JFK to TLV: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New York (JFK) to Tel Aviv (TLV) is a 9,117 km (5,665 mi), roughly 11h 14m 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 TLV 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 | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are basically a tie, so they do not decide the seat. Pick the left side for shade.
This route is split. You do not get a clear views winner, so the shade side matters more. The best scenery comes in pockets, not all at once.
Takeoff
On departure from JFK, the left side gets the first look at Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, the East River, Ellis Island, and Liberty Island during climb, depending on the runway in use. Those landmarks are close and low, so they pass fast.
En route
- 1h in← LeftBay of Fundy
About an hour in, Bay of Fundy sits on the left. It is a broad stretch of water, so this is a clean, open view rather than a detailed one.
- 6h 46m in← LeftEnglish Channel
Around 6 hours 45 minutes in, the English Channel is on the left. You are looking across a long strip of water, with the coast kept out at a distance.
- 7h 44m inRight →Mont Blanc
Just after that, Mont Blanc is on the right. It stands out as the highest mountain in the Alps, but it stays far off and does not fill the window.
- 8h 04m inRight →Lake Garda
A few minutes later, Lake Garda is also on the right. It reads as a small blue shape below, more patch of color than close-up detail.
- 9h 37m in← LeftMount Athos
Near 9 hours 40 minutes in, Mount Athos is on the left. It is a brief mountain sight, with the aircraft passing well off to one side.
- 10h 11m inRight →Dodecanese
About 10 hours 10 minutes in, the Dodecanese are on the right. You get a final island-side view before the descent begins.
Landing
On arrival into TLV, the right side has the Dead Sea, the Judaean Mountains, and Mount Herzl during descent, depending on the runway in use. The left side gets Mount Gerizim and Mount Nebo instead, so the approach is a split one.
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 TLV?
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 TLV 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 TLV?
The great-circle distance is 9,117 km (5,665 mi), which works out to roughly 11h 14m 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 TLV?
The views are balanced, so the scenery does not choose for you. The left side is the shade side, so it is the safer pick if you want less sun.
What will I see on this flight?
You get a mix of close departure landmarks over New York, then scattered ocean, island, mountain, and lake views en route. The landing approach splits between right-side and left-side landmarks.