SEA to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 1,537 km (955 mi), roughly 2h 18m 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 LAX 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 wins for views, but it is also the sunny side. If you want the better scenery, choose right. If you want less glare, choose left.
Sit on the right for the best views on this SEA to LAX flight. The sun is on that side too, so you get the scenery and some glare, especially on a daytime leg.
Takeoff
On departure from SEA, depending on the runway in use, you may first catch Seattle and Lake Washington off the left, then Tacoma on the right as you climb. A few minutes in, the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier are also on the left.
En route
- 12m inRight →Mount St. Helens
About 12 minutes in, Mount St. Helens comes into view on the right. It sits off the wing as a clear volcanic peak.
- 44m inRight →Crater Lake
Around 44 minutes in, Crater Lake is on the right. From cruise height it reads as a sharp blue bowl in the ground.
- 59m inRight →Mount Shasta
Near the hour mark, Mount Shasta is also on the right. It stands alone as a large volcanic cone.
- 1h 39m inRight →Yosemite National Park
About 99 minutes in, Yosemite National Park is on the right. You also pick out Half Dome and Yosemite Falls on that side, with the granite form of Half Dome especially clear.
- 1h 52m in← LeftSequoia National Park
By about 112 minutes in, Sequoia National Park shifts to the left, with Mount Whitney farther out on the same side. That gives you one of the few left-side moments late in the flight.
Landing
On descent into LAX, depending on the runway in use, the right side can show the San Fernando Valley first. Near landing, the left side picks up Long Beach, Irvine, and Anaheim, while Oxnard stays on the right a little earlier.
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 LAX?
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 LAX 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 LAX?
The great-circle distance is 1,537 km (955 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 18m 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 is best for SEA to LAX?
The right side. It has the stronger views overall on this route.
Will I have sun glare on SEA to LAX?
Yes, if you sit on the right. The sun is usually on that side for most of the flight.