Both sides get a moment of interest—Washington DC on departure to the right, London on arrival to the left—but the left side's payoff is stronger and lasts longer during the descent, plus it has a slightly better chance of catching Newfoundland or the Irish coast during the ocean crossing.
Flight Path
Open North Atlantic Ocean for the bulk of the crossing, with the flight path passing near Newfoundland's coast on the way out and often crossing over or near southern Ireland before reaching England; the true midpoint is typically featureless open water with no land in view.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from IAD
RIGHTDepartures off IAD's north-south runways typically curve east toward the coast, and on the turn the right side gets a clear look at the Washington DC skyline and the Potomac River before the plane heads out over Chesapeake Bay. The left side mostly shows Virginia suburbs and farmland with no strong landmarks.
Landing at LHR
LEFTOn westerly approaches into Heathrow (the most common configuration), arriving flights track in from the east over central London before turning onto final for runway 27, putting the Thames and central London landmarks on the left side of the cabin. The right side instead shows the more uniform suburban sprawl north of the river.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Heathrow (LHR)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Washington to London. Both sides get a moment of interest—Washington DC on departure to the right, London on arrival to the left—but the left side's payoff is stronger and lasts longer during the descent, plus it has a slightly better chance of catching Newfoundland or the Irish coast during the ocean crossing.
What can I see during takeoff from Washington Dulles International in Washington?
During takeoff from Washington Dulles International (IAD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departures off IAD's north-south runways typically curve east toward the coast, and on the turn the right side gets a clear look at the Washington DC skyline and the Potomac River before the plane heads out over Chesapeake Bay. The left side mostly shows Virginia suburbs and farmland with no strong landmarks. Notable sights include: Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol dome, Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay shoreline.
What can I see when landing at Heathrow in London?
When landing at Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Left side for the best views. On westerly approaches into Heathrow (the most common configuration), arriving flights track in from the east over central London before turning onto final for runway 27, putting the Thames and central London landmarks on the left side of the cabin. The right side instead shows the more uniform suburban sprawl north of the river. Notable sights include: River Thames, London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Shard, Canary Wharf.
How long is the flight from Washington to London?
The flight from Washington Dulles International (IAD) to Heathrow (LHR) takes 6h55m.
What does the Washington to London flight path pass over?
Open North Atlantic Ocean for the bulk of the crossing, with the flight path passing near Newfoundland's coast on the way out and often crossing over or near southern Ireland before reaching England; the true midpoint is typically featureless open water with no land in view.