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DTW → PBI
Which side of the plane to sit from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (Detroit) to Palm Beach International Airport (West Palm Beach)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side provides a superior vantage point for the Appalachian mountain peaks and a stunning aerial approach along the Atlantic coastline of Florida.
Lake Erie Shoreline
Visible shortly after departure, offering views of the Detroit River and the western basin of the lake.
Blue Ridge Mountains
Dramatic views of the rolling ridges and valleys as the plane crosses through Virginia and North Carolina.
Outer Banks & Coastline
Distant views of the thin barrier islands and the distinct change in water color at the Atlantic shelf.
Kennedy Space Center
On the descent, look for the massive Vehicle Assembly Building and launch pads near Cape Canaveral.
Gold Coast Beaches
Clear views of the white sand beaches and high-rise condos stretching from Jupiter down to West Palm.
Book a window seat on the left for morning flights to see the sunrise over the Atlantic, but be aware of glare. During the final 20 minutes of flight, this side offers the best views of the Florida coastline and the affluent estates along the Intracoastal Waterway. Use a polarized filter for photos to cut through the haze over the mountains.
Appalachian Plateau
Dense forest canopies and winding river systems through the rugged terrain of West Virginia.
Great Smoky Mountains
Distant glimpses of the highest peaks in the Eastern US often shrouded in their namesake blue mist.
Atlanta Suburbs
The sprawling suburban landscape and traffic arteries of the Southeast's largest metro area.
Lake Okeechobee
The enormous, shallow 'inland sea' of Florida is a prominent landmark during the southern descent.
The Everglades Edge
The transition from agricultural land to the vast, protected sawgrass prairies of the Everglades.
The right side is ideal for afternoon or evening flights to catch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico in the distance. As you approach PBI, keep an eye out for Lake Okeechobee; its massive scale is best appreciated from this side. This side generally experiences less direct sun heat during the North-to-South journey in the early afternoon.
Distance: 1,752 km (1,089 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 2 hrs 20 min
Departure: DTW (42.212398529052734, -83.35340118408203)
Arrival: PBI (26.68320083618164, -80.09559631347656)
Route Type: Domestic
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