Originally Posted by CPMaverick
I assumed that flight routes were somewhat carrier specific, though I'm not totally sure about that.
No problem.
No, they're not carrier specific. Rather there are standard departure routes from an airport and a relatively small number of possible IFR routings to the LAX area, and then, as FlyinHawaiian indicates the typical arrival for any from-the-north traffic.
I would echo those choosing the right side of the plane. You can get some amazing views: first PacBell Park et al thn the Pacific beaches of San Francisco. After that you'll be over water for a short while and then will cross Monterey Bay such that Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Monterey, Pacific Grove, will be right underneath you, just to your right. After you make the typical downwind turn at the Santa Monica VOR arriving to LAX, you'll fly downwind a few miles from LAX where you can see the planes landing and taking off parallel to your track.