JFK to YYZ: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New York (JFK) to Toronto (YYZ) is a 588 km (366 mi), roughly 1h 12m 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 YYZ 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 | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are basically even, so they do not decide this one. Sit right for shade.
This route does not really pick a views side. You get a mix of both windows, so the better seat is the shade side: right.
Takeoff
After takeoff from JFK, depending on the runway in use, keep an eye on the right side first. Long Island sits out there at the start, then New York City comes up close on the left, with the Brooklyn Bridge briefly almost under you. The East River is also close on the right, so the first few minutes are busy on both sides.
En route
- 17m inRight →Catskill Mountains
About 15 to 20 minutes in, the Catskill Mountains sit off the right side. You see a long mountain range rather than one peak.
- 52m inRight →Rochester
Around 50 minutes in, Rochester comes into view on the right. It is a city view, not a long one.
- 1h inRight →Lake Ontario
A few minutes later, Lake Ontario is also on the right. It reads as a broad water surface from cruise height.
- 1h 03m in← LeftNiagara Falls
By about an hour in, Niagara Falls appears on the left. You only get a side look, but the landmark is clear.
Landing
On approach to YYZ, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets the busier finish. Hamilton, then Kitchener, sit off to the left as you come down. Toronto is nearly under the aircraft on the right near the end, while Brampton and Mississauga slide by low on 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 YYZ?
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 YYZ 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 YYZ?
The great-circle distance is 588 km (366 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 12m 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 YYZ?
Sit on the right for shade. The views are fairly even, so they do not settle the choice.
What will I see on the JFK to YYZ flight?
You get a busy start around New York, then a mix of inland city and water views, with Niagara Falls on the left and Toronto near the end on the right.