SFO to CDG: which side of the plane should you sit on?
San Francisco (SFO) to Paris (Roissy-en-France, Val-d'Oise) (CDG) is a 8,963 km (5,569 mi), roughly 11h 3m northbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SFO to CDG 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 | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Both | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Both |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the left. The best views and the shade side are the same here, so you get the cleaner window without fighting the sun.
Takeoff
On departure, the left side gives you the early show, depending on the runway in use. You can catch the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island in the first minute, while San Jose and Fremont sit off to the right.
En route
- 1h 02m inRight →Boise
About an hour in, Boise passes on the right. It is a clear city shape, but it stays well off your side.
- 1h 15m inRight →Rocky Mountains
A little later, the Rocky Mountains sit to the right. You get the broad mountain line rather than a close pass.
- 6h 16m in← LeftDavis Strait
Near six hours in, Davis Strait comes up on the left. It is a long water gap between Canada and Greenland.
- 10h in← LeftBelfast
Around ten hours in, Belfast is on the left. It is a tight city glimpse, quick but easy to place.
- 10h 38m in← LeftLondon
On descent, London is off to the left about ten and a half hours in. You see the city from a distance rather than straight over it.
Landing
On arrival, the right side has Paris and Pont Neuf, depending on the runway in use. It is a short final look, with the city and bridge on that side 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 SFO to CDG?
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 SFO to CDG 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 SFO to CDG?
The great-circle distance is 8,963 km (5,569 mi), which works out to roughly 11h 3m 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 from SFO to CDG?
Sit on the left. It is the view side, and it is also the shade side on this route.
What will I see on the SFO to CDG flight?
You get an early look at the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, then a mix of distant cities, the Rocky Mountains, Davis Strait, and later London and Paris-area views on arrival.