ICN to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seoul (ICN) to Seattle (SEA) is a 8,373 km (5,203 mi), roughly 10h 21m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime ICN 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 | Both |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins for both views and shade. That is the side to book if you want the easier window and the better look outside.
Sit on the left for the best views and the shade. You get the stronger side of the route, and the sun stays on the right.
Takeoff
On climbout, depending on the runway in use, the right side can catch Seoul, the Korean Peninsula, and Suwon almost right away. The left side gets Ganghwa Island close in, but the stronger view is still on the left once you settle in.
En route
- 57m in← LeftVladivostok
About an hour in, Vladivostok slides by on the left. It is a city view, so expect an urban patch rather than a single landmark.
- 2h 25m in← LeftSakhalin
Around two and a half hours in, Sakhalin sits out on the left as a long island shape in the distance.
- 4h 02m in← LeftKlyuchevskaya Sopka
Near four hours in, Klyuchevskaya Sopka appears on the left, and it is fairly close for a mountain view.
- 4h 03m in← LeftKamchatka Peninsula
A little after four hours in, the Kamchatka Peninsula comes up on the left. It is a broad coastline view, not a quick pass.
- 9h 13m in← LeftHaida Gwaii
About nine and a quarter hours in, Haida Gwaii is off the left side. You see it as an island group rather than a single peak or city.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets Lake Washington and a nearly overhead look at Seattle about a minute before landing, so the city flashes by quickly. The right side then picks up Tacoma, the Cascade Range, Mount Rainier, and Olympic National Park as you come in.
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 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 ICN to SEA 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 SEA?
The great-circle distance is 8,373 km (5,203 mi), which works out to roughly 10h 21m 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 of the plane should I sit on from ICN to SEA?
Sit on the left. It is the view side and the shade side on this route.
Will I see Seattle on landing from ICN to SEA?
Yes, but briefly. Seattle is nearly overhead on the left side about a minute before landing, with Lake Washington just before that.