SEA to LHR: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Seattle (SEA) to London (LHR) is a 7,702 km (4,786 mi), roughly 9h 34m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SEA to LHR 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 | Both | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Both | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on both views and shade.
Sit left for this flight. The same side also gets the shade, so you do not have to choose between views and comfort.
Takeoff
On departure from SEA, depending on the runway in use, the right side first gets the Cascade Range, Mount Rainier, and Tacoma. But the left side quickly takes over: Seattle and Lake Washington sit almost under you about a minute after takeoff.
En route
- 45m inRight →Yoho National Park
About 45 minutes in, the right side picks up Yoho National Park. It is a broad mountain park view, not a close-up.
- 47m inRight →Banff National Park
A couple of minutes later, Banff National Park stays on the right. You are looking past a wide Rocky Mountain stretch here.
- 50m in← LeftJasper National Park
About 50 minutes in, Jasper National Park is on the left. That gives you a rare early left-side payoff on the Canada run.
- 8h 46m in← LeftBen Nevis
Near nine hours in, Ben Nevis appears on the left. It sits far off, but it is the highest mountain in Great Britain, so it is worth a look.
- 8h 57m inRight →Belfast
A little after nine hours in, Belfast comes up on the right, with Lough Neagh just before it. These are approach-side views rather than a long display.
- 9h 06m in← LeftLake District
About 9 hours 6 minutes in, the left side gets the Lake District. It is a compact mountain region, so the view should read as broken uplands rather than one peak.
Landing
On arrival into LHR, depending on the runway in use, the left side keeps the better look. London, the City of Westminster, London Bridge, and Tower Bridge are all on that side during descent, while Portsmouth stays off to 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 SEA to LHR?
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 LHR 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 LHR?
The great-circle distance is 7,702 km (4,786 mi), which works out to roughly 9h 34m in the air on this northbound 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 for SEA to LHR?
Sit on the left. It is the shade side, and it is also the stronger views side on this route.
What do you see after takeoff from Seattle?
Depending on the runway in use, the right side starts with the Cascade Range, Mount Rainier, and Tacoma, while the left side soon gets Seattle and Lake Washington almost under the wing.