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LGA → CAE
Which side of the plane to sit from La Guardia Airport (New York) to Columbia Metropolitan Airport (Columbia)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side is generally superior for this route as it offers the iconic Manhattan skyline view immediately after takeoff from LGA and follows the urban corridor of the East Coast.
Manhattan Skyline
Depending on the departure runway, you often get a breathtaking view of Central Park, the Empire State Building, and One World Trade Center.
Philadelphia Center City
As the flight tracks south, look for the skyscraper cluster of Philadelphia sitting between the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers.
Washington D.C. Metro
While the flight path stays east of the city, the dense urban core and the Potomac River are visible on clear days.
Piedmont Plateau
The rolling hills of the Virginia and North Carolina Piedmont provide a scenic transition toward the Appalachian foothills in the distance.
Lake Murray
During the final descent into CAE, this massive reservoir northwest of Columbia is a prominent landmark on the right.
The right side is the 'money' seat for photographers during departure from LGA to capture the New York City skyline. For evening flights, this side offers beautiful sunset views over the Appalachian range to the west. During the descent into Columbia, Lake Murray is the primary landmark to watch for.
Queens & Brooklyn
Aerial perspective of the dense urban grid and residential neighborhoods of New York's outer boroughs during climb out.
Jersey Shoreline
Clear views of the Atlantic coastline, including the barrier islands and beach towns of New Jersey.
Chesapeake Bay
A massive view of the Mid-Atlantic's largest estuary, showing the intricate network of tributaries in Maryland and Virginia.
Carolina Coastal Plain
The landscape shifts to a patchwork of agricultural fields and dense pine forests as you cross into South Carolina.
Sit on the left for morning flights to witness the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. This side is also ideal for spotting the complex hydrology of the Chesapeake Bay. Be aware that summer morning flights may experience some haze over the coastal regions.
Distance: 993 km (617 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 39 min
Departure: LGA (40.77719879, -73.87259674)
Arrival: CAE (33.93880081176758, -81.11949920654297)
Route Type: Domestic
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