What airport has the best view upon approach/landing?
Oct 21, 2014, 12:52 pm
#76
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,507
Article on CNN.com today! ^
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/25/tr...ic-touchdowns/
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/25/tr...ic-touchdowns/
Oct 21, 2014, 1:00 pm
#77
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
Flew this route into LGA around 9pm on 9/11/2013 and the lights coming from 1 WTC and the 9/11 memorial were an amazing sight.
Oct 21, 2014, 1:17 pm
#78
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 822
I am not sure why you would want to keep a topic like this confined to the Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles forum when you could share it with other FlyerTalk members from around the world who might be able to contribute airports to this discussion which are not served by Delta Air Lines
Oct 21, 2014, 3:06 pm
#80
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,091
As a United (business travel) flyer, I've flown into/out of every DL, AA, and US hub (except MEM), mostly on UA.
Also have to disagree with your characterization that this was a DL hub question, as the OP's example was Portland, Maine, most decidedly not a DL hub.
So on topic, the approach into Bora Bora (BOB) is pretty darn spectacular, as is Grand Junction, CO (GJT).
Oct 21, 2014, 3:10 pm
#81
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Oct 21, 2014, 3:20 pm
#82
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Home, where we should all be
Programs: Who knows anymore. It's a f---ing pandemic.
Posts: 273
Gotta second the vote for ORD, especially coming up from the south and arcing out over the lake to circle back to the runway. Beautiful views of the skyline and the lakeshore. (But LGA and SEA for departure, hands down).
Oct 22, 2014, 2:30 am
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
These Guys Landed A Cessna At One Of The Biggest Airports In The World
Oct 22, 2014, 4:44 am
#85
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Western Europe
Programs: Yeah, well, don’t really care anymore
Posts: 843
The circling approach to Innsbruck runway 08 is truly spectacular. If you get a chance, grab a window seat on the LH side of the aircraft. Then feel you nether regions curling up as you fly along the mountainsides.
The visual approach to Copenhagen runway 22L/R is also pretty neat if you come from the North, as you'll be passing right alongside the city. Window seats RH side get the views.
The old Kai Tek IGS approach to Runway 13, however, that was something else. Passing right over the most densely populated place on earth, so low you could see if Mrs. Kong had done a good job on the laundry hanging out to dry on the roofs.
SXM is pretty boring from a passenger point of view, as it's all water until you blaze over the beach and touch down. From a spotter on the beach, however, it's something quite spectacular.
Kangarlussuaq in Greenland, on a clear day, is very beautiful. You track deep inside the fjord, with mountains on both sides, to end up on a small plateau at the end of the fjord. Just enough room to place a small airport, and that's what they did. Experience is enhanced by knowing, that if you don't make it in the closest alternates are either in Canada or Iceland.
My favourite of all is by far Vagar on the Faroe Islands. Tricky approach between the imposing mountains of the fjords, passing over a couple of small islands before doing a sharp LH turn to land on a very short runway. Pucker factor well above 100, albeit I must admit never having experienced the landing from the cabin - only from the cockpit.
But I do believe that nothing can beat the approach into Bhutan on a clear day. There's a video of the entire approach somewhere on youtube, go and have a look for yourself. The national airline of Bhutan, Druk Air, used to operate with BAe-146s. Airbus, however, managed to get their A319 certified for operations there, and that's what Druk Air has been flying for the last few years.
The visual approach to Copenhagen runway 22L/R is also pretty neat if you come from the North, as you'll be passing right alongside the city. Window seats RH side get the views.
The old Kai Tek IGS approach to Runway 13, however, that was something else. Passing right over the most densely populated place on earth, so low you could see if Mrs. Kong had done a good job on the laundry hanging out to dry on the roofs.
SXM is pretty boring from a passenger point of view, as it's all water until you blaze over the beach and touch down. From a spotter on the beach, however, it's something quite spectacular.
Kangarlussuaq in Greenland, on a clear day, is very beautiful. You track deep inside the fjord, with mountains on both sides, to end up on a small plateau at the end of the fjord. Just enough room to place a small airport, and that's what they did. Experience is enhanced by knowing, that if you don't make it in the closest alternates are either in Canada or Iceland.
My favourite of all is by far Vagar on the Faroe Islands. Tricky approach between the imposing mountains of the fjords, passing over a couple of small islands before doing a sharp LH turn to land on a very short runway. Pucker factor well above 100, albeit I must admit never having experienced the landing from the cabin - only from the cockpit.
But I do believe that nothing can beat the approach into Bhutan on a clear day. There's a video of the entire approach somewhere on youtube, go and have a look for yourself. The national airline of Bhutan, Druk Air, used to operate with BAe-146s. Airbus, however, managed to get their A319 certified for operations there, and that's what Druk Air has been flying for the last few years.
Oct 22, 2014, 6:43 am
#86
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,865
the flight is great since the aircraft is eye-level and shoulder-to-shoulder with the mountain top. cockpit is open so passengers can get a peak straight through the front glass. the one-room departure "area" and baggage offload is also interesting....
Oct 22, 2014, 7:58 am
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,353
Oct 22, 2014, 8:14 am
#88
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,013
ITO -- From right side of the plane: Hamakua coast, Mauna Kea, Hilo and Hilo Bay.
SAN - Love looking out into the office windows
RNO - Landing from the west to the north at RNO; the sudden explosion of lights when you clear the mountains and make the long left turn.
SAN - Love looking out into the office windows
RNO - Landing from the west to the north at RNO; the sudden explosion of lights when you clear the mountains and make the long left turn.
Last edited by cblaisd; Oct 22, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Oct 22, 2014, 3:07 pm
#89
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: LHR
Programs: AA Platinum, UA Silver, Hilton Gold
Posts: 18
Has to be northbound departure from JRO (Kilimanjaro) for me. With the airport right at the base, its a quick 180 degree turn then a long stead climb with fantastic views of Kilimanjaro, mt Meru and the rift valleys. Sit on the left if you can.
