YYC to YYZ: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Calgary (YYC) to Toronto (YYZ) is a 2,689 km (1,671 mi), roughly 3h 40m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime YYC to YYZ 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 | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins on both views and shade.
Sit on the left. The left side has the views, and it is also the shade side on this route.
Takeoff
Depending on the runway in use, Calgary sits off your right wing soon after takeoff, and it comes up almost under you as you climb.
En route
- 54m in← LeftRegina
About an hour in, Regina appears on your left as a compact city grid.
- 1h 26m in← LeftLake Manitoba
A little later, Lake Manitoba is on your left as a broad flat patch of water.
- 1h 38m in← LeftWinnipeg
Around 1 hour 40 minutes in, Winnipeg stays on your left as the biggest city on this stretch.
- 2h 38m in← LeftLake Superior
Near the three-hour mark, Lake Superior opens out on your left. It is the largest of the Great Lakes, so the water dominates the window.
Landing
Depending on the runway in use, Toronto comes in on your left while Brampton passes very close on your right, almost under the wing, in the final minutes. Niagara Falls is also on your right as you descend.
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 YYC to YYZ?
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 YYC to YYZ 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 YYC to YYZ?
The great-circle distance is 2,689 km (1,671 mi), which works out to roughly 3h 40m 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 from Calgary to Toronto?
Sit on the left. It gets the better views, and it is the shade side too.
What will I see on the Calgary to Toronto flight?
On the left, you pass Regina, Lake Manitoba, Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, and Lake Superior. Near landing, Toronto is on the left and Brampton and Niagara Falls are on the right.