HNL to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Honolulu, Oahu (HNL) to Seattle (SEA) is a 4,308 km (2,677 mi), roughly 5h 34m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime HNL to SEA 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 | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Both | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views do not decide this route, so follow the shade side. On this flight, that is the left side.
You get a clean northbound run with little to choose from en route. Shade wins, so sit left for the better side overall.
Takeoff
After departure, depending on the runway in use, you can catch the climb past Pearl Harbor and Oahu on the left, with Honolulu close by on the right. Those features come up almost under you and slide away fast.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, the left side lines up best for Seattle, Lake Washington, and Olympic National Park. The right side gets the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier, which sit farther out on approach.
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 SEA?
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 SEA 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 SEA?
The great-circle distance is 4,308 km (2,677 mi), which works out to roughly 5h 34m 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 from HNL to SEA?
Sit on the left. Views are not the deciding factor here, and the left side is the shade side.
What will I see after takeoff from HNL?
Depending on the runway in use, you may see Pearl Harbor and Oahu on the left and Honolulu on the right during the climb, but only briefly.