The left side offers the best vantage point for viewing the scenic Lake Kopa and the city's skyline as the plane descends toward the airport.
The right side offers the most compelling views of the Volga River's dramatic Samara Bend and the geographical transition from the European plains into the vast Kazakh steppes with better lighting conditions for photography during southbound-leaning trajectories.
The right side provides a more immediate and dramatic view of the Kapshagay Reservoir after takeoff and better visibility of the lake systems in the northern steppe during the descent into Kokshetau.