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IAD → MSY
Which side of the plane to sit from Washington Dulles International Airport (Washington) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (New Orleans)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side offers superior views of the Appalachian mountain ranges and a spectacular descent over Lake Pontchartrain, featuring the world's longest bridge over water.
George Washington Forest
Vast, unbroken stretches of the Appalachian forest system visible shortly after reaching cruising altitude.
Great Smoky Mountains
The rugged peaks and blue-tinted ridges of the Southern Appalachians near the Tennessee and North Carolina border.
Tennessee River Basin
Wide, shimmering expanses of the Tennessee River and its associated reservoirs through northern Alabama.
Lake Pontchartrain
The massive, sea-like expanse of the brackish lake that borders the northern side of New Orleans.
The Causeway Bridge
The world's longest bridge over water, stretching 24 miles across the lake, visible during the final descent into MSY.
The right side is essential for seeing the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway during the landing approach. For afternoon flights, you will experience a beautiful sunset over the Louisiana wetlands. Keep your camera ready as you descend below 10,000 feet, as the transition from forest to swamp is visually striking.
Northern Virginia Corridor
Aerial views of the Dulles technology corridor and the sprawling suburbs of the D.C. metro area shortly after takeoff.
Shenandoah Valley
Looking east toward the rolling hills and agricultural patterns of the Shenandoah region and the Blue Ridge foothills.
Birmingham Metro
Clear views of Alabama's largest city and the industrial landscape of the Deep South during the mid-flight phase.
Mississippi River Bends
The dramatic, serpentine oxbows and loops of the lower Mississippi River as the flight enters Louisiana airspace.
New Orleans Skyline
A glimpse of the Caesars Superdome and the dense French Quarter grid if the flight approaches MSY from the east.
Sit on the left for morning flights to avoid the direct glare of the sun. This side is particularly rewarding for spotting the complex hydrology of the Mississippi Delta. Try to book a seat behind the wing to ensure the engine doesn't block the view of the river's intricate oxbow lakes.
Distance: 1,536 km (954 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 2 hrs 3 min
Departure: IAD (38.94449997, -77.45580292)
Arrival: MSY (29.99340057373047, -90.25800323486328)
Route Type: Domestic
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