LAX to TPE: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Los Angeles (LAX) to Taoyuan (TPE) is a 10,922 km (6,787 mi), roughly 13h 21m 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 TPE 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 | Left | Both | Left |
| June solstice | Both | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Both | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are basically even, so they do not decide the seat. The shade side on the right is the safer pick.
This route does not pick a views side. Your best seat is the shade side on the right. You still get a strong Japan sequence on the left, then a brief set of Taiwan landmarks on arrival.
Takeoff
After departure from LAX, depending on the runway in use, you can see Long Beach and Oxnard off the left, while Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana sit off the right during the climb.
En route
- 10h 53m in← LeftMount Fuji
About 11 hours in, Mount Fuji comes off the left as a clean volcanic cone. It is the clearest standout on this leg.
- 10h 59m in← LeftJapanese Alps
A few minutes later, the Japanese Alps stay on the left as a long mountain wall. You see the range, not just one peak.
- 11h 17m in← LeftAkashi Kaikyō Bridge
Keep an eye left for the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge about 11 hours 17 minutes in. It is a thin span over the water, easy to miss if you blink.
- 11h 31m inRight →Hiroshima
Hiroshima passes on the right about 11 hours 31 minutes in. From cruise height, it reads as a compact city shape, not a full skyline.
- 11h 46m inRight →Kyushu
Kyushu also comes on the right a little after that. It is a broad island shape, seen from across the cabin.
Landing
On descent into TPE, depending on the runway in use, Taipei and New Taipei come in on the left. Yangmingshan National Park passes almost under you on that side, then Taoyuan follows left near touchdown.
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 TPE?
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 TPE 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 TPE?
The great-circle distance is 10,922 km (6,787 mi), which works out to roughly 13h 21m 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 is better for LAX to TPE?
The route is views-neutral, so views do not choose the seat. The shade side is on the right.
What can you see on the LAX to TPE flight?
You get a left-side run of Japanese landmarks, including Mount Fuji, the Japanese Alps, the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, and Kyushu on the right later in the cruise. Near landing, Taipei, New Taipei, Yangmingshan National Park, and Taoyuan come in on the left.