LAX to MIA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Los Angeles (LAX) to Miami (MIA) is a 3,763 km (2,338 mi), roughly 4h 56m 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 MIA 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 | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Both | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side gives you the better views, but it also gets the sun. Pick right for the scenery and left if you want more shade.
Flyer’s choice here is simple but not perfect: the right side gets the better views, and it is also the sunny side. If you want the route’s main landmarks, sit right. If you want less glare, the left side has the shade.
Takeoff
On climb-out, the right side starts strong with Long Beach, Santa Ana, and Irvine, depending on the runway in use. A few minutes later, San Bernardino slips by on the left.
En route
- 19m inRight →Salton Sea
About 20 minutes in, the right side gets the Salton Sea, a pale basin that stands out against the desert around it.
- 22m inRight →Mexicali
A little after that, Mexicali stays on the right, a clear city grid in the distance.
- 56m inRight →Tucson
About an hour in, Tucson is on the right as the route keeps its long desert stretch.
- 1h 29m inRight →El Paso
Roughly an hour and a half in, El Paso stays on the right, with Ciudad Juárez also on that side just after it.
- 3h 32m in← LeftNew Orleans
Around three and a half hours in, New Orleans comes up on the left, with Baton Rouge on the left earlier in the approach to the Gulf region.
Landing
On descent, the right side picks up Everglades National Park first, then Biscayne National Park, depending on the runway in use. Hialeah passes almost underneath on the left, so it is only a brief, steep look.
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 MIA?
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 MIA 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 MIA?
The great-circle distance is 3,763 km (2,338 mi), which works out to roughly 4h 56m 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 of the plane is best for views on LAX to MIA?
The right side. It has the stronger view score on this route, so that is the side to pick for the landmarks.
Which side is better for shade on LAX to MIA?
The left side. Sun is on the right for most of the flight, so the left side stays shadier.