PHX to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Phoenix (PHX) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 595 km (370 mi), roughly 1h 12m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime PHX 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 | Left | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on both views and shade.
PHX to LAX is a right-side route. The same side also stays out of the sun, so you get the better view and the better shade.
Takeoff
After takeoff from PHX, depending on the runway in use, look right for Phoenix almost immediately, then Glendale and Scottsdale as you climb. Chandler and Mesa sit to the left.
En route
- 36m in← LeftColorado Desert
About 36 minutes in, the Colorado Desert sits left. It reads as a broad tan expanse from cruise height.
- 41m inRight →Mojave Desert
Around 41 minutes in, the Mojave Desert is on the right. It gives you a wide desert stretch from your side of the cabin.
- 43m in← LeftSalton Sea
A few minutes later, the Salton Sea appears left. From above, it looks like a flat pale-blue sheet in the desert.
- 59m inRight →Moreno Valley · passes underneath
Near 59 minutes in, Moreno Valley comes almost under the aircraft on the right, so it flashes by fast on a steep angle.
- 1h 01m inRight →Riverside · passes underneath
About 61 minutes in, Riverside is also nearly overhead on the right, so you catch a brief close-in look on descent.
Landing
On approach to LAX, depending on the runway in use, the right side keeps the better angle. San Fernando Valley is right, while Santa Ana, Irvine, and Long Beach sit to 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 PHX 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 PHX to LAX flights?
For sunrise or sunset views, sit on the side the table marks as the sun side for your departure time — that is where the light is.
How long is the flight from PHX to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 595 km (370 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 12m 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 from PHX to LAX?
Sit on the right. It has the better views, and it also stays on the shade side.
What will I see on the PHX to LAX flight?
You get a quick look at Phoenix after takeoff, then desert scenery en route, plus a close pass over the Riverside area on descent.