SFO to HKG: which side of the plane should you sit on?
San Francisco (SFO) to Hong Kong (HKG) is a 11,128 km (6,915 mi), roughly 13h 35m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime SFO to HKG departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| June solstice | Both | Both | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are basically even, so the shade side decides it. Sit right for less sun.
This route does not lean hard to one side for views. You get a split-cabin flight with different scenes on each side, and the right side stays the shade side. If you want the quieter window, pick right.
Takeoff
On climbout, depending on the runway in use, the right side picks up the first sights. Oakland, San Jose, Fremont, and Alcatraz Island all sit off that side. The Golden Gate Bridge follows about 2 minutes in and can pass almost under you, so it is a quick look.
En route
- 8h 15m inRight →Kuril Islands
About 8 hours in, the right side gets the Kuril Islands. They are far off, but they break up the ocean crossing.
- 8h 45m in← LeftIturup
A little later, Iturup comes in on the left. It is the biggest of the Kuril Islands, so it stands out more than the smaller shapes around it.
- 9h 37m in← LeftTsugaru Strait
Near the middle of the flight, the left side tracks the Tsugaru Strait. It is a narrow water gap, so the view is a clean line of sea between landmasses.
- 11h 05m in← LeftBusan
Later on, the left side gets Busan and the Korea Strait close together. That part of the route feels more coastal and layered than open-water only.
- 12h 44m inRight →Wuyi Mountains
On the last long stretch, the right side picks up the Wuyi Mountains. From cruise height they read as a long dark ridge, not a close-up peak line.
Landing
On descent, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets the approach into Hong Kong and Hong Kong Island about a minute before landing. The right side sees Dongguan, Zhuhai, and Macau in the final minutes, so both windows still have something to watch.
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 HKG?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on SFO to HKG 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 HKG?
The great-circle distance is 11,128 km (6,915 mi), which works out to roughly 13h 35m in the air on this westbound 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 SFO to HKG?
Pick the right side if you want the shade side. Views are close to even, so the sun angle is the main tiebreaker.
What will I see after takeoff from SFO?
Depending on the runway in use, the right side gets Oakland, San Jose, Fremont, Alcatraz Island, and then the Golden Gate Bridge about 2 minutes after departure.