Los Angeles to Frankfurt flight path: LAX to FRA

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Frankfurt. The left side wins both the Los Angeles departure, with the San Gabriel Mountains and city skyline, and the Frankfurt arrival, with the Main River and downtown skyline, giving it a clear edge over the flatter, less distinctive views on the right.

During takeoff from Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Left side for the best views. After the initial westbound roll over Santa Monica Bay, eastbound departures from LAX arc north and then east through the San Gabriel Valley corridor, putting the San Gabriel Mountains and the Downtown LA skyline on the left side of the aircraft. The right side mostly sees the flatter Inland Empire and South Bay suburbs with less topographic interest. Notable sights include: San Gabriel Mountains, Downtown Los Angeles skyline, San Fernando Valley, Mojave high desert beyond the ridgeline.

When landing at Frankfurt Main (FRA), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the typical westerly approach into Frankfurt, arrivals descending from the east pass just south of the city before lining up on final, putting the Frankfurt skyline and the Main River on the left side of the cabin. The right side mostly faces the flatter Taunus foothills and rural Hesse countryside. Notable sights include: Frankfurt skyline ('Mainhattan' towers), Main River, Taunus hills in the distance, patchwork farmland of the Rhine-Main plain.

The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Frankfurt Main (FRA) takes about 10 hours 15 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,792 miles (9,322 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Rocky Mountains and Great Plains early in the route, followed by the Canadian prairies, Hudson Bay, the southern Greenland ice sheet, and a long stretch of the North Atlantic before reaching the European coast near Scotland.