haha all in good humor. I used to say "private jet" but this sounds funnier to me!

I've never flown over Greenland, but equally awesome (and I suspect not happening anymore) is when TPAC flights go over the Kamchatka peninsula and it isn't covered with clouds. It is such a forlorn, isolated place with volcanoes popping up from the permafrost and very little sign of civilization. I actually looked at a volcano tour of that area a few years back, but alas, COVID, war, and old age are making it look like it will never happen. It's fascinating to me to be able to look down at places where few (if any) people have gone.

Some of my favorite sights to contemplate from the window are:
- The Rockies in CO when flying LAX - anywhere CO
- The Andes, when leaving SCL
- The last seconds flying into San Diego - port side, a little bit nerve wracking to be so close to the downtown buildings
- Circling London when there are LHR delays

I second that. ORD/LAX is fun to look out the port side and see the Rockies.
I'll add inbound to LAX anytime.

Sitting on the port side of an E175 landing LGA runway 4 on a clear night was great fun.

Also kind of interesting on South America to USA flights when you coast out. It's fascinating to see the Caribbean browned for miles beyond the mouth of the Magdalena. Definitely not going to be booking BAQ for a beach getaway.

Crossing Greenland and then the Canadian Arctic on a LHR-SFO flight was amazing. And then the crossing the Canadian Rockies later on that same flight.

Spotting tiny atolls out in the Western Caribbean that I didn't even know existed from aboard MIA-PTY flights.

Realizing that at normal cruise speed the Pacific Ocean is a mere 2 hours away from MIA!

For me: lots of great views of San Francisco on the left side when departing SFO at night or arriving from the north/from Europe; sunset over the mountains arriving into LAX and SNA; daytime departures from MIA giving a great view of the teal water.

Age and health issues already catching up with me but I'm hoping I can do this.. or do some odd routing to go over that peninsula

I also loved my flight from CLT-SEA as well the short hop PDX-SEA which had great views of snow capped Sierra Nevada/Cascade Mountains (Mt. Rainier) respectively.

Also DEL-HND on JAL approach to Tokyo (port side of craft) in January had great early morning views of Mt. Fuji! MAA-CCU has great coastal views along Bay of Bengal. Hmm.. this thread has now inspired me to make a list of all the cool things to see on different flights.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3495feb73c.jpg
Between PDX-SEA (Feb 2022). I know this isn't trip report but if window shades are down then this isn't visible

A "bucket list of views" thread could be quite fun - for this forum, maybe AA- or oneworld- themed.

I could care less either way. I am glad however, that so many FTers got to voice their opinions.

My favorite thing to see out the window isn't scenery.

I grew up in the Detroit area and live in Minneapolis now. Flights from MSP to New York City usually pass just south of the Detroit suburb where I grew up. I always enjoy seeing my high school, and my childhood home which my elderly parents still live in.

Some people posting in this thread think I'm being selfish to leave my window shade up so I can wave to my parents from 36,000 feet....but I'm not willing to change my behavior.

If you're friends with the pilot/FO you could ask them to rock the wings in that area (just kidding)

I find landing on runway 31 to be more fun, with all the hand-flying that is necessary. I love the final hard left turn at 800 feet and then the level-out over the bay skimming the water. You can still see the bridges to the right if the window across from you is open.

They can't see you.

so many posts on this!

recently flew J AUS-CUN (2.5 hrs) middle of the afternoon and every shade in J was down. I'm used to people being in a more party mode heading to Cancun but the darkness and attachment to screens killed that. I like looking out the window but followed along and enjoyed my backlit e-reader and several drinks (thank you FA) in peace and quiet

on long haul flights I love looking outside but try not to disturb others. AUH-JFK I would open the shade while using the blanket to block the light from spilling out

on a BA J flt LHR-AUS last year the dimmable shade was not locked and it was great to have that adjustability. the dimmable desk lamp felt very british too