Originally Posted by
FoxBravo
It could really go either way, but based on my own experience you are somewhat more likely to get good views on the left, if they're using runway 31 (visual approach with a sharp left turn around Citi Field on final) or 4 (straight in to the northeast), which are both very common. Today for example they appear to be using 31. Both of those approaches pass alongside Manhattan, with the rwy 4 approach being a bit closer. However, the best views of all are when they go up the Hudson and circle around to land on 22, which is fairly common, or on rare occasion turn right to land on 13. In those situations Manhattan is on the right hand side and directly below. So unfortunately it's very hard to predict, but I do think the odds are slightly better on the left.
+1.
Although I don't think that the approach is used these days, many years ago I once flew into LGA while seated on the left side of the airplane when it flew north along the
East River -- not the Hudson -- and then made a sharp right turn over the Triboro (now RFK) Bridge to land on Runway 13. We were roughly level with the top of the Empire State Building. That view was spectacular!
Of course, Runway 13 is the least-common landing runway at LGA.