MCO to JFK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Orlando (MCO) to New York (JFK) is a 1,521 km (945 mi), roughly 2h 17m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime MCO to JFK 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 | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on both counts.
You want the left side. It wins on views, and it also stays in the shade.
Takeoff
After takeoff from MCO, the left side gets the first look. Orlando passes very close and almost under you on the left, depending on the runway in use. Cape Canaveral sits off to the right a few minutes later.
En route
- 16m in← LeftJacksonville
About 15 minutes in, Jacksonville stays on the left. It reads as a broad city shape, not a close-up skyline.
- 1h 16m in← LeftRaleigh
Around an hour and 15 minutes in, Raleigh is off the left side. You get a distant city view rather than a full overhead pass.
- 1h 32m in← LeftEast Coast of the United States
Roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes in, the East Coast of the United States runs along the left. It is a long coastal edge, seen as a thin line from cruise height.
- 1h 38m inRight →Chesapeake Bay · passes underneath
Just past 1 hour and 35 minutes in, Chesapeake Bay comes up nearly under the aircraft on the right. It flashes by steeply and does not hang around.
Landing
On approach to JFK, the left side keeps the better view, depending on the runway in use. New York City, the East River, Ellis Island, and the Brooklyn Bridge line up on the left near landing. Long Island sits to 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 MCO to JFK?
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 MCO to JFK 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 MCO to JFK?
The great-circle distance is 1,521 km (945 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 17m 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 for MCO to JFK?
Sit on the left. It has the stronger views and the shade side on this route.
What will I see near landing into JFK?
Near landing, the left side gets New York City, the East River, Ellis Island, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Long Island is on the right.