SEA to JFK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seattle (SEA) to New York (JFK) is a 3,887 km (2,415 mi), roughly 5h 4m 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 JFK 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 | Right |
| June solstice | Right | Right | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Sit left. The left side has the better views and the shade side, so one side wins on both counts.
SEA to JFK gives you a clear left-side flight. The left side also stays in the shade, so you get the better deal twice.
Takeoff
On climbout from SEA, depending on the runway in use, the first useful look is to the left. Seattle is off that side at departure, with Lake Washington close by too. To the right, the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier sit beyond the wing.
En route
- 50m in← LeftGlacier National Park
About 50 minutes in, Glacier National Park is off the left side. From cruise altitude, it reads as a wide mountain-and-valley block, not a close-up detail shot.
- 3h 57m in← LeftLake Huron
Around 4 hours in, Lake Huron appears on the left. It is one of the broad Great Lakes, so you are looking at a large, pale water shape rather than a single point of interest.
- 4h 20m in← LeftToronto
Just over 4 hours in, Toronto is on the left. You get a city spread rather than one landmark, with the urban area filling the edge of the view.
- 4h 24m in← LeftNiagara Falls
A little after that, Niagara Falls comes up on the left. It is brief from altitude, but it marks the run toward the end of the flight.
- 4h 27m in← LeftLake Ontario
Near 4 hours 27 minutes in, Lake Ontario is on the left. It adds one more broad water view before the final descent.
Landing
On approach to JFK, depending on the runway in use, the last views favor the right and left together. New York City and the Brooklyn Bridge pass very close, and nearly overhead, on the right. The East River is down to the left, and Long Island comes in on the left as you descend.
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 JFK?
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 JFK 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 SEA to JFK?
The great-circle distance is 3,887 km (2,415 mi), which works out to roughly 5h 4m 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 SEA to JFK for views?
Sit on the left. That side has the stronger overall views on this route.
Will I get sun on SEA to JFK?
The sun side is the right, but the shade side is the left. If you want calmer window light, left is the better pick.