LHR to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
London (LHR) to Seattle (SEA) is a 7,702 km (4,786 mi), roughly 9h 34m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime LHR to SEA 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 | Both |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the right. That side gets the views, and it also keeps you in the shade. You start with London, then a few UK landmarks, and later the Canadian Rockies on the same side.
Takeoff
On departure from LHR, depending on the runway in use, the right side gives you London close by: the city, Westminster, London Bridge, and Tower Bridge. Portsmouth sits off the left, so it does not compete for the window.
En route
- 22m in← LeftSnowdon
About 20 minutes in, Snowdon appears on the left. It is brief and distant, but it gives the first clear mountain view.
- 37m in← LeftBelfast
Around 35 to 40 minutes in, Belfast is off the left side. It reads as a city shape rather than a detailed skyline at this height.
- 8h 26m in← LeftEdmonton
Near 8½ hours in, Edmonton sits to the left. This is one of the later ground references before the final approach.
- 8h 44m inRight →Jasper National Park
A few minutes after that, Jasper National Park is on the right. The terrain is the point here: broad mountain country in view from your side.
Landing
On arrival into SEA, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets the strongest descent views: the Cascade Range, Mount Rainier, and Tacoma all sit that way. Seattle and Lake Washington pass very close on the right, with Seattle nearly under you for a moment.
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 SEA?
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 SEA flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from LHR to SEA?
The great-circle distance is 7,702 km (4,786 mi), which works out to roughly 9h 34m in the air on this northbound 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 SEA?
Sit on the right. It has the better views and the shade side on this route.
What do I see on the approach into SEA?
The left side gets the mountain views on descent, including the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier. Seattle and Lake Washington are very close on the right, briefly almost under the aircraft.