WAW to JFK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Warsaw (WAW) to New York (JFK) is a 6,848 km (4,255 mi), roughly 8h 33m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime WAW to JFK 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 | Night |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Left |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins for views, but it is also the sun side. If you want the best scene out the window, sit left. If you want less glare, sit right.
You get the better views on the left, but that is also the sunny side. So you trade glare for scenery on a westbound long haul.
Takeoff
After takeoff from WAW, the left side starts getting the action fast. Depending on the runway in use, you may see Łódź about 5 minutes in and Radom right away on the left, while Warsaw can sit nearly under the aircraft on the right during climb.
En route
- 33m in← LeftSzczecin
About half an hour in, Szczecin appears on the left, a clean city shape off the wing as you settle into cruise.
- 1h 58m in← LeftAberdeen
Around two hours in, Aberdeen comes up on the left before the route turns into a run of Scottish scenery.
- 2h 09m in← LeftLoch Ness
A few minutes after that, Loch Ness is on the left too. From above, it reads as a long dark lake cut through the Highlands.
- 2h 17m in← LeftIsle of Skye
Not long after, the Isle of Skye stays on the left. It is one of the stronger island views on the route, and it passes quickly.
- 7h 32m in← LeftBay of Fundy
Near the end of the flight, the Bay of Fundy is on the left. You catch the broad water shape as descent starts.
Landing
On approach to JFK, the left side still does the heavy lifting. Depending on the runway in use, Long Island shows up first, while the final city view sits off the right with the East River, New York City, Ellis Island, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
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 WAW to JFK?
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 WAW to JFK 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 WAW to JFK?
The great-circle distance is 6,848 km (4,255 mi), which works out to roughly 8h 33m 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 WAW to JFK?
Sit on the left for the best views. That side also gets the sun, so expect more glare on a daytime flight.
What can I see on the WAW to JFK flight?
The route gives you Łódź and Radom after takeoff, then Szczecin, Aberdeen, Loch Ness, the Isle of Skye, and later the Bay of Fundy before New York approach.