About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Honolulu International (HNL) to The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Honolulu to Atlanta. Right side delivers the best views at both ends of the flight — Diamond Head and Waikiki on departure, and the Atlanta skyline on approach. The overwater transpacific cruise portion offers little to see regardless of side, so the departure and arrival scenery tips the balance decisively to the right.
What can I see during takeoff from Honolulu International in Honolulu?
During takeoff from Honolulu International (HNL), sit on the Right side for the best views. HNL's primary departure runway 08R sends aircraft eastward over the harbor and downtown Honolulu. Right-side passengers get Diamond Head crater, Waikiki Beach, and the sweep of Koko Head as the aircraft climbs and banks northeast. Left side faces Pearl Harbor and the industrial west side of Oahu. Notable sights include: Diamond Head crater, Waikiki Beach strip, Koko Head/Hanauma Bay, Makapuu Point.
What can I see when landing at The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International in Atlanta?
When landing at The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Atlanta's primary arrival from the west typically uses runways 26L/26R or 27L/27R, bringing aircraft in from the northwest over the northern suburbs. Right-side passengers get downtown Atlanta's skyline on approach, while left side faces the sprawling southern suburbs with fewer distinguishing features. Notable sights include: Downtown Atlanta skyline, Stone Mountain (visible to the northeast), Lake Lanier (distant), Chattahoochee River corridor.
How long is the flight from Honolulu to Atlanta?
The flight from Honolulu International (HNL) to The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) takes Approximately 8 hours 30 minutes to 9 hours.
What does the Honolulu to Atlanta flight path pass over?
The route crosses the open Pacific for roughly the first 2,500 miles with no land visible, then crosses the California coast near Los Angeles or the Baja Peninsula depending on routing. From there the flight tracks over the Mojave Desert, the southern Rockies or Arizona high desert, New Mexico, Texas Panhandle or Oklahoma, and the lower Mississippi Valley before descending into Georgia. The Appalachian foothills of Alabama and Georgia are visible in the final hour of flight.