LAX to CDG: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Los Angeles (LAX) to Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) (CDG) is a 9,103 km (5,656 mi), roughly 11h 13m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LAX to CDG 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 | Left | Both |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Both | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side wins on both counts: it stays in shade and gets the better views.
Sit on the left. It wins for both shade and views on this route.
Takeoff
After departure from LAX, the left side gets the first clear look at the San Fernando Valley, about a minute in, depending on the runway in use. The right side picks up Anaheim, Irvine, and Long Beach instead.
En route
- 23m in← LeftDeath Valley
About 20 minutes in, Death Valley sits on the left. You see a broad desert basin, pale and flat from cruise height.
- 1h 10m in← LeftGreat Salt Lake
Around an hour in, the Great Salt Lake stays on the left. It reads as a wide, bright patch against the land.
- 3h 15m in← LeftLake Winnipeg
About three hours in, Lake Winnipeg is on the left. From up here it looks like a large, dark-blue sheet.
- 10h 10m in← LeftBelfast
Just past ten hours in, Belfast appears on the left. It is brief, but you get the city on that side before the crossing continues.
- 10h 37m in← LeftBirmingham
A little over ten and a half hours in, Birmingham is on the left. You see the city spread as a dense urban area.
Landing
On descent into CDG, the right side gets Paris and Pont Neuf near touchdown, depending on the runway in use. The left side has already been the better seat for the trip overall.
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 CDG?
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 CDG 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 LAX to CDG?
The great-circle distance is 9,103 km (5,656 mi), which works out to roughly 11h 13m in the air on this northbound 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 LAX to CDG?
Sit on the left. It is the shade side and it gets the stronger views on this route.
What do I see on the left side after takeoff from LAX?
About a minute after departure, the left side can catch the San Fernando Valley, depending on the runway in use.