JFK to ATH: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New York (JFK) to Spata-Artemida (ATH) is a 7,932 km (4,929 mi), roughly 9h 50m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime JFK to ATH 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 | Right | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on both views and shade. Pick it if you want the stronger window seat.
Sit on the left. It gets the best views and the shade side on this eastbound flight from JFK to ATH.
Takeoff
After departure from JFK, depending on the runway in use, the left side can catch Brooklyn Bridge, the East River, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, and New York City during climb.
En route
- 1h in← LeftBay of Fundy
About an hour in, the Bay of Fundy stays on the left. It reads as a broad Atlantic bay, not a close-up shoreline.
- 2h 02m in← LeftNewfoundland
Around two hours in, Newfoundland sits off the left side. You get an island shape in open water.
- 7h 50m in← LeftMatterhorn
About 7 hours 50 minutes in, the Matterhorn passes on the left. It is a sharp mountain profile, and it sits fairly close to the track.
- 7h 53m in← LeftAlps
A few minutes later, the Alps stay on the left. This is the big mountain stretch on the route.
- 8h 35m inRight →Apennines
Near 8 hours 35 minutes in, the Apennines move to the right. That shift matters if you are still watching the window.
- 9h 21m inRight →Corfu
About 9 hours 20 minutes in, Corfu appears on the right near the end of cruise.
Landing
On descent into ATH, depending on the runway in use, the left side can pick up Euboea first. The right side then gets Aegina, Kea, Kythnos, and Poros 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 JFK to ATH?
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 JFK to ATH 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 JFK to ATH?
The great-circle distance is 7,932 km (4,929 mi), which works out to roughly 9h 50m 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 JFK to ATH?
Sit on the left. It has the better view line and the shaded side on this route.
What will I see on the way from JFK to ATH?
From the left, you get New York at takeoff, then Bay of Fundy, Newfoundland, the Alps area, and later Corfu and other Greek islands near arrival.