About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Ataturk (IST)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Istanbul. While the right side wins at takeoff for LA views, the left side captures the most dramatic geography of the entire flight: the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains during the early transcontinental leg, and critically the Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara, and historic Istanbul on arrival. The Istanbul approach views from the left are among the most visually distinctive of any major airport approach in the world.
What can I see during takeoff from Los Angeles International in Los Angeles?
During takeoff from Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX departures on runways 24L/24R head west over the Pacific before turning north, so the right (north) side gets the Santa Monica Bay coastline, the Santa Monica Mountains, and the sprawling LA basin grid. The left side faces open ocean. On less common eastward departures on runways 06L/06R, the right side still captures downtown LA and the San Gabriel Mountains. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay coastline, Santa Monica Mountains, LA basin urban grid, Palos Verdes Peninsula.
What can I see when landing at Ataturk in Istanbul?
When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Left side for the best views. IST's primary landing approach on runway 06 comes in from the west over the Sea of Marmara, putting the left (south) side over open water with views of the Marmara islands, while the right side faces the European city districts. However on runway 34R approaches from the south, the left side captures the Bosphorus strait, the Golden Horn, and the historic peninsula of Sultanahmet directly. Left overall gives the better chance of the Bosphorus and historic Istanbul. Notable sights include: Bosphorus strait, Sea of Marmara, Golden Horn inlet, historic Sultanahmet peninsula.
How long is the flight from Los Angeles to Istanbul?
The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 13 to 14 hours nonstop, typically routed over the northern US, Canada, Greenland or Iceland, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe.
What does the Los Angeles to Istanbul flight path pass over?
Rocky Mountains over Colorado and Utah, Great Plains, Hudson Bay visible to the north on polar routing, Greenland ice sheet if routing via the North Atlantic, Norwegian fjords and Scandinavian coastline, Baltic Sea, Poland and Ukraine flatlands, Black Sea coastline on descent into Turkey