BSB to CGH: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Brasília (BSB) to São Paulo (CGH) is a 873 km (542 mi), roughly 1h 32m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime BSB to CGH departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Night |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on both views and shade, so that is the easy pick.
Sit on the right. The same side gets the clearest views and the shade for most of the trip.
Takeoff
Depending on the runway in use, you may catch Brasília off the left side as you climb. It sits close at takeoff and can pass almost under you, so the look is brief.
En route
- 1h 02m inRight →Ribeirão Preto
About an hour in, Ribeirão Preto appears on the right. It is the first clear mid-route city to watch for.
- 1h 21m inRight →Americana
Near the last 10 minutes, Americana stays on the right during descent. It comes and goes quickly.
- 1h 23m inRight →Campinas
A couple of minutes after that, Campinas is also on the right. It is another short look on approach.
Landing
Depending on the runway in use, the final approach favors the left side for Guarulhos, then Santos and Mogi das Cruzes near landing. Osasco sits almost under you on the right, so it flashes by steeply and fast.
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 BSB to CGH?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on BSB to CGH flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from BSB to CGH?
The great-circle distance is 873 km (542 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 32m in the air on this southbound 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 for BSB to CGH?
Sit on the right. It is the viewing side and the shade side on this route.
What will I see on the BSB to CGH flight?
Mostly city passes on the right: Ribeirão Preto in cruise, then Americana and Campinas on descent. Near landing, Guarulhos, Santos, and Mogi das Cruzes are on the left, while Osasco is almost under the right side.