DXB to SFO: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Dubai (DXB) to San Francisco (SFO) is a 13,020 km (8,090 mi), roughly 15h 49m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime DXB 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 | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Both | Both | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Right side if you want the best views, and right side again if you want less sun.
You want the right side on this DXB to SFO flight. It wins the view call, and it also stays on the shade side for most of the trip.
Takeoff
After departure, and depending on the runway in use, the left side gets Abu Musa Island and the Palm Islands first. Dubai can sit almost under you, so the view is brief and steep. A minute later, Sharjah and Ajman move into view on the right as you climb out.
En route
- 12m inRight →Qeshm Island
About 10 to 15 minutes in, Qeshm Island sits off the right wing. It is a quick island sighting before the route stretches out.
- 2h 11m in← LeftGarabogazköl
Around two hours in, Garabogazköl is on the left. It looks like a broad, flat water shape with little detail from cruise height.
- 11h 59m inRight →Great Bear Lake
About 12 hours in, Great Bear Lake is off the right side. You get a large, dark lake shape far below, then it is gone.
- 14h 15m inRight →Vancouver
Near the end of cruise, Vancouver is on the right side. It comes and goes as a compact city pattern, not a long look.
- 14h 46m in← LeftMount Hood
A little over 14 hours in, Mount Hood is on the left. It is a brief mountain sighting while the route is dropping south.
Landing
On descent, and depending on the runway in use, the left side lines up with Sacramento first. Near touchdown, San Jose and Fremont stay on the left, while the right side gets a quick look at the Golden Gate Bridge, then Oakland almost under you.
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 DXB 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 DXB to SFO 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 DXB to SFO?
The great-circle distance is 13,020 km (8,090 mi), which works out to roughly 15h 49m 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 should I sit on for DXB to SFO views?
Sit on the right. It has the stronger view score on this route.
Which side is better for shade on DXB to SFO?
Also the right side. The sun stays on the left, so the right side is the shade side.