TPE to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Taoyuan (TPE) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 10,922 km (6,787 mi), roughly 13h 21m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime TPE 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 | Right | Left | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Right |
What you’ll see on this flight
Right side for views, left side for shade. If you want the best look outside, pick the right and accept some glare on a daytime flight.
Sit on the right for the strongest views. The same side also takes the sun, so you trade shade for scenery on this eastbound run.
Takeoff
Soon after departure, the right side gets the first look at Taipei and New Taipei, with Yangmingshan National Park and Taoyuan close in and nearly under you at climbout, depending on the runway in use.
En route
- 1h 26m inRight →Sakurajima
About an hour and a half in, Sakurajima sits on the right. It is the kind of volcanic shape you notice fast: a dark cone beside water.
- 1h 35m in← LeftKyushu
A few minutes later, Kyushu falls on the left as a large island shape, broad and easy to read from cruising height.
- 2h 04m inRight →Akashi Kaikyō Bridge
Around two hours in, the right side gets the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge. It is a brief, clean line across the water, followed by Kobe and Osaka nearby on the same side.
- 2h 22m inRight →Japanese Alps
Later in cruise, the Japanese Alps stay on the right. You see a long, broken mountain mass rather than one peak.
- 2h 28m inRight →Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji also lands on the right, about two and a half hours in. It is far out, but the cone is easy to pick out when the air is clear.
Landing
On descent, the left side picks up Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana, while the right side catches Long Beach and Oxnard. Depending on the runway in use, either side can work near the end, but the left is better for the Orange County side and the right for the coast.
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 TPE 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 TPE to LAX 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 TPE to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 10,922 km (6,787 mi), which works out to roughly 13h 21m in the air on this eastbound 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 TPE to LAX?
Sit on the right for the best views. The left side is the shade side on this daytime flight.
What can I see on the TPE to LAX route?
You get Taipei and New Taipei after takeoff, then Sakurajima, Kyushu, the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, Kobe, Osaka, the Japanese Alps, and Mount Fuji on the right side.