It's the one view that always takes your breath away. The moment after take-off, when the depressing landscape of the airport melts away and is replaced by a sea of puffy clouds.
Many travellers instantly pick up their camera phones and start snapping, unable to resist the opportunity to capture such an exotic views.
The results can be spectacular, as demonstrated by this diverse and impressive gallery of snaps, many of which were submitted by readers.
Best Photos From The Window Seat
The North Atlantic(01 of134)
Over The Bosphorus(02 of134)
Descending Into Vail(03 of134)
Eating Up Frankfurt(04 of134)
Over Greenland(05 of134)
Cannes On The Big Screen(06 of134)
Washington Dull Isn't(07 of134)
Above The Alps(08 of134)
Welcome To Paris(09 of134)
Istanbul From The Sky(10 of134)
Winter Reconnaissance #25 (11 of134)
Wisconsin http://www.atomische.com/series/WinterRecon
Heading home!(12 of134)
I fly over 50,000 per year so I see a lot of sunsets as I'm heading home to Seattle.
Flying out of San Diego north toward San Jose(13 of134)
Flying out of San Diego, north to San Jose. March 2011.
Mississippi River near St. Louis(14 of134)
Flying over the Mississippi River enroute to St. Louis. Coming from the east.
Ice cap crater(17 of134)
Jamie Siegel:
Enormous ice cap crater near the arctic circle over North America.
Enormous ice cap crater near the arctic circle over North America.
Pacific Northwest Sunrise(21 of134)
Early morning departure from Portland, Ore. (PDX)
The Andes from LAN Perú (29 of134)
The Andes from LAN Perú - Arequipa to Cusco
Somewhere west of the Rockies(30 of134)
Robert Waters:
From a San Diego to Newark flight, window seat. Somewhere in the American southwest.
From a San Diego to Newark flight, window seat. Somewhere in the American southwest.
Antelope Island(31 of134)
I was in awe as I looked out the window and saw this--I couldn't believe that no one else seemed to be giving it a second glance
Sunrise over Mt. Rainier(37 of134)
Stephanie Kuwasaki:
On our way to Africa on a 7am flight out of Seattle, Mt. Rainier waved goodbye!
On our way to Africa on a 7am flight out of Seattle, Mt. Rainier waved goodbye!
Leaving Nantucket in April(38 of134)
Shimmo and Coatue from the Copilot's seat of a Cessna 402 (600 ft)
2011 Arizona Wildfires(41 of134)
This photo was taken while flying into Arizona June 11, 2011.
Greenland(43 of134)
Robert Melusky:
Rare flight path way up North from London to New York
Rare flight path way up North from London to New York
Atoll in Pohnpei State(44 of134)
Robert Melusky:
Somewhere in Micronesia taken from the Island Hopper
Somewhere in Micronesia taken from the Island Hopper
Island in Truk Lagoon(45 of134)
Robert Melusky:
Truk Lagoon ( now Chuuk in Micronesia) was the loaction of one of the most fearsome battles in WWII, Operation Hailstorm.
Truk Lagoon ( now Chuuk in Micronesia) was the loaction of one of the most fearsome battles in WWII, Operation Hailstorm.
Sunrise Above the Clouds(50 of134)
Topher2882:
Morning sunrise after breaking through the clouds above Denver.
Morning sunrise after breaking through the clouds above Denver.
Leaving the Brazilian Amazon(53 of134)
Catching the final glimpses of the beautiful Amazonian rainforest on August 1, 2011 after conducting research.
This is Doha, Qatar(56 of134)
flying with Qatar Airwayslanding at Doha Airportwonderful city landscape
The bridge under the water(57 of134)
Flying with Air Berlin, from Copenhagen to BerlinThe bridge is connecting the third largest city of Sweden, Malmo and the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen
Swiss Alps(61 of134)
Flying over the Swiss Alps on the way from Paris to Rome
Flying Into Haiti(63 of134)
Patricia Kantrowitz:
The first of many flights to my second home, Haiti.
The first of many flights to my second home, Haiti.
Skyway Bridge(66 of134)
Ore ship passing directly under Skyway Bridge (rare shot)
flying over Afghanistan(68 of134)
Monicalups :
flying from Kabul to Herat, amazing rugged terrain for miles and miles
flying from Kabul to Herat, amazing rugged terrain for miles and miles
Sunny over Sunnylands(69 of134)
Robert Kalin:
Sunnylands, the Annenberg Estate, Rancho Mirage
Sunnylands, the Annenberg Estate, Rancho Mirage
Volcán Llaima, Chile(70 of134)
reynoljh:
Volcán Llaima, the morning after an eruption that covered the summit glaciers with ash.
Volcán Llaima, the morning after an eruption that covered the summit glaciers with ash.
Propeller Sundown(71 of134)
Mark Kroto:
Decent into Charlotte, neat shot of the propeller.
Decent into Charlotte, neat shot of the propeller.
Life at the end of the runway in Port au Prince(83 of134)
dwilkinsboise:
Cite Soleil neighborhood under the flight path coming in from the bayside at PAP.
Cite Soleil neighborhood under the flight path coming in from the bayside at PAP.
Beautiful Caribbean(88 of134)
Flying to beautiful Antigua which has 365 beaches - one for each day.
Western US Ridge(93 of134)
Mandamae:
Taken near the Rocky Mountains over Colorado in late May.
Taken near the Rocky Mountains over Colorado in late May.
Mars? Nope, New Mexico.(94 of134)
Southwest New Mexico - just west of Las Cruces.
Capital View(96 of134)
I actually had to lean over another passenger to get this shot, but it was so worth the apology I had to give.
Rio de Janeiro(97 of134)
Rio from the south, out over the Atlantic Ocean. Great view of Ipanema, Copacabana, Sugar Loaf, and the whole Guanabara Bay including some of the mountains further north.
Athens, Greece(98 of134)
Reluctantly returning to San Diego, California after 3 weeks in Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. Need sleep. A LOT of sleep. :)
Glaciers in Alaska(99 of134)
Aerial view of glaciers en route from Anchorage, AK to Los Angeles, CA.
Fly West(101 of134)
It was leg 1 of a pretty long 4 leg trip. Flying from DFW to SFO was a pretty bumpy ride that day. As we were nearing SFO above the clouds towards the end of the day, the sun cast a perfect warm glow over the wing, engine and sky. This was the perfect moment where everything just seemed to burst into light. Shot and processed on an iPhone 4S.
Lost Luggage(107 of134)
Stacy Anderson:
We were departing our gate to taxi and take off and outside the window I spotted some very lonely looking luggage sitting all alone on the tarmac.
We were departing our gate to taxi and take off and outside the window I spotted some very lonely looking luggage sitting all alone on the tarmac.
This is Steeler Country!(118 of134)
Heinz Field on descent to Pittsburgh Int.
Manhattan Clear Sky Day(127 of134)
I was working the flight from Charlotte to NYC
Pensacola Beach Florida(129 of134)
Waves high and it is very windy here in Pensacola Beach but we are lucky this storm passed us by!
Flying into Cusco, Peru(134 of134)
Flying to Cusco, Peru, which is at an elevation of 11,200 ft.