GVA to EWR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Geneva (GVA) to Newark (EWR) is a 6,225 km (3,868 mi), roughly 7h 49m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime GVA to EWR 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 | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Sit on the right side. It is the best side for views and the shaded side too.
Sit on the right. The right side gets the best views, and it is also the shade side, so you do not have to choose.
Takeoff
After takeoff, the left side gets the early show, depending on the runway in use. You may see Mont Blanc, Aiguille du Midi, and the Western Alps first, with Geneva briefly almost under you. A few minutes later, Lyon stays off to the left as you climb out.
En route
- 47m in← LeftRennes
About 45 minutes in, Rennes appears off the left as a compact city shape in western France.
- 54m inRight →Channel Islands
Around 54 minutes in, the Channel Islands sit off the right, scattered in the water near the English Channel.
- 1h 13m inRight →Land's End
About 73 minutes in, Land's End stays on the right as a sharp headland at the edge of Cornwall.
- 5h 44m inRight →Newfoundland
Roughly five and a half hours in, Newfoundland comes up on the right as the first big landfall on the North American side.
- 6h 46m inRight →Bay of Fundy
About 6 hours 45 minutes in, the Bay of Fundy is off to the right, a broad inlet on the Atlantic coast of Canada.
- 6h 56m inRight →Gulf of Maine
A few minutes later, the Gulf of Maine stays on the right as a wide stretch of coast and open water.
Landing
On descent, the left side gets the close-in New York views, depending on the runway in use. Long Island comes into view first, then the East River and Ellis Island. Near touchdown, Brooklyn Bridge and New York City can pass almost under you on 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 GVA to EWR?
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 GVA to EWR 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 GVA to EWR?
The great-circle distance is 6,225 km (3,868 mi), which works out to roughly 7h 49m 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 for GVA to EWR?
Sit on the right. That is the views side, and it is also the shade side on this route.
What will I see on the descent into EWR?
The left side gets the close approach views: Long Island, the East River, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, and New York City.