YVR to LAX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Vancouver (YVR) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a 1,741 km (1,082 mi), roughly 2h 33m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime YVR 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 | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Sit right if you want the views. It’s also the sun side, so you get more light along the way and a little less comfort if the cabin is bright.
The right side gets the better views on this route, but it is also the sunny side. You’ll trade a bit of glare for the scenery.
Takeoff
After takeoff from YVR, depending on the runway in use, the left side starts with Vancouver nearly underneath you, then the Strait of Georgia slips by close on that same side. The right side quickly picks up the first real scenery, with Gulf Islands National Park Reserve coming into view about 3 minutes in.
En route
- 13m inRight →Olympic National Park
About 13 minutes in, the right side gets a clean look at Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula.
- 36m inRight →Portland
Around 36 minutes in, Portland sits off to the right as you cruise south.
- 1h 01m inRight →Crater Lake
About an hour in, Crater Lake appears on the right as a small blue caldera lake.
- 1h 15m inRight →Mount Shasta
A little after that, Mount Shasta stands out on the right as a lone volcanic peak.
- 1h 55m inRight →Yosemite Falls
Roughly 115 minutes in, Yosemite Falls and the Sierra Nevada are both on the right. They pass quickly, but they are the headline view.
- 2h 07m in← LeftSequoia National Park
On descent, Sequoia National Park shifts to the left, so this is one of the few late views that favors the other side.
Landing
On approach to LAX, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets San Fernando Valley first. The left side then takes Anaheim, Irvine, and Long Beach near touchdown, with Oxnard off to the right a little earlier.
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 YVR 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 YVR to LAX flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from YVR to LAX?
The great-circle distance is 1,741 km (1,082 mi), which works out to roughly 2h 33m in the air on this southbound 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 YVR to LAX?
Sit on the right for the best views. It is also the sun side, so you get more glare along the way.
What will I see on the YVR to LAX flight?
Expect Gulf Islands National Park Reserve after departure, then Olympic National Park, Portland, Crater Lake, Mount Shasta, Yosemite Falls, and the Sierra Nevada. Near landing, San Fernando Valley is on the right.