SEA to BOS: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seattle (SEA) to Boston (BOS) is a 4,006 km (2,489 mi), roughly 5h 13m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SEA 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
Views do not decide this route. The sky side is balanced, so the left side is the better choice for shade.
This route is a split decision. Views are balanced, so pick the left side for shade on the daytime run.
Takeoff
After departure from SEA, depending on the runway in use, the first window show is quick and close. Seattle sits off the left side right away, while Tacoma and the Cascade Range, plus Mount Rainier, appear on the right during climb. Lake Washington stays left as you build speed.
En route
- 50m in← LeftGlacier National Park
About 50 minutes in, Glacier National Park comes up on the left. You are looking for a broad mountain park shape, not a close-up detail.
- 2h 50m in← LeftVoyageurs National Park
Around 2 hours 50 minutes in, Voyageurs National Park is off the left side. It reads as a wide northern park corridor from cruise altitude.
- 3h 21m in← LeftLake Superior
About 3 hours 20 minutes in, Lake Superior sits to the left. It is the big water feature on this leg, easy to spot by scale alone.
- 4h 23m inRight →Niagara Falls
Near 4 hours 20 minutes in, Niagara Falls is off the right side. It is a brief, steep look rather than a long pass, so keep your camera ready.
- 4h 55m inRight →Catskill Mountains
About 4 hours 55 minutes in, the Catskill Mountains appear on the right during descent. The ridge line is the cue here.
Landing
On descent into BOS, depending on the runway in use, the last views split cleanly. Worcester and Lake Chaubunagungamaug sit to the right, Massachusetts Bay opens on the left, and Boston passes almost under you on the right near touchdown.
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 SEA 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 SEA 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 SEA to BOS?
The great-circle distance is 4,006 km (2,489 mi), which works out to roughly 5h 13m 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 of the plane should I sit on for SEA to BOS?
The views are balanced, so neither side clearly wins on scenery. For comfort, pick the left side because it is the shade side.
What do you see near landing into Boston?
Near landing, Worcester and Lake Chaubunagungamaug are on the right, Massachusetts Bay is on the left, and Boston passes almost under the aircraft on the right.