About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Schwechat (VIE)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Vienna. The right side wins overall. The Pacific Ocean departure is visually spectacular and the right side also captures the Sierra Nevada range during the climb-out turn north, the Canadian Rockies in the distance over Alberta, and Greenland's ice sheet during the polar routing. The Vienna landing view on the left is excellent but shorter in duration. Right side delivers more across the full 11-hour flight.
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 ocean before turning north. The right side gives you the Santa Monica Bay coastline, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and Catalina Island in the distance. The left side faces inland toward the urban sprawl of Inglewood and South LA with no dramatic geography. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Bay, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Catalina Island (on clear days), Malibu coastline curving northwest.
What can I see when landing at Schwechat in Vienna?
When landing at Schwechat (VIE), sit on the Left side for the best views. VIE approaches from the east on runway 29, so the aircraft tracks over the Vienna Basin from the east. The left side faces north toward the city center, giving you the Danube River, the historic Innere Stadt, and the Vienna Woods rising to the west. The right side looks south toward flat agricultural land with little of interest. Notable sights include: Danube River and Donauinsel, Vienna city center and Ringstrasse district, Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) on the western horizon, Prater park and Riesenrad area.
How long is the flight from Los Angeles to Vienna?
The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Schwechat (VIE) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.
What does the Los Angeles to Vienna flight path pass over?
The polar routing takes the aircraft north over the Sierra Nevada and Cascades in California and Oregon, then across British Columbia and Alberta with the Canadian Rockies visible below. The flight crosses Hudson Bay or the Canadian Arctic depending on routing, then tracks over Greenland's southern ice sheet — one of the most dramatic overflights on any transatlantic route. After Greenland, the aircraft crosses the North Atlantic, passes over Iceland or just south of it, then enters European airspace over Scotland or Scandinavia before descending across Germany and into Austria.