CDG to SFO: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) (CDG) to San Francisco (SFO) is a 8,963 km (5,569 mi), roughly 11h 3m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime CDG to SFO 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 | Both |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Sit on the right. It is the shade side, and it is also the better side for views on this route.
This route gives you the right side. It also gives you the shade side, so the same seat wins on both counts.
Takeoff
On departure from CDG, depending on the runway in use, Paris and Pont Neuf sit off to the left as you climb out.
En route
- 16m inRight →Strait of Dover
About 15 minutes in, look right for the Strait of Dover — the narrow pinch point of the English Channel.
- 25m inRight →London
A minute later, London appears on the right, broad and dense below the wing.
- 46m inRight →Liverpool
Around 45 minutes in, Liverpool is also on the right, with Great Britain beside it in the same view.
- 48m in← LeftSnowdon
Near 50 minutes in, Snowdon comes up on the left, and it passes close enough to feel steep rather than distant.
- 4h 47m inRight →Davis Strait
Roughly four and a half hours in, Davis Strait is on the right. It is a long water crossing, so the landmark reads as a wide, cold gap from cruise height.
- 10h 01m in← LeftBoise
About 10 hours in, Boise shows on the left as you cross the western U.S. on approach.
Landing
On arrival at SFO, depending on the runway in use, the right side is the one to watch. Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate, and Alcatraz Island line up on that side during descent.
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 SFO?
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 SFO 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 CDG to SFO?
The great-circle distance is 8,963 km (5,569 mi), which works out to roughly 11h 3m in the air on this northbound 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 has the views from CDG to SFO?
The right side has the better views on this route.
Which side should I sit on for shade on CDG to SFO?
Sit on the right side. It is also the shade side.