ORD to BOS: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Chicago (ORD) to Boston (BOS) is a 1,391 km (864 mi), roughly 2h 8m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime ORD to BOS 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 | Both |
| June solstice | Right | Right | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Left side for both views and shade. That makes this an easy pick.
Sit on the left. It wins for views and shade on this route, so you get the better side either way.
Takeoff
After takeoff from ORD, depending on the runway in use, Chicago can sit off your right and close to the aircraft for a moment. Then the left side starts paying off as Milwaukee comes into view on climb-out.
En route
- 51m in← LeftLondon
Near the first hour, London sits off the left side during cruise.
- 1h 01m in← LeftHamilton
Soon after, Hamilton is also on the left, part of the Ontario cluster that lines up for your side of the cabin.
- 1h 05m in← LeftToronto
About an hour in, Toronto stays on the left. You see a broad urban spread rather than a single towered skyline.
- 1h 07m in← LeftNiagara Falls
A few minutes later, Niagara Falls is also on the left. It comes and goes quickly, so have your camera ready.
- 1h 15m in← LeftLake Ontario
Around 75 minutes in, Lake Ontario stretches along the left as a wide blue surface.
Landing
On descent into BOS, depending on the runway in use, Worcester can appear off the right and close to the aircraft. Then Massachusetts Bay opens on the left before Boston comes up nearly under you at arrival.
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 ORD to BOS?
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 ORD to BOS 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 ORD to BOS?
The great-circle distance is 1,391 km (864 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 8m 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 ORD to BOS?
Sit on the left. It has the better views, and it is also the shade side.
Will I see Niagara Falls on the ORD to BOS flight?
Yes, if you are on the left side. It passes that side during cruise and does not stay in view for long.