DEL to JFK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New Delhi (DEL) to New York (JFK) is a 11,755 km (7,304 mi), roughly 14h 20m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime DEL to JFK 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 | Left | Left | Both |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the right. It gets the better views, and it also stays on the shade side. You start over North India, then spend the long middle with mountain country and a few sharp, big-name landmarks before New York lines up below.
Takeoff
On takeoff from DEL, depending on the runway in use, the right side is the one to have. Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida, and then Meerut all sit off that side as you climb out.
En route
- 48m inRight →Dal Lake
About 50 minutes in, Dal Lake comes up on the right as a compact blue oval in Srinagar.
- 48m inRight →Kashmir Valley
Right beside it, the Kashmir Valley opens out on the right. You see a broad mountain basin, not just one peak.
- 57m inRight →Nanga Parbat
Roughly an hour in, Nanga Parbat is off the right. It is a single steep mountain, so it stands out fast.
- 1h 32m inRight →Pamir Mountains
Around an hour and a half in, the Pamir Mountains stay on the right. This is the long mountain wall of the middle cruise.
- 1h 46m inRight →Ferghana Valley
Just after that, the Ferghana Valley appears on the right. It gives the route a flatter patch after all the ridges.
- 8h 22m inRight →Jan Mayen
Later on, Jan Mayen and Beerenberg are both off the right, with the island and its volcanic cone showing together when the weather allows.
Landing
On descent into JFK, depending on the runway in use, the right side keeps the strongest views. The East River, New York City, and the Brooklyn Bridge all line up on that side near touchdown, while Long Island sits to the left.
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 DEL to JFK?
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 DEL to JFK 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 DEL to JFK?
The great-circle distance is 11,755 km (7,304 mi), which works out to roughly 14h 20m 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 best views on DEL to JFK?
The right side. It is the views side for this route.
Which side should I sit on for shade on DEL to JFK?
The right side. It is also the shade side, so you get both benefits together.