MEX to MTY: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Mexico City (MEX) to Monterrey (MTY) is a 713 km (443 mi), roughly 1h 20m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime MEX to MTY 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 | Right | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views do not decide this route, so follow the shade side. The right side is the better pick for sun.
This route does not pick a views side. You look for shade on the right. The left side gets the sun for most of the day, so that is the tradeoff to weigh.
Takeoff
Shortly after departure, you can catch Mexico City on the left, with Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl on the right during climb, depending on the runway in use. Lake Texcoco also comes up on the right, briefly and close beneath you.
En route
- 37m in← LeftSan Luis Potosí
About 40 minutes in, San Luis Potosí sits off the left. It is the clearest mid-route city view on this flight.
Landing
On descent, the left side starts to carry the show. Sierra Madre Oriental comes into view first, then Saltillo, then Monterrey, depending on the runway in use. Expect a clean city-and-range finish on that side.
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 MTY?
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 MTY 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 MTY?
The great-circle distance is 713 km (443 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 20m 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 MEX to MTY?
Sit on the right for shade. Views are not strong enough to pick a side on this route.
What can I see on this flight from Mexico City to Monterrey?
You get Mexico City on the left after takeoff, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl on the right, San Luis Potosí off the left mid-flight, and the left side again for the approach into Monterrey.