ICN to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seoul (ICN) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 9,625 km (5,981 mi), roughly 11h 49m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime ICN to LAX 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 | Both |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
Sit left. The left side gets the better views and the shade side, so it wins on both counts.
On this ICN to LAX flight, the left side wins on views and shade. That is the easy choice here.
Takeoff
Just after takeoff from ICN, depending on the runway in use, you can get a quick look at Ganghwa Island on the left about 1 minute in. Seoul, the Korean Peninsula, Suwon, and Seongnam sit on the right during the climb, so they are not the better side for the start.
En route
- 1h 27m in← LeftSikhote-Alin
About 1 hour 27 minutes in, Sikhote-Alin stays to the left. It is a long mountain range, so it reads as a broad dark line rather than a single peak.
- 1h 57m inRight →La Pérouse Strait
About 2 hours in, La Pérouse Strait is on the right. You see a narrow stretch of water between two landmasses, but it is not your side here.
- 3h 21m in← LeftAtlasov Island
About 3 hours 21 minutes in, Atlasov Island is on the left. The volcano shape stands out more than the details, especially from cruise height.
- 6h 15m inRight →Mount Cleveland
About 6 hours 15 minutes in, Mount Cleveland is on the right and fairly close to the track. It is a volcano, so you get a steep, compact shape rather than a wide landscape.
- 11h 08m in← LeftGolden Gate Bridge
About 11 hours in, the Golden Gate Bridge appears on the left. You also pass San Francisco and Alcatraz Island on that side, so this is the strongest city-and-bridge section of the flight.
- 11h 21m in← LeftPinnacles National Park
A few minutes later, about 11 hours 21 minutes in, Pinnacles National Park stays on the left. It is a brief land feature, but it keeps the left side active as you come down the coast.
Landing
On arrival into LAX, depending on the runway in use, the left side keeps the better footing. Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana are on the left during descent, while Long Beach and Oxnard sit to the right.
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 ICN to LAX?
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 ICN to LAX 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 ICN to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 9,625 km (5,981 mi), which works out to roughly 11h 49m 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 ICN to LAX?
Sit on the left. It has the better views and the shade side on this route.
What will I see on the left side near San Francisco?
You get the strongest late-flight stretch there: the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, and Alcatraz Island are all on the left.