Loading map...
JNB → JFK
Which side of the plane to sit from OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) to John F Kennedy International Airport (New York)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side provides a superior vantage point for the vast landscapes of the Namib Desert during the initial hours and offers the most iconic views of the Manhattan skyline on common arrival patterns into JFK.
Search flights from JNB to JFK
Johannesburg Highveld
Aerial views of the 'City of Gold' and the Witwatersrand ridges shortly after departure from JNB.
Namib Desert Dunes
Striking orange sands and geological formations of the Namib-Naukluft region as the plane heads northwest.
Atlantic Sunset
Prolonged sunset views over the open ocean due to the westbound heading and the Earth's rotation.
Manhattan Skyline
On the 'Parkway Visual' or similar southerly approaches, this side offers the best views of the Statue of Liberty and skyscrapers.
Verrazzano Bridge
Excellent views of the massive suspension bridge connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn during final descent.
For the best experience, choose a seat well forward of the wing to avoid engine heat haze. The desert views occur within the first 2-3 hours of flight, so keep your window shade up early. If arriving at JFK in the morning, the light hits the Manhattan buildings perfectly from this side.
Get eSIMs for South Africa
Get eSIMs for United States
Magaliesberg Range
One of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, visible to the north of the flight path after takeoff.
Skeleton Coast
Distant views of the treacherous and beautiful Namibian coastline where the desert meets the Atlantic.
Luanda Skyline
Depending on the specific airway, the Angolan capital and its harbor can often be spotted to the east.
The Hamptons
As the flight approaches New York from the Atlantic, the luxury beaches and estates of eastern Long Island are visible.
JFK Airport Perimeter
Views of the sprawling airport infrastructure and the Jamaica Bay wetlands just before touchdown.
The right side is ideal for catching the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean in the final hours of the flight. It also offers a better view of the Long Island shoreline if the flight is vectored for a northern arrival. Use a flight tracker to see if the route passes over Cape Verde.
Book Hotels in New YorkDistance: 12,831 km (7,973 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 15 hrs 6 min
Departure: JNB (-26.1392, 28.246)
Arrival: JFK (40.63980103, -73.77890015)
Route Type: International
Thank you for booking your travels through our travel partners. The commissions from your bookings keep this site running.