CAI to JED: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Cairo (CAI) to Jeddah (JED) is a 1,216 km (756 mi), roughly 1h 56m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime CAI to JED 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 | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on views and shade.
You get the better views on the left, and the left is also the shade side. That makes this an easy pick.
Takeoff
On departure, depending on the runway in use, Cairo and Giza sit off your right side as you climb out. Look left for Zagazig, then Ismailia about a minute in.
En route
- 8m in← LeftSuez
About 8 minutes in, Suez stays to your left as a distant city shape.
- 20m in← LeftSinai Peninsula
Around 20 minutes in, the Sinai Peninsula runs along your left as a broad coastline line.
- 28m in← LeftMount Sinai
Near 28 minutes in, Mount Sinai appears on your left. It is a brief, steep look rather than a long pass.
- 28m in← LeftMount Catherine
At the same point, Mount Catherine is also on your left, rising sharply and then sliding past.
- 31m in← LeftGulf of Aqaba
About 31 minutes in, the Gulf of Aqaba sits off your left as a wide blue bay.
- 35m in← LeftStraits of Tiran
Around 35 minutes in, the Straits of Tiran come up on your left, with a quick coastal squeeze.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, Jeddah comes in on your right about 116 minutes after takeoff. That keeps the approach view mostly to the right side.
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 CAI to JED?
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 CAI to JED 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 CAI to JED?
The great-circle distance is 1,216 km (756 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 56m 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 of the plane should I sit on from CAI to JED?
Sit on the left. It has the better views, and it is also the shade side.
What will I see on the CAI to JED flight?
You pass Suez, the Sinai Peninsula, Mount Sinai, Mount Catherine, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Straits of Tiran on the left side.