KEF to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Reykjavík (KEF) to Seattle (SEA) is a 5,811 km (3,611 mi), roughly 7h 20m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime KEF 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 | Both |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Both |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Night | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are basically even, so shade decides it. Sit on the right for the better sun angle.
You do not get a clear winner on views here. The right side has the stronger shade advice, so that is the practical pick.
Takeoff
Soon after departure, and depending on the runway in use, the right side gives you a fast sweep of Þingvallavatn, Fagradalsfjall, Hengill, Esja, and the Reykjanes peninsula. They sit close to the airport and slip past during climb, so keep your window ready.
En route
- 7m inRight →Snæfellsjökull
About 7 minutes in, Snæfellsjökull sits off the right side. It is a quick early look at a volcanic peak.
- 1h 46m inRight →Disko Bay
Around 1 hour 46 minutes in, Disko Bay is on the right. You see a broad bay shape, not a single sharp feature.
- 2h 30m in← LeftAuyuittuq National Park
About 2 hours 30 minutes in, Auyuittuq National Park is off the left side. It passes from a distance, so expect a wide land view rather than a close-up.
- 6h 11m in← LeftEdmonton
Roughly 6 hours 11 minutes in, Edmonton is on the left. From cruise altitude it reads as a city footprint, not a detailed street grid.
- 6h 31m inRight →Canadian Rockies
About 6 hours 31 minutes in, the Canadian Rockies sit on the right. This is the big mountain section, with long ridgelines stretching across the view.
- 7h 08m in← LeftNorth Cascades National Park
Near 7 hours 8 minutes in, North Cascades National Park is off the left side as you start down. It is one of the last clear landscape markers before landing.
Landing
On descent, and depending on the runway in use, the left side lines up with the Cascade Range, Mount Rainier, and Tacoma. Seattle itself comes in nearly under the aircraft on the right, with Lake Washington close by, so both sides get something near the end.
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 KEF 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 KEF to SEA 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 KEF to SEA?
The great-circle distance is 5,811 km (3,611 mi), which works out to roughly 7h 20m 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 KEF to SEA?
Pick the right side for shade. Views are close to even, so the shade call is the main tiebreaker.
What do you see near departure and landing on this KEF to SEA flight?
Near departure, the right side gets Þingvallavatn, Fagradalsfjall, Hengill, Esja, and the Reykjanes peninsula. Near landing, the left side gets the Cascade Range, Mount Rainier, and Tacoma, while Seattle and Lake Washington pass nearly under the right side.