HNL to PHX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Honolulu, Oahu (HNL) to Phoenix (PHX) is a 4,689 km (2,914 mi), roughly 6h 1m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime HNL to PHX departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on both views and shade, so it is the clear pick.
Sit on the left. You get the better views and the shade side on this eastbound hop.
Takeoff
After departure from HNL, the left side gets Oahu and Pearl Harbor close by during the climb, depending on the runway in use. Honolulu sits off the other side.
En route
- 5h 08m in← LeftChannel Islands of California
About five hours in, the Channel Islands of California pass far on the left as small shapes in the water.
- 5h 15m in← LeftSan Fernando Valley
A few minutes later, the San Fernando Valley stays on the left as a broad urban basin.
- 5h 17m in← LeftLong Beach
Long Beach comes up on the left next, a dense strip of city blocks by the coast.
- 5h 24m inRight →San Diego
San Diego is off the right, so it is a side glance rather than your main view.
- 5h 34m in← LeftSalton Sea
On descent, the Salton Sea appears on the left as a pale, flat lake surface.
Landing
On approach to PHX, the left side still keeps the cleaner view. Phoenix and Scottsdale come in nearly overhead, and Glendale sits off to the left too, depending on the runway in use.
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 HNL to PHX?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on HNL to PHX 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 HNL to PHX?
The great-circle distance is 4,689 km (2,914 mi), which works out to roughly 6h 1m in the air on this eastbound 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 HNL to PHX?
Sit on the left. It is the view side and the shade side on this route.
What can I see on the HNL to PHX flight?
You get Oahu and Pearl Harbor after takeoff, then the Channel Islands of California, the Los Angeles area, and the Salton Sea before landing.