YYZ to JFK: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Toronto (YYZ) to New York (JFK) is a 588 km (366 mi), roughly 1h 12m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime YYZ to JFK 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 | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
Views are basically even, so they do not pick a winner. Follow the shade side: left.
This route is a split vote. Views are pretty even, so the shade side does the deciding. On typical daytime flights, the left side also keeps the glare down.
Takeoff
After takeoff from YYZ, depending on the runway in use, you can catch a quick look at Toronto on the left as the plane climbs. On the right, Hamilton and Kitchener sit farther out, and Brampton and Mississauga can pass almost under you.
En route
- 9m inRight →Niagara Falls
About 10 minutes in, Niagara Falls appears on the right. It sits off to one side rather than below you, so you see the full sweep of the falls from a distance.
- 12m in← LeftLake Ontario
A few minutes later, Lake Ontario opens on the left. From cruise altitude it reads as a broad blue surface with a clean horizon line.
- 12m inRight →Buffalo
Around 12 minutes in, Buffalo is on the right. It is a city view, so you are looking for the urban grid and built-up spread, not a single landmark.
- 20m in← LeftRochester
About 20 minutes in, Rochester is off the left side. It gives you another city pass, but farther away and less prominent than the early climb views.
- 55m in← LeftCatskill Mountains
Near the end of cruise, about 55 minutes in, the Catskill Mountains sit on the left. They are a distant ridge, seen low on the horizon rather than close to the window.
Landing
On descent into JFK, depending on the runway in use, Long Island comes in on the left as you get lower. Near arrival, New York City, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and the Brooklyn Bridge can line up on the right, while the East River sits briefly on the left and nearly under the aircraft.
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 YYZ to JFK?
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 YYZ to JFK 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 YYZ to JFK?
The great-circle distance is 588 km (366 mi), which works out to roughly 1h 12m 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 YYZ to JFK?
Pick the left side. Views are close to even, so shade decides it, and the left side stays out of the sun on typical daytime flights.
What can I see on this flight from YYZ to JFK?
Early on, you can get Toronto, then Niagara Falls, Lake Ontario, Buffalo, and later Rochester and the Catskill Mountains. On arrival, the New York City bridges and Long Island come into play.