LHR to HKG: which side of the plane should you sit on?
London (LHR) to Hong Kong (HKG) is a 9,630 km (5,984 mi), roughly 11h 50m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LHR to HKG 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 | Both | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are basically a wash here, so let the shade side decide. The left side keeps the sun off.
This eastbound flight is a shade-side route on the left. Views are split, so your best pick comes down to glare, not scenery.
Takeoff
After takeoff from LHR, the right side has the early city views, depending on the runway in use. London sits almost under you about 2 minutes in, with London Bridge right there too. Before that, you may also catch Portsmouth and Brighton and Hove off the right, while Milton Keynes sits to the left.
En route
- 1h 12m in← LeftCopenhagen
About an hour and ten minutes in, Copenhagen is off the left. It reads as a dense city shape, with the water and islands around it making the view easy to pick out.
- 1h 13m in← LeftØresund
A minute later, Øresund is also on the left. You see a narrow strait between landmasses, more corridor than feature.
- 1h 42m in← LeftGotland
Around 1 hour 40 minutes in, Gotland sits on the left. It is a large island shape, easy to spot when the weather is clear.
- 2h 04m in← LeftGulf of Riga
Just over two hours in, the Gulf of Riga is on the left. It shows up as a broad stretch of water, with Riga on the opposite side of the frame.
- 9h 14m inRight →Qinghai Lake
Near 9 hours 10 minutes in, Qinghai Lake is off the right. It is a big lake, but the view is brief and far away.
Landing
On descent into HKG, the left side has the better finish, depending on the runway in use. Hong Kong comes in on the left about 10 minutes from landing, with Hong Kong Island close by. Shenzhen and Dongguan are also on the left, while Macau sits off 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 LHR to HKG?
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 LHR to HKG 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 LHR to HKG?
The great-circle distance is 9,630 km (5,984 mi), which works out to roughly 11h 50m 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 from LHR to HKG?
Sit on the left. The sun is also on the left, and views are too mixed to override that.
Will I get city views on this flight?
Yes, but they are split. London is off the right at departure, then Copenhagen, Øresund, Gotland, and the Gulf of Riga lean left later on.