BKK to HKG: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Bangkok (BKK) to Hong Kong (HKG) is a 1,690 km (1,050 mi), roughly 2h 29m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime BKK to HKG departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side wins here. It gets the best views and the shade side too, so you do not have to choose between scenery and glare.
Sit left for this one. The same side gives you the best ground track and the shade on a daytime flight.
Takeoff
On climbout from BKK, depending on the runway in use, the left side can give you the first city view over Bangkok.
En route
- 23m in← LeftMainland Southeast Asia
About 20 minutes in, look left for the coastline of Mainland Southeast Asia. It reads as a long edge of land, not a single sharp feature.
- 52m in← LeftAnnamite Range
Around 50 minutes in, the left side picks up the Annamite Range. From this height it is a muted band of ridges, not peak-by-peak detail.
- 1h 50m in← LeftQiongzhou Strait · passes underneath
Just under two hours in, the Qiongzhou Strait slides past on the left. It comes very close under you, so the view is brief and steep.
- 1h 52m in← LeftLeizhou Peninsula
A few minutes later, keep left for the Leizhou Peninsula. It shows as a broad stretch of land between water, easy to spot if your window is clear.
- 1h 56m in← LeftZhanjiang
About two hours in, Zhanjiang sits on the left side of the route. You get a quick city pass, more of an urban patchwork than a skyline.
Landing
On descent into HKG, depending on the runway in use, the left side still holds the better view. You can catch Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Dongguan on final approach.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from BKK to HKG?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on BKK to HKG flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from BKK to HKG?
The great-circle distance is 1,690 km (1,050 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 29m in the air on this eastbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side should I sit on from BKK to HKG?
Sit on the left. It is the views side, and it is also the shade side on this daytime flight.
What will I see on the BKK to HKG flight?
Left-side highlights include Mainland Southeast Asia, the Annamite Range, the Qiongzhou Strait, the Leizhou Peninsula, and Zhanjiang.