LHR to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
London (LHR) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 8,760 km (5,443 mi), roughly 10h 48m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LHR to LAX 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 | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on views and shade.
Sit on the right side for this westbound flight. It lines up with the shade side too, so you get the better window either way.
Takeoff
After departure from LHR, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the early look at London, then London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Birmingham and Manchester follow soon after on that same side. Portsmouth is off to the left, so it is not the window to pick for this departure.
En route
- 22m in← LeftSnowdon
About 20 minutes in, Snowdon comes up on the left. It is a sharp mountain profile, and it can pass fairly close to the aircraft.
- 32m in← LeftDublin
Around half an hour in, Dublin sits off the left side. You are looking for the city spread, not a single landmark.
- 39m inRight →Lough Neagh
About 40 minutes in, Lough Neagh is on the right. It reads as a broad lake shape, close enough to stand out clearly.
- 7h 33m inRight →Lake Winnipeg
Roughly seven and a half hours in, Lake Winnipeg appears on the right. It is another big water shape that breaks up the long cruise.
- 9h 38m inRight →Great Salt Lake
A little under ten hours in, the Great Salt Lake is on the right. From cruise altitude it shows as a wide, pale patch against the land.
- 10h 25m inRight →Death Valley
Near descent, Death Valley stays on the right and comes fairly close. It passes steeply enough to feel like a quick look rather than a long view.
Landing
On descent into LAX, depending on the runway in use, the right side looks toward the San Fernando Valley first. The left side gets Anaheim, Irvine, and Long Beach, while Oxnard is off to the right 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 LHR to LAX?
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 LHR to LAX 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 LAX?
The great-circle distance is 8,760 km (5,443 mi), which works out to roughly 10h 48m 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 should I sit on for LHR to LAX?
Sit on the right side. It is the view side and also the shade side on this route.
What can I see after takeoff from LHR?
Depending on the runway in use, the right side gets London, then London Bridge and Tower Bridge, with Birmingham and Manchester soon after.