JFK to DUB: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New York (JFK) to Dublin (DUB) is a 5,103 km (3,171 mi), roughly 6h 30m 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 DUB 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 | Both | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Right side for views, left side for shade. If you want the clearest window seat, pick the right. If you want less glare, the left is the calmer choice.
On this JFK to DUB flight, the right side gets the best views, while the left side gets the shade. It is a tradeoff route: you choose the scenery or the softer light.
Takeoff
After takeoff from JFK, and depending on the runway in use, the left side picks up New York City, the East River, Brooklyn Bridge, Ellis Island, and Liberty Island as you climb out.
En route
- 24m inRight →Cape Cod
About 25 minutes in, Cape Cod sits on the right. It reads as a long, narrow hook of land.
- 1h 02m inRight →Bay of Fundy · passes underneath
Around an hour in, the Bay of Fundy comes up on the right, and it is nearly under you. That makes it a quick, steep look.
- 1h 33m inRight →Cape Breton Island
About an hour and a half in, Cape Breton Island stays on the right as a broad island shape in the water.
- 2h 02m in← LeftGros Morne National Park
Earlier over the North Atlantic, Gros Morne National Park slips by on the left. It is a brief left-side look before the route swings back toward Ireland.
- 2h 06m inRight →Newfoundland
Just past two hours in, Newfoundland is on the right. You see a large island mass off the wing.
- 6h 15m inRight →Cliffs of Moher
Near the end of the flight, the Cliffs of Moher appear on the right. You also get Lough Corrib and Galway Bay in the same stretch.
Landing
On descent into DUB, and depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the Wicklow Mountains first, then Dublin itself nearly under the wing 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 DUB?
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 DUB 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 DUB?
The great-circle distance is 5,103 km (3,171 mi), which works out to roughly 6h 30m 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 JFK to DUB?
Sit on the right for the best views. Sit on the left if you want the shaded side.
What will I see on the JFK to DUB flight?
You get New York on departure, then Cape Cod, the Bay of Fundy, Cape Breton Island, Newfoundland, and Ireland on the way in.