BOS to CDG: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Boston (BOS) to Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) (CDG) is a 5,535 km (3,439 mi), roughly 7h 1m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime BOS to CDG 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 | Right | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are fairly even here, so they do not decide the seat. Pick the left side for shade.
This route does not pick a clear views side. The better seat is the shade side on the left. You still get a mix of Atlantic crossings and a few landfalls on both sides.
Takeoff
After departure from BOS, depending on the runway in use, Boston sits almost under you on the left. About a minute later, Massachusetts Bay flashes by on the right as you climb out.
En route
- 29m in← LeftGulf of Maine
About half an hour in, the Gulf of Maine stretches off the left side as a broad dark-blue expanse.
- 39m in← LeftBay of Fundy
A few minutes later, the Bay of Fundy appears on the left. It is another wide water shape, with a long shoreline feel rather than a single focal point.
- 1h 42m in← LeftNewfoundland
About 1 hour 40 minutes in, Newfoundland comes into view on the left. It reads as a large island edge against the sea.
- 5h 50m in← LeftCarrauntoohil
Roughly 5 hours 50 minutes in, Carrauntoohil is off the left side. It is a mountain view, but only as a distant high point in the landscape.
- 6h 28m in← LeftJurassic Coast
Around 6 hours 30 minutes in, the Jurassic Coast passes on the left. You get a coastal outline rather than a close-up look.
- 6h 39m inRight →Cotentin Peninsula
Near descent, the Cotentin Peninsula is on the right. It is one of the last clear land shapes before arrival.
Landing
On arrival into CDG, depending on the runway in use, Paris comes up on the right just before landing. Pont Neuf is also on the right, but it is a quick glimpse, not a long view.
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 BOS to CDG?
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 BOS to CDG 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 BOS to CDG?
The great-circle distance is 5,535 km (3,439 mi), which works out to roughly 7h 1m 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 BOS to CDG?
Sit on the left for shade. Views are too evenly split on this route to make the choice for you.
What will I see on this flight?
You get water early, then island and coastline views on both sides, with a brief look at Paris on the right before landing.