LAX to LHR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Los Angeles (LAX) to London (LHR) is a 8,760 km (5,443 mi), roughly 10h 48m 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 LHR 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 | Right | Left | Both |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Right | Both | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side gives you the best views, and it is also the sunny side. Pick left if you want the scenery and do not mind the light; pick right if shade matters more.
Sit left for the views, but expect more sun on that side. The right side is the shady side, so you are trading glare for the better lookouts.
Takeoff
On departure from LAX, sit left for the early view, depending on the runway in use. In the first minute, you can pick out the San Fernando Valley on that side. Anaheim, Irvine, and Long Beach fall to the right, with Oxnard also left and briefly in view as you climb.
En route
- 23m in← LeftDeath Valley
About 20 minutes in, Death Valley sits off the left side. It reads as a wide, pale desert basin rather than a single shape.
- 1h 10m in← LeftGreat Salt Lake
Around an hour and ten minutes in, the Great Salt Lake is left. From cruise altitude it shows up as a broad, flat patch of water.
- 3h 15m in← LeftLake Winnipeg
About three hours in, Lake Winnipeg is left. It is a large, clean-edged lake shape that stands out from the land around it.
- 10h 09m in← LeftLough Neagh
Near the end of cruise, Lough Neagh is left and Belfast follows just after. The lake comes first, then the city on the same side.
- 10h 16m inRight →Dublin
A few minutes after Belfast, Dublin appears on the right. It is the one notable right-side city on the approach.
Landing
On arrival into LHR, stay left for the approach view, depending on the runway in use. London, the City of Westminster, London Bridge, and Tower Bridge are all on that side near touchdown, while Portsmouth sits off to the right.
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 LHR?
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 LAX to LHR 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 LHR?
The great-circle distance is 8,760 km (5,443 mi), which works out to roughly 10h 48m 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 LHR?
Sit on the left for the better views. That side also gets the sun, so the right side is the shady choice.
What will I actually see on the way to London Heathrow?
The left side gets most of the route’s highlights: desert and lakes early, then Belfast and the London approach. The right side only gets a few key looks, including Dublin and Portsmouth.