PMI to MAD: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Palma de Mallorca (PMI) to Madrid (MAD) is a 547 km (340 mi), roughly 1h 9m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime PMI to MAD 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 | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side has the better views, but it is also the sunny side. If you fly later in the day, the light stays on that same side, so the tradeoff remains: scenery on the left, shade on the right.
Sit on the left for the views. Sit on the right for shade. This route gives you both, so you choose between scenery and softer light.
Takeoff
On climbout, depending on the runway in use, the left side can pick up Palma almost under you for a moment, then the Balearic Islands and Cabrera sit out to that side. Mallorca and the Serra de Tramuntana fall away on the right.
En route
- 12m in← LeftIbiza
About 12 minutes in, Ibiza appears off the left. It is a clean island outline, easy to spot against the sea.
- 23m inRight →Costa Daurada
Around 23 minutes in, the Costa Daurada runs along the right. You get a strip of coast rather than a full-on feature, so it is more a passing edge than the main show.
- 31m in← LeftGulf of Valencia
At about 31 minutes, the Gulf of Valencia opens on the left. It gives you a broad water view, with Alicante also sitting off that side.
- 31m in← LeftAlicante
About 31 minutes in, Alicante is also on the left. From cruise height, it reads as a city by the coast, not a close-up skyline.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, Madrid comes in on the left and can pass nearly under you near the end. The Iberian Peninsula and Móstoles stay to that side too, while the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Aqueduct of Segovia hold the right.
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 PMI to MAD?
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 PMI to MAD 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 PMI to MAD?
The great-circle distance is 547 km (340 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 9m 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 of the plane is best from PMI to MAD?
The left side has the better views on this route. The right side is the shade side.
What will I see near takeoff and landing on PMI to MAD?
Near takeoff, Palma can sit almost under you, with the Balearic Islands and Cabrera off the left. Near landing, Madrid comes in on the left, with the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Aqueduct of Segovia on the right.