About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Los Angeles International (LAX)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Los Angeles. The left side delivers the more dramatic and iconic single moment of the flight — the full Manhattan skyline and New York Harbor panorama on departure, which is one of the most recognizable aerial views in the world. The right side wins at landing, but the departure view edges it overall. Mid-flight over the American Southwest, left-side passengers also get slightly better angles on the Colorado Rockies and Mojave Desert terrain depending on exact routing.
What can I see during takeoff from John F Kennedy International in New York?
During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK primarily departs westbound on runways 31L/31R or eastbound on 22L/22R. On the dominant westbound departure, left-side passengers get a sweeping view of Lower Manhattan's skyline, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and New York Harbor as the aircraft banks right over the city. Right-side passengers face Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Notable sights include: Lower Manhattan skyline, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, New York Harbor, Staten Island.
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 primarily lands eastbound on runways 24L/24R or 25L/25R, approaching from over the Pacific Ocean. Right-side passengers get a clear view of the Santa Monica Bay coastline, the Santa Monica Mountains, and the Los Angeles basin spreading inland. Left-side passengers look south toward Palos Verdes Peninsula and the open ocean. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles Basin urban grid, Palos Verdes Peninsula.
How long is the flight from New York to Los Angeles?
The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours.
What does the New York to Los Angeles flight path pass over?
The flight path typically crosses the Appalachian Mountains over Pennsylvania, then the flat Ohio and Indiana plains, before reaching the Mississippi River near St. Louis. The route then crosses the Ozark Plateau, Oklahoma or Kansas plains, the Texas Panhandle, and enters New Mexico over the Sangre de Cristo or Sacramento Mountains. The Colorado Rockies may appear to the north. The route then crosses the Mojave Desert and San Bernardino Mountains before descending into the LA Basin.