PHX to SEA: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Phoenix (PHX) to Seattle (SEA) is a 1,782 km (1,107 mi), roughly 2h 36m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime PHX to SEA 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
Left side for views, right side for shade. If you want the better scenery, sit left and accept the sun. If you want an easier window, sit right and give up some of the route’s best looks.
You want the left side for the views, but that is also the sunny side. On a daytime flight, you get the better scenery with more glare, so the choice is yours.
Takeoff
After takeoff from PHX, depending on the runway in use, Phoenix sits almost under you on the left. Glendale follows a couple of minutes later on the left too, while Chandler, Mesa, and Scottsdale are on the right during the climb.
En route
- 24m inRight →Grand Canyon
About 24 minutes in, the Grand Canyon is off your right side. It is distant, but the scale is obvious.
- 32m in← LeftHoover Dam
Around half an hour in, Hoover Dam comes up on the left, with Lake Mead just after it. You also get Las Vegas on the left a few minutes later.
- 36m inRight →Zion National Park
About 36 minutes in, Zion National Park stays to the right. It is a side view, not an overhead pass.
- 1h 43m inRight →Boise
Roughly 1 hour 43 minutes in, Boise is off the right side. It is a clean city-side glimpse rather than a close pass.
- 2h 17m in← LeftMount Hood
On descent, Mount Hood appears on the left about 2 hours 17 minutes in. It is one of the first big mountain shapes you see heading into the Northwest.
- 2h 23m in← LeftMount Adams
A few minutes later, Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens are also on the left. Both are close enough to stand out as sharp volcanic cones.
Landing
As you come down toward SEA, depending on the runway in use, Tacoma is on the left and Seattle is on the right. Mount Rainier and the Cascade Range sit almost under the left side near the end, so that side gets the strongest final views.
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 SEA?
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 SEA 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 PHX to SEA?
The great-circle distance is 1,782 km (1,107 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 36m 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 PHX to SEA?
Sit on the left for the best views. The right side is the shade side, but the route’s main sights are left.
Will I see Mount Rainier on this flight?
Yes, near landing. It is on the left side and comes up almost under the aircraft late in descent.