LAX to AKL: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland (AKL) is a 10,487 km (6,516 mi), roughly 12h 50m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LAX to AKL 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 | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Both | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins for views, but it is also the sun side. If you want the clearest look outside, choose right. If you want less glare, the left side is the shade side. This flight is mostly daytime, so the tradeoff matters for most of the trip.
You sit on the right for this westbound flight. That side gets the better ground views, and it is also the sunny side, so you choose between detail and glare.
Takeoff
Right after departure from LAX, depending on the runway in use, the San Fernando Valley sits off your right side as the climb starts. On the left, Long Beach, Anaheim, and Irvine stay lower and farther away.
En route
- 8m inRight →Channel Islands of California
About 8 minutes in, the Channel Islands of California sit to your right over the water, a chain of small shapes off the coast.
- 8m inRight →Channel Islands National Park
At about the same time, Channel Islands National Park is also on the right, giving that side the better early coastal view.
Landing
On descent into AKL, depending on the runway in use, Rangitoto Island comes up very close on the right and nearly under you, so it flashes by fast. A little earlier, about 4 minutes before landing, the Coromandel Peninsula 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 LAX to AKL?
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 LAX to AKL flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from LAX to AKL?
The great-circle distance is 10,487 km (6,516 mi), which works out to roughly 12h 50m 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 LAX to AKL?
Sit on the right for the better views. The left is the shade side, but it is not the main view side on this route.
What do you see soon after takeoff from LAX?
Soon after takeoff, the right side gets the San Fernando Valley. The left side has Long Beach, Anaheim, and Irvine farther away.