Originally Posted by
Explore
It depends on the time of day and sun angle. You'll have the sun in your face if you sit on the right side for most of the day, though the right side has the coastal exposure north of Monterey. South of there to Santa Barbara, you're far from the coast so it doesn't really matter. On a clear winter's day the snow-capped Sierra crest lights up the eastern horizon. Both sides enjoy views of the extremely rugged Transverse Ranges, Ventura County valleys, and the Santa Monica Mountains. The plane typically traces the coastline from Malibu to Santa Monica. The left side has a clear view down to Westwood, Hollywood, and downtown towers before the plane reverses direction into LAX.
I think since most landings into LAX are westbound onto RWYs 25L/R, 24L/R, the flight path actually favors the right hand side because you'd be approaching from the northwest, fly over San Gabriel Valley and usually track southeast/east towards ONT over the San Bernardino Mountains, then make a base leg right turn to align with the runway. That would mean that the right hand side has the best view of LA.