Left side wins at both ends of the flight. At departure you get the full New York metropolitan spectacle, and on arrival into Seoul you face the Han River and the city center. The transpacific cruise itself offers limited differentiation between sides, but the bookend views make left the clear choice for the full journey.
Flown JFK to SSN? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
New York to Seoul East is 6,882 miles (11,076 km), a flight of about 14 hours 30 minutes.
The great circle route from JFK to Seoul tracks northeast over southern Canada and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, then across southern Greenland or the Labrador Sea, over the Aleutian Island chain in Alaska, across the Bering Sea, and down the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Sea of Japan before landfall in Korea. Notable features include the Canadian Shield's lake-studded boreal landscape, Greenland's ice sheet and coastal fjords, the volcanic peaks of the Aleutians, and the rugged snow-covered mountains of Kamchatka.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from JFK
LEFTJFK's primary departure runways (31L/31R) head northwest, putting Manhattan and the full New York skyline on the left side. You get a clear view of Lower Manhattan, the Hudson River, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge as the aircraft climbs out over Jamaica Bay and turns north.
Landing at SSN
LEFTSeoul AB (Seongnam Airport) sits southeast of central Seoul. Approaches typically come in from the east or southeast, placing the Han River, central Seoul, and Namsan (N Seoul Tower hill) on the left side of the aircraft during final approach. The right side faces open terrain and the hills east of the city.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Seoul Ab (SSN)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Seoul East. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. At departure you get the full New York metropolitan spectacle, and on arrival into Seoul you face the Han River and the city center. The transpacific cruise itself offers limited differentiation between sides, but the bookend views make left the clear choice for the full journey.
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's primary departure runways (31L/31R) head northwest, putting Manhattan and the full New York skyline on the left side. You get a clear view of Lower Manhattan, the Hudson River, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge as the aircraft climbs out over Jamaica Bay and turns north. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay, Hudson River.
What can I see when landing at Seoul Ab in Seoul East?
When landing at Seoul Ab (SSN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Seoul AB (Seongnam Airport) sits southeast of central Seoul. Approaches typically come in from the east or southeast, placing the Han River, central Seoul, and Namsan (N Seoul Tower hill) on the left side of the aircraft during final approach. The right side faces open terrain and the hills east of the city. Notable sights include: Han River, Namsan hill and N Seoul Tower, central Seoul urban grid, Bukhansan ridgeline to the north.
How long is the flight from New York to Seoul East?
The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Seoul Ab (SSN) takes about 14 hours 30 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 6,882 miles (11,076 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the New York to Seoul East flight path pass over?
The great circle route from JFK to Seoul tracks northeast over southern Canada and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, then across southern Greenland or the Labrador Sea, over the Aleutian Island chain in Alaska, across the Bering Sea, and down the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Sea of Japan before landfall in Korea. Notable features include the Canadian Shield's lake-studded boreal landscape, Greenland's ice sheet and coastal fjords, the volcanic peaks of the Aleutians, and the rugged snow-covered mountains of Kamchatka.