SEA to LAS: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seattle (SEA) to Las Vegas (LAS) is a 1,395 km (867 mi), roughly 2h 8m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SEA to LAS 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 | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side gives you the views, but it also gets the sun. If you want the scenery, sit right and expect glare. If you want shade, you give up the better window.
Seat the right side if you want the views. It also takes the sun, so you get a tradeoff: better sights, more glare. On a typical daytime trip, the right side is the clear pick for this route.
Takeoff
On climbout, the first close look depends on the runway in use. Seattle and Lake Washington sit to the left, while Tacoma is on the right. About 7 minutes in, Mount Rainier and the Cascade Range pass very close to the left side, almost under you, so that side gets a quick, steep look.
En route
- 12m inRight →Mount St. Helens
About 12 minutes in, Mount St. Helens is off the right side. It sits well out from the window, but it is a clean volcanic shape to catch on the way south.
- 14m inRight →Mount Adams · passes underneath
About 14 minutes in, Mount Adams comes very close on the right. It is nearly under the aircraft, so the look is brief and steep.
- 21m inRight →Mount Hood
Around 21 minutes in, Mount Hood stays on the right. It is farther out, but it is still the side to watch for the Cascade peaks.
Landing
On descent, the approach details depend on the runway in use. Las Vegas and North Las Vegas sit to the left, with Hoover Dam farther left near landing. The last look is on that side, and it comes in close as you come down.
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 LAS?
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 LAS flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from SEA to LAS?
The great-circle distance is 1,395 km (867 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 8m in the air on this southbound 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 has the views from SEA to LAS?
The right side. It has the stronger views on this route, but it also gets the sun.
Which side should I sit on for shade on SEA to LAS?
Sit on the left. That is the shade side, but you give up the best window for the scenery.