JFK to LAS: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New York (JFK) to Las Vegas (LAS) is a 3,609 km (2,243 mi), roughly 4h 45m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime JFK to LAS departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Right side wins here. It gives you the stronger views and the better shade.
On this westbound JFK to LAS flight, the right side is the one to book. It has the better views and the shade.
Takeoff
After takeoff from JFK, depending on the runway in use, keep your seat on the right. You can catch Long Island right away, then a quick run over the East River, the George Washington Bridge, and the Harlem River. Brooklyn Bridge is the close one — it comes almost under you for a brief, steep look.
En route
- 41m in← LeftPittsburgh
About 40 minutes in, Pittsburgh sits off your left side.
- 48m inRight →Lake Erie
A few minutes later, Lake Erie opens on the right as a wide blue sheet.
- 1h 31m inRight →Chicago
About an hour and a half in, Chicago is on the right — a dense city shape, not a close pass.
- 3h 28m inRight →Denver
Around 3 and a half hours in, Denver stays on the right, far below and easy to miss if you blink.
- 4h 25m in← LeftGrand Canyon
Near the end of cruise, the Grand Canyon is on the left, a deep cut that only briefly breaks the ground pattern.
- 4h 27m inRight →Zion National Park
Not long after that, Zion National Park comes up on the right during descent.
Landing
On descent into LAS, depending on the runway in use, stay on the right for the best finish. You get Las Vegas nearly under you, with North Las Vegas close by on that side too. On the left, Lake Mead and Hoover Dam pass by later and a bit farther off.
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 LAS?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on JFK to LAS 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 LAS?
The great-circle distance is 3,609 km (2,243 mi), which works out to roughly 4h 45m in the air on this westbound 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 LAS?
Sit on the right. It has the better views and the shade side on this route.
What will I see after takeoff from JFK?
On the right, you can see Long Island, then the East River, the George Washington Bridge, the Harlem River, and a quick close pass of Brooklyn Bridge.