CDG to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) (CDG) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 9,103 km (5,656 mi), roughly 11h 13m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime CDG to LAX 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 | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on views and shade.
Sit on the right. That side gets the best views and the shade on this westbound flight from CDG to LAX.
Takeoff
On departure from CDG, depending on the runway in use, the left side looks toward Paris and Pont Neuf as you climb out.
En route
- 23m in← LeftEnglish Channel
About 20 minutes in, the left side gets the English Channel, a thin strip of water sliding past under you.
- 45m inRight →Great Britain
A little later, the right side has the better look at Great Britain, with the island filling more of the window than the nearby cities do.
- 48m inRight →Snowdon
About 50 minutes in, Snowdon passes on the right. It is close enough to feel steep, so it flashes by fast.
- 7h 58m inRight →Lake Winnipeg
Near the middle of the flight, Lake Winnipeg shows on the right as a broad blue patch in the flat land below.
- 10h 03m inRight →Great Salt Lake
About ten hours in, the right side picks up the Great Salt Lake, a bright salt lake that stands out against the dry ground.
Landing
On arrival into LAX, depending on the runway in use, the right side lines up with the San Fernando Valley, while Anaheim, Irvine, Long Beach, and Oxnard sit to the sides as you come down.
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 CDG to LAX?
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 CDG to LAX flights?
For sunrise or sunset views, sit on the side the table marks as the sun side for your departure time — that is where the light is.
How long is the flight from CDG to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 9,103 km (5,656 mi), which works out to roughly 11h 13m in the air on this westbound 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 CDG to LAX?
The right side. It has the stronger views on this route, and it is also the shaded side.
What do you see near landing at LAX?
Near landing, the right side lines up with the San Fernando Valley. The left side has Anaheim, Irvine, and Long Beach, with Oxnard also appearing on approach.