About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to Paris. Left side wins both the departure over Washington DC and the arrival into Paris. Over the Atlantic the views are similar on both sides, but the left side also has a slightly better angle on the southern coast of Ireland and Cornwall during the transatlantic crossing depending on the jet stream routing.
What can I see during takeoff from Washington Dulles International in Washington?
During takeoff from Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Left side for the best views. IAD typically departs eastward on runways 01R/01L or 19L/19R depending on wind. On an eastbound departure climbing out toward the northeast, the left side gets a clear view over the Potomac River and the Washington DC skyline including the Mall corridor, Capitol, and monuments. The right side faces suburban Virginia with little of note. Notable sights include: Washington DC Mall and monuments, Potomac River, Capitol Hill, Georgetown waterfront.
What can I see when landing at Charles De Gaulle in Paris?
When landing at Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Left side for the best views. CDG primarily uses runways oriented roughly 09/27 (east-west). On a westbound approach from the Atlantic, aircraft typically arrive from the northwest over the Paris basin. The left side on final approach faces south toward central Paris, giving a clear view of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, and the dense Haussmann city grid. The right side faces north toward flat agricultural Picardy. Notable sights include: Seine River and its loops through Paris, Eiffel Tower, La Defense business district, Bois de Boulogne.
How long is the flight from Washington to Paris?
The flight from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) takes Approximately 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes westbound winds permitting, typically 7h 45m eastbound.
What does the Washington to Paris flight path pass over?
After departing the US East Coast the route crosses the North Atlantic, typically passing south of Newfoundland and tracking a great circle arc. Mid-flight features include the open North Atlantic with occasional iceberg fields visible at lower latitudes in winter, the southern tip of Greenland sometimes visible on the northern horizon on polar-routed flights, the Irish coastline and County Clare cliffs as the first European landfall, then Wales or southwest England, the English Channel, and finally the flat agricultural Seine basin of northern France on descent.