On most transatlantic flights, the left side wins. The geography of the North Atlantic corridor — with New York's skyline at departure, Greenland's ice sheet at cruise, and London or Paris on arrival — heavily favors left-side seats on the majority of US–Europe routes.
But not all of them. Routes departing Los Angeles or from London toward Atlanta flip the advantage. Here's the full breakdown, route by route, based on real flight path analysis.
The short answer: If you're flying from a US East Coast city to London, Paris, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt — sit on the left side. If you're flying from Los Angeles to London, or from London to Atlanta or Los Angeles — sit on the right side. Use the tool below for any other route.
Get an instant recommendation for your exact transatlantic flight.
Look up my flight →New York (JFK) routes
New York → London (JFK → LHR)
Left wins at both ends — Manhattan's skyline and New York Harbor on departure, then the Thames and central London on approach into Heathrow. Over the Atlantic the left side also tracks closer to southern Greenland's ice sheet.
Full recommendation →London → New York (LHR → JFK)
Left side picks up Greenland's ice sheet and the Labrador coast during cruise, then delivers the iconic approach over Jamaica Bay with Manhattan visible in the distance on arrival.
Full recommendation →New York → Paris (JFK → CDG)
Manhattan skyline on departure from JFK — the single most dramatic view on this route. On arrival, Paris from approach is on the left as well.
Full recommendation →New York → Amsterdam (JFK → AMS)
Manhattan on departure and Amsterdam's canals and Schiphol approach on arrival — both on the left. Strong bookend views make left the clear choice.
Full recommendation →New York → Frankfurt (JFK → FRA)
Manhattan on departure, then the Rhine valley and Frankfurt's skyline on arrival. Left also tracks the Irish coastline and English Channel coast on descent into Germany.
Full recommendation →Other US East Coast routes
Boston → London (BOS → LHR)
Boston Harbor and the city skyline on climb-out, then the Thames and central London on approach. Left side also picks up southern Greenland on the great circle route.
Full recommendation →Atlanta → London (ATL → LHR)
Left side wins both ends — the North Atlantic crossing and the arrival into Heathrow, where the left side tracks the Irish coastline and Welsh hills before the Thames Valley approach.
Full recommendation →London → Atlanta (LHR → ATL)
Right wins at departure — Windsor Castle is visible in the first few minutes after takeoff from Heathrow. Over the Atlantic both sides see open ocean, and Atlanta's skyline is modest on arrival.
Full recommendation →Chicago → London (ORD → LHR)
Left side picks up views of southern Greenland's ice sheet and Iceland's coast on the great circle route. At both airports, left delivers better views of Lake Michigan on departure and London on arrival.
Full recommendation →London → Chicago (LHR → ORD)
Left side throughout — Greenland ice sheet glimpses during cruise, then Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline on final approach into O'Hare.
Full recommendation →West Coast to Europe
Los Angeles → London (LAX → LHR)
Right wins — the LA departure view is spectacular on the right, with the full sweep of the basin, coastline, and Santa Monica Mountains. This is the more memorable and longer-lasting view of the two airports on this route.
Full recommendation →London → Los Angeles (LHR → LAX)
Right wins both ends — Windsor/Thames area on departure and the LA basin coastline on arrival. Also tracks slightly closer to Greenland and the Canadian coastline on the great circle route during cruise.
Full recommendation →What to look for at cruise altitude
The mid-ocean portion of any transatlantic flight is largely open water — don't expect dramatic terrain views at 35,000 feet over the central Atlantic. The real scenery happens in the first and last 30–60 minutes of the flight.
On routes that arc far enough north, left-side passengers may spot the southern tip of Greenland's ice sheet — a vast, blindingly white expanse of glacier that can be genuinely spectacular on a clear day. On some westbound routes you can also see the Labrador coast and, if conditions allow, icebergs in the Labrador Sea. These views are weather-dependent but worth watching for.
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Get my window seat recommendation →Frequently asked questions
Which side of the plane is best on transatlantic flights?
On most transatlantic routes, the left side wins. Routes from New York to London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt all favor the left side — you get Manhattan on departure and iconic European city approaches on arrival. The main exceptions are routes from Los Angeles to London and London to Atlanta/Los Angeles, where the departure views tip the balance to the right.
Can I see Greenland from my seat on a transatlantic flight?
Yes — transatlantic flights follow great circle routes that arc north over Canada and the southern tip of Greenland. The left side (south-facing window) tends to get better views of Greenland's ice sheet and glaciated coastline, particularly on westbound flights from Europe to North America.
Which side of the plane from New York to London?
Sit on the left side. Departing JFK on the left you'll see the Manhattan skyline and New York Harbor during the climb-out. On arrival into Heathrow, the left side tracks the Thames and central London.
Which side from London to New York?
Also the left side. The great circle route arcs north and the left side picks up views of southern Greenland's ice sheet and the Labrador coast. On arrival into JFK, the left side delivers the approach over Jamaica Bay with Manhattan visible in the distance.
Is there anything to see over the Atlantic Ocean mid-flight?
The mid-ocean portion is mostly open water. However on routes that arc north through the great circle, left-side passengers can spot southern Greenland's ice sheet, icebergs in the Labrador Sea, and the coastlines of Iceland and Ireland. Clear-day views of these are genuinely spectacular.
Which side from Los Angeles to London?
The right side. Departing LAX to the west before turning north, the right side gets the full sweep of the Los Angeles basin, coastline, and Santa Monica Mountains. This is one of the most dramatic departure views on any transatlantic route.