SFO to ICN: which side of the plane should you sit on?
San Francisco (SFO) to Seoul (ICN) is a 9,085 km (5,645 mi), roughly 11h 11m 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 ICN 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 | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins for both views and shade.
Sit on the right side. That side gets the shade and the stronger views on this route, so it wins both ways.
Takeoff
After departure from SFO, the right side gets the quick climb views. Depending on the runway in use, you may first catch San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge almost beneath you, then Oakland and the South Bay cities a little farther out.
En route
- 4h 47m inRight →Mount Okmok
About 4 and a half hours in, Mount Okmok sits off the right side as a sharp volcanic shape.
- 7h 27m inRight →Avachinsky
A little after that, Avachinsky rises on the right too, with Koryaksky right beside it.
- 9h 14m in← LeftLa Pérouse Strait
Around 9 hours in, La Pérouse Strait is on the left, so it is the wrong side for this seat choice.
- 9h 44m inRight →Sikhote-Alin
Roughly 9 and a half hours in, the Sikhote-Alin range stays to the right as a long mountain line.
- 10h 15m inRight →Vladivostok
Not long after, Vladivostok appears on the right as the approach builds.
- 10h 57m inRight →Mount Kumgang · passes underneath
Near descent, Mount Kumgang comes very close on the right and almost slips under the wing.
Landing
On descent into ICN, the left side picks up Seoul and the Korean Peninsula. Depending on the runway in use, Ganghwa Island may sit off the right 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 ICN?
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 ICN 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 ICN?
The great-circle distance is 9,085 km (5,645 mi), which works out to roughly 11h 11m 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 ICN?
Sit on the right side. It gets the shade and the better views on this route.
What will I see on the right side from SFO to ICN?
Early on you can see San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Later, the right side carries most of the route’s stronger volcanic and coastal views.