MEX to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Mexico City (MEX) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 2,500 km (1,554 mi), roughly 3h 26m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime MEX 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 | Right | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Both | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side gives you the views, and it also takes the sun. So you are choosing scenery and glare together on this one.
You get the better views on the left, but that is also the sunny side for this westbound flight. If you want the clearest look at the ground, sit left. If you want less glare, sit right.
Takeoff
On departure, the left side gets the early action. You can catch Popocatépetl, then the Mexico City side of the climb. You also pass very close to Mexico City itself, nearly under you, depending on the runway in use. Iztaccihuatl and Lake Texcoco sit on the other side, so they are better for a look across the cabin.
En route
- 27m in← LeftLeón de Los Aldama
About half an hour in, León de Los Aldama sits on the left. It is a clean city shape against the ground below.
- 35m in← LeftAguascalientes City
A few minutes later, Aguascalientes City stays on the left too. You keep stacking city views on that side.
- 1h 03m in← LeftVictoria de Durango
Around an hour in, Victoria de Durango appears on the left. It breaks up the long middle stretch with another urban patch.
- 1h 25m in← LeftCuliacán
Not long after that, Culiacán is also on the left. It is another big city holdout before the terrain starts to change.
- 1h 41m in← LeftSierra Madre Occidental
About 1 hour 40 minutes in, the Sierra Madre Occidental runs along the left. You see a long mountain line rather than a single peak.
Landing
On descent, the left side still has the better look, but the sun is still there too. You pass Tijuana and Chula Vista on the left, then San Diego on the left as well. On the right, you see Mexicali, the Colorado Desert, and later Anaheim, Riverside, San Bernardino, and the San Fernando Valley. Oxnard is on the left at the end, depending on the runway in use.
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 MEX 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 MEX to LAX 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 MEX to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 2,500 km (1,554 mi), which works out to roughly 3h 26m 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 MEX to LAX?
Sit on the left for the best views. That side also gets the sun on this westbound route, so expect more glare.
What can I see from the right side on MEX to LAX?
The right side has the shade advantage. You still get a few ground features, like Iztaccihuatl at departure, Lake Texcoco, the Mexican Plateau, the Sonoran Desert, and the Colorado Desert.