MAD to PMI: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Madrid (MAD) to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) is a 547 km (340 mi), roughly 1h 9m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime MAD to PMI 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 | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins for views, but it also gets the sun. If you want the better window, choose right. If you want less glare, choose left.
Sit on the right for the best views on this hop from MAD to PMI. That same side also takes the sun, so you trade a little glare for the scenery.
Takeoff
On departure from MAD, depending on the runway in use, the right side is the one to watch. You can catch Madrid briefly and close to overhead, then Móstoles and the Iberian Peninsula as the climb builds. The Sierra de Guadarrama and the Aqueduct of Segovia sit on the left, so they are not your main window.
En route
- 38m inRight →Alicante
About 40 minutes in, Alicante is off the right side. It reads as a compact coastal city against the shoreline.
- 38m inRight →Gulf of Valencia
At the same point, the Gulf of Valencia is also on the right. You see a broad blue stretch, not a single fixed shape.
- 57m inRight →Ibiza
Near the last third of the flight, Ibiza comes into view on the right. It is brief, but clear enough to place as an island shape below and out to sea.
Landing
On arrival into PMI, depending on the runway in use, the right side stays useful through the approach. Palma comes up nearly under you, then the Balearic Islands and Cabrera sit off to the right as Mallorca and the Serra de Tramuntana are on the left.
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 PMI?
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 MAD to PMI flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from MAD to PMI?
The great-circle distance is 547 km (340 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 9m 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 for MAD to PMI?
Sit on the right. It has the better views on this route, but it also gets the sun.
What can I see after leaving Madrid on MAD to PMI?
On the right, you can catch Madrid, Móstoles, and the Iberian Peninsula during the climb. The Sierra de Guadarrama and the Aqueduct of Segovia are on the left.