LAX to SYD: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (Mascot) (SYD) is a 12,061 km (7,494 mi), roughly 14h 41m 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 SYD 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 | Both | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side. That is where the views line up with the shade, so it is the clean pick on this route.
Pick the left side. It wins on both views and shade for most of the flight.
Takeoff
After takeoff from LAX, the left side gets the better early look at Long Beach, Anaheim, and Irvine as you climb out, depending on the runway in use. The right side is more about the San Fernando Valley and Oxnard.
En route
- 8m inRight →Channel Islands of California · passes underneath
About 8 minutes in, the Channel Islands of California pass close on the right. They can sit almost under the wing for a brief, steep look.
- 9h in← LeftTokelau
Around 9 hours in, Tokelau is off the left side. Over open ocean, this is one of the few places that breaks up the water.
- 10h 33m in← LeftVanua Levu
A little after 10 hours in, Vanua Levu stays on the left. You get a clear island shape instead of endless blue.
- 10h 46m in← LeftViti Levu
A few minutes later, Viti Levu is also on the left. It keeps the island sequence going on the same side.
- 13h 45m in← LeftLord Howe Island
Near the end of cruise, Lord Howe Island is off the left. It is a late, isolated landfall before Australia.
Landing
On descent into SYD, the left side keeps the better look at Botany Bay and Royal National Park, depending on the runway in use. The right side gets the close pass by Sydney and the Blue Mountains, with Sydney nearly overhead.
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 SYD?
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 SYD 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 SYD?
The great-circle distance is 12,061 km (7,494 mi), which works out to roughly 14h 41m 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 of the plane should I sit on from LAX to SYD?
Sit on the left. It has the better views and the shade side on this route.
What will I see on the LAX to SYD flight?
Early on, the left side has Long Beach, Anaheim, and Irvine. Later, it picks up Tokelau, Vanua Levu, Viti Levu, and Lord Howe Island. Near arrival, the left side gets Botany Bay and Royal National Park.