JFK to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New York (JFK) to Seattle (SEA) is a 3,887 km (2,415 mi), roughly 5h 4m 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 SEA 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 | Both | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Both |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on views and shade.
Sit on the right. You get the shade side and the better views on this westbound run, so that seat does both jobs.
Takeoff
On climbout, the first minutes are busy on both sides, depending on the runway in use. The right side gets Long Island right away, and the East River can pass almost under you. Left-side seats may catch Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, and Ellis Island briefly and steeply.
En route
- 37m inRight →Lake Ontario
About 40 minutes in, Lake Ontario opens on the right as a broad blue sheet.
- 40m inRight →Niagara Falls
A little after that, Niagara Falls sits on the right. You see it from a distance, not straight down.
- 44m inRight →Toronto
Toronto follows on the right about 45 minutes in, a dense city edge rather than a single landmark.
- 49m in← LeftLake Erie
Around 50 minutes in, Lake Erie is on the left, a second wide lake view if you are on that side.
- 2h 08m in← LeftSaint Paul
Near two hours in, Saint Paul comes up on the left with Minneapolis just after it, both as urban shapes rather than close-up detail.
- 4h 14m inRight →Glacier National Park
About four and a quarter hours in, Glacier National Park is on the right, one of the last big land features before descent.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier about five minutes from landing. The right side then has Seattle and Lake Washington near touchdown, while Tacoma is off to the left.
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 SEA?
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 SEA 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 SEA?
The great-circle distance is 3,887 km (2,415 mi), which works out to roughly 5h 4m 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 SEA?
Sit on the right. It is the views side, and it is also the shade side on this westbound flight.
What will I see on the JFK to SEA route?
Early on you can catch Long Island on the right, then big lake country, Niagara Falls from afar, Saint Paul and Minneapolis on the left, and Glacier National Park on the right before the approach into Seattle.