JFK to CDG: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New York (JFK) to Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) (CDG) is a 5,834 km (3,625 mi), roughly 7h 22m 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 CDG 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 | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side wins on both views and shade.
Sit left for this eastbound hop. The left side gets the better views and the shade, so it does the job twice.
Takeoff
After takeoff from JFK, and depending on the runway in use, keep to the left for early views. Brooklyn Bridge, the East River, New York City, Ellis Island, and Liberty Island all sit on that side as you climb out.
En route
- 22m in← LeftBoston
About 20 minutes in, Boston sits off the left. You see the city as a compact urban mass, not as a close pass.
- 1h 02m in← LeftBay of Fundy
Around an hour in, the Bay of Fundy is on the left. It is a broad water body on the Atlantic side of Canada.
- 2h 05m in← LeftNewfoundland
About two hours in, Newfoundland is left of the aircraft. From this height it reads as a large island shape against the water.
- 6h 12m in← LeftCarrauntoohil
Roughly six hours in, Carrauntoohil is on the left. It is a mountain view, but it passes well off to the side.
- 6h 49m in← LeftJurassic Coast
Near the end of cruise, the Jurassic Coast is on the left. You get a coastline thread rather than a full-on overhead pass.
- 7h inRight →Cotentin Peninsula
On descent, the Cotentin Peninsula comes up on the right, then Paris and Pont Neuf appear on the right near landing.
Landing
On approach to CDG, and depending on the runway in use, the right side can pick out Paris and Pont Neuf. It is a brief city-and-river finish before touchdown.
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 CDG?
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 CDG 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 JFK to CDG?
The great-circle distance is 5,834 km (3,625 mi), which works out to roughly 7h 22m 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 of the plane is best for JFK to CDG?
The left side. It has the better views on this route, and it is also the shade side.
What can you see on the JFK to CDG flight?
Early on, the left side gets Brooklyn Bridge, the East River, New York City, Ellis Island, and Liberty Island. Later you have Boston, the Bay of Fundy, Newfoundland, Carrauntoohil, and the Jurassic Coast.