HKG to BKK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Hong Kong (HKG) to Bangkok (BKK) is a 1,690 km (1,050 mi), roughly 2h 29m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime HKG to BKK 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 | Both | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| 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. That side gets the better views, and it also stays in the shade for most of the flight.
Takeoff
On climbout, depending on the runway in use, the left side looks toward Hong Kong and Hong Kong Island, while the right side picks up Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Zhuhai. The right side has the stronger start.
En route
- 17m inRight →Yangjiang
About 15 minutes in, Yangjiang sits off the right side as the aircraft pushes west across Guangdong.
- 33m inRight →Zhanjiang
Around half an hour in, Zhanjiang stays on the right. It is a city view, not a big landmark, but it holds the route together.
- 37m inRight →Leizhou Peninsula
A few minutes later, the right side gets the Leizhou Peninsula. You see a long strip of land and coastline.
- 39m inRight →Qiongzhou Strait · passes underneath
About 40 minutes in, the Qiongzhou Strait comes nearly under the aircraft on the right. It is a brief, steep look down, so keep that window open.
- 1h 37m inRight →Annamite Range
Roughly an hour and a half in, the Annamite Range stays on the right. From cruise height, it reads as a band of mountains, not individual peaks.
Landing
On approach to Bangkok, depending on the runway in use, the right side is still the better one. The city comes in on that side as you descend, so keep your camera ready there.
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 HKG to BKK?
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 HKG to BKK 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 HKG to BKK?
The great-circle distance is 1,690 km (1,050 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 29m 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 HKG to BKK?
Sit on the right. It gets the better views, and it is also the shaded side on this route.
What can I see after takeoff from HKG?
Depending on the runway in use, the left side looks toward Hong Kong and Hong Kong Island, while the right side gets Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Zhuhai.