MAD to JFK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Madrid (MAD) to New York (JFK) is a 5,760 km (3,579 mi), roughly 7h 17m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime MAD to JFK 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 | Right | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Both | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side for views, right side for shade. You get the better scenery on the sunny side, so it comes down to whether you want the window show or less glare.
You sit on the left for the better views, but the sun is also on the left. That makes this a tradeoff route: choose views if you want the scenery, or the right side if you want the shade.
Takeoff
On departure from MAD, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets the first look at Madrid and then the climb quickly brings the Iberian Peninsula into view on that side. Móstoles is also left early on, while the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Aqueduct of Segovia sit to the right.
En route
- 9m in← LeftSistema Central
About 9 minutes in, the Sistema Central stays on the left. You see a long mountain line, not a single peak.
- 23m in← LeftSerra da Estrela
Around 23 minutes in, Serra da Estrela is left of the aircraft. It reads as a broad mountain block in the distance.
- 32m in← LeftPeneda-Gerês National Park
At about 32 minutes in, Peneda-Gerês National Park is on the left. It is a short, green pass-by rather than a long reveal.
- 32m in← LeftPorto
Porto also comes up around 32 minutes in on the left, giving you a city patch below and off to your side.
- 5h 46m inRight →Cape Breton Island
Near 5 and a half hours in, Cape Breton Island sits on the right. It is a side note on the far side of the cabin, not the main show.
- 6h 52m in← LeftCape Cod
About 6 hours 52 minutes in, Cape Cod is on the left. You are close enough for the shape of the peninsula to matter.
Landing
On descent into JFK, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the final New York approach. Brooklyn Bridge, the East River, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, and New York City all stack up on that side 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 MAD to JFK?
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 MAD to JFK 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 MAD to JFK?
The great-circle distance is 5,760 km (3,579 mi), which works out to roughly 7h 17m 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 from MAD to JFK?
Sit on the left for the better views. Sit on the right if you want less sun.
Will I see New York on landing into JFK?
Yes. Near arrival, the right side gets Brooklyn Bridge, the East River, Ellis Island, Liberty Island, and New York City.