LAX to JFK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) is a 3,974 km (2,469 mi), roughly 5h 11m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LAX to JFK 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
Left side for both views and shade.
Sit on the left. On this route, the view side and the shade side are the same, so one side wins on both counts.
Takeoff
After departure from LAX, the left side gets the first look at the San Fernando Valley, with Oxnard also off that side at the start. Depending on the runway in use, that view can come quickly during the climb.
En route
- 29m in← LeftLas Vegas
About half an hour in, Las Vegas sits off the left. You see the city spread wide against the desert, not head-on.
- 31m in← LeftHoover Dam
A couple of minutes later, Hoover Dam stays on the left as a small, sharp man-made shape on the river.
- 49m in← LeftGrand Canyon · passes underneath
About 50 minutes in, the Grand Canyon is nearly under you on the left. It flashes by steeply, so keep your camera ready.
- 1h 04m in← LeftMonument Valley
Around an hour in, Monument Valley is out on the left as a broad red-brown basin, then it slips away.
- 4h 24m in← LeftLake Erie
Late in the flight, Lake Erie appears off the left as a wide blue sheet before the descent into New York begins.
Landing
On approach to JFK, the left side picks up the New York landmarks. Depending on the runway in use, you may see the East River, the Harlem River, and the George Washington Bridge on that side, with the Brooklyn Bridge very close to the window near touchdown. Long Island comes into view on the left at 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 LAX to JFK?
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 JFK 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 LAX to JFK?
The great-circle distance is 3,974 km (2,469 mi), which works out to roughly 5h 11m 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 for LAX to JFK?
Sit on the left. It has the stronger views, and it is also the shade side on this eastbound flight.
What will I see on the LAX to JFK route?
You get the San Fernando Valley after takeoff, then places like Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Erie, and New York landmarks on approach.