The left side wins on both ends of the flight: a genuine New York skyline view at takeoff and a mountain-and-Great-Wall approach into Beijing at landing, while the long polar cruise over Canadian tundra and Siberian steppe offers limited terrain drama on either side.
Flown JFK to PEK? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
New York to Beijing is 6,822 miles (10,979 km), a flight of about 13 hours 25 minutes.
Hudson Bay coastline, Canadian Arctic islands, Siberian tundra and the Verkhoyansk mountain range, Mongolian steppe approaching Inner Mongolia
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from JFK
LEFTDepartures from JFK on the northwest-bound polar routing typically climb out over Queens and the Bronx, giving left-side passengers a good look at the Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River before the plane turns north over New England toward Canada. The right side mostly just sees Long Island and open water.
Landing at PEK
LEFTOn the northerly approach into PEK, aircraft descend across the Yanshan mountain ridges north of Beijing, and left-side seats face west toward these ridgelines and glimpses of the Great Wall's mountain sections before the plane levels out over the flat North China Plain into the city. The right side faces mostly featureless plain during the final descent.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Capital (PEK)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Beijing. The left side wins on both ends of the flight: a genuine New York skyline view at takeoff and a mountain-and-Great-Wall approach into Beijing at landing, while the long polar cruise over Canadian tundra and Siberian steppe offers limited terrain drama on either side.
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. Departures from JFK on the northwest-bound polar routing typically climb out over Queens and the Bronx, giving left-side passengers a good look at the Manhattan skyline and the Hudson River before the plane turns north over New England toward Canada. The right side mostly just sees Long Island and open water. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Hudson River, Long Island Sound, Catskill foothills.
What can I see when landing at Capital in Beijing?
When landing at Capital (PEK), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the northerly approach into PEK, aircraft descend across the Yanshan mountain ridges north of Beijing, and left-side seats face west toward these ridgelines and glimpses of the Great Wall's mountain sections before the plane levels out over the flat North China Plain into the city. The right side faces mostly featureless plain during the final descent. Notable sights include: Yanshan Mountains, sections of the Great Wall, Beijing's northern suburbs, North China Plain.
How long is the flight from New York to Beijing?
The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Capital (PEK) takes about 13 hours 25 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 6,822 miles (10,979 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the New York to Beijing flight path pass over?
Hudson Bay coastline, Canadian Arctic islands, Siberian tundra and the Verkhoyansk mountain range, Mongolian steppe approaching Inner Mongolia