About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Schiphol (AMS) to Los Angeles International (LAX)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Amsterdam to Los Angeles. Right side wins both the departure over Amsterdam and the arrival into Los Angeles. During the transatlantic and polar routing, the right side also faces generally southward, giving better views of Greenland's ice sheet interior and the Canadian Arctic archipelago compared to the left side's view over open ocean.
What can I see during takeoff from Schiphol in Amsterdam?
During takeoff from Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Right side for the best views. Schiphol's primary departure runway for westbound flights is typically the Polderbaan (18R/36L) or Kaagbaan (06/24), with westbound departures heading over the North Sea. A right-side seat gives you a clear view back over Amsterdam's canal ring, the IJ waterway, and the flat polder landscape of North Holland as you climb out. Notable sights include: Amsterdam canal ring and city center, IJ waterway and Amsterdam harbour, Haarlem and the coastal dune strip, North Sea coastline.
What can I see when landing at Los Angeles International in Los Angeles?
When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX arrivals from the east typically use runways 24L/24R, approaching from the east over the Los Angeles Basin. A right-side seat gives you the best view of downtown LA, the Hollywood Hills, and the Santa Monica Bay coastline as you descend over the basin. Left side faces inland toward less distinctive suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Downtown Los Angeles skyline, Hollywood Hills and Griffith Observatory ridge, Santa Monica Bay and Pacific coastline, Venice Beach and Marina del Rey.
How long is the flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles?
The flight from Schiphol (AMS) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 10 to 11 hours.
What does the Amsterdam to Los Angeles flight path pass over?
The great circle route from AMS to LAX tracks northwest over the North Sea, across Scotland or northern England, then over Iceland or just south of it, across the southern tip of Greenland with its ice sheet and fjords, over the Davis Strait, across the Canadian Arctic including Baffin Island and Hudson Bay region, then south over the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia and Alberta, the Cascade Range, and finally descending over the Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert into the Los Angeles Basin