich (ZRH) to Vancouver International (YVR) takes Approximately 10 to 11 hours.

The great circle route tracks northwest over the UK and Iceland, then across the southern tip of Greenland where the Greenland ice sheet is visible, followed by Baffin Island and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Over central Canada the terrain flattens into boreal forest and tundra. The Canadian Rockies appear in the final hour before descent, with the Coast Mountains of British Columbia visible on the approach to Vancouver.