Although Shanghai's skyline gives the right side an edge on landing, the left side wins overall thanks to a much richer cruise phase: London at departure, then the Ural foothills, Siberian taiga and rivers, Lake Baikal, and the Gobi Desert and Mongolian steppe, all lying north of the great-circle track on this route.
Flown LGW to PVG? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
London to Shanghai is 5,749 miles (9,252 km), a flight of about 11 hours 15 minutes.
Ural Mountains, Ob and Yenisei river basins in Siberia, Lake Baikal, and the Gobi Desert and Mongolian steppe near the midpoint of the route
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from LGW
LEFTDeparting Gatwick's runway 26, the aircraft banks north to join the eastbound track toward Scandinavia and Russia, passing close to London's east side. This gives left-side passengers a brief but clear view of the capital's skyline and the Thames before the route heads out over East Anglia and the North Sea, while the right side only shows the quieter Surrey and Kent countryside.
Landing at PVG
RIGHTOn the descent into Pudong, the aircraft continues south over the Yangtze River Delta before lining up on the north-south runways, putting Shanghai's dense urban core on the right side as the city sits west of the airport. Passengers get a strong view of the Lujiazui skyline and the Huangpu River, while the left side mostly shows flat farmland and the muddy waters of Hangzhou Bay.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Gatwick (LGW) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Shanghai. Although Shanghai's skyline gives the right side an edge on landing, the left side wins overall thanks to a much richer cruise phase: London at departure, then the Ural foothills, Siberian taiga and rivers, Lake Baikal, and the Gobi Desert and Mongolian steppe, all lying north of the great-circle track on this route.
What can I see during takeoff from Gatwick in London?
During takeoff from Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing Gatwick's runway 26, the aircraft banks north to join the eastbound track toward Scandinavia and Russia, passing close to London's east side. This gives left-side passengers a brief but clear view of the capital's skyline and the Thames before the route heads out over East Anglia and the North Sea, while the right side only shows the quieter Surrey and Kent countryside. Notable sights include: London skyline (The Shard, City towers), River Thames, Thames Estuary, Essex countryside.
What can I see when landing at Shanghai Pudong International in Shanghai?
When landing at Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), sit on the Right side for the best views. On the descent into Pudong, the aircraft continues south over the Yangtze River Delta before lining up on the north-south runways, putting Shanghai's dense urban core on the right side as the city sits west of the airport. Passengers get a strong view of the Lujiazui skyline and the Huangpu River, while the left side mostly shows flat farmland and the muddy waters of Hangzhou Bay. Notable sights include: Lujiazui skyline (Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower), Huangpu River, Yangtze River Delta farmland, Hangzhou Bay coastline.
How long is the flight from London to Shanghai?
The flight from Gatwick (LGW) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) takes about 11 hours 15 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,749 miles (9,252 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the London to Shanghai flight path pass over?
Ural Mountains, Ob and Yenisei river basins in Siberia, Lake Baikal, and the Gobi Desert and Mongolian steppe near the midpoint of the route