JFK to ZRH: which side of the plane should you sit on?
New York (JFK) to Zurich (ZRH) is a 6,310 km (3,921 mi), roughly 7h 55m 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 ZRH 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 | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the left for this one. The left side wins for both views and shade, so you get the better scenery without the glare.
Takeoff
After takeoff from JFK, keep your eyes on the left, depending on the runway in use. You can catch the Brooklyn Bridge, the East River, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, and the New York skyline as you climb out.
En route
- 22m in← LeftBoston
About 20 minutes in, Boston sits off the left side. It reads as a dense city patch, then slips away fast.
- 1h 01m in← LeftBay of Fundy
Around an hour in, the Bay of Fundy is off the left. You’re looking at a broad sweep of water, not a close-up coastline.
- 2h 04m in← LeftNewfoundland
About two hours in, Newfoundland appears on the left. It’s a big island shape from cruise altitude, easy to spot when the sky is clear.
- 6h 09m in← LeftCarrauntoohil
Roughly six hours in, Carrauntoohil is off the left. It comes and goes as a single mountain peak, with no long look from the window.
- 6h 46m in← LeftJurassic Coast
About 6 hours 45 minutes in, the Jurassic Coast stays on the left. You get a coastline line rather than a detailed shore view.
- 7h 47m in← LeftStrasbourg
Near descent, Strasbourg is off the left side. It gives you one last city view before the approach starts to tighten.
Landing
On descent into ZRH, stay with the left side, depending on the runway in use. Freiburg im Breisgau comes up on the left, while Mount Pilatus, Lake Lucerne, and Lake Zug sit to the right. Rhine Falls is also on the left, and it passes close enough to notice but only briefly.
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 ZRH?
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 ZRH 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 ZRH?
The great-circle distance is 6,310 km (3,921 mi), which works out to roughly 7h 55m 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 ZRH?
Sit on the left. It wins for both views and shade on this route.
What can I see on the JFK to ZRH flight?
Early on, the left side gets New York landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and Ellis Island. Later, you see Boston, the Bay of Fundy, Newfoundland, Carrauntoohil, the Jurassic Coast, and Strasbourg before the descent views.