About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Gatwick (LGW) to San Francisco International (SFO)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to San Francisco. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. At takeoff you get the Surrey Hills and South Downs; at landing you get the full San Francisco Bay panorama and the city. During the transatlantic and transcontinental cruise, left-side passengers also get slightly better views of southern Greenland's ice sheet and the Canadian Rockies depending on exact routing.
What can I see during takeoff from Gatwick in London?
During takeoff from Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Gatwick's primary departure runway 26L sends aircraft westward, and a left-side seat gives you a clear view south over the Surrey Hills and the South Downs as the aircraft climbs and turns northwest. You'll also catch the urban sprawl of Crawley below and glimpses of the English Channel coastline to the south on clear days. Notable sights include: Surrey Hills AONB, South Downs ridge, Crawley town grid, English Channel coastline near Worthing.
What can I see when landing at San Francisco International in San Francisco?
When landing at San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO's typical westerly approaches on runways 28L/28R bring aircraft in from the east over the Bay Area, and a left-side seat faces south, giving you a direct view of the San Francisco Peninsula, the city itself, and the Golden Gate Bridge as you descend over the bay. The right side faces north toward the East Bay hills with less dramatic scenery. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, San Francisco Peninsula city grid, Golden Gate Bridge, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.
How long is the flight from London to San Francisco?
The flight from Gatwick (LGW) to San Francisco International (SFO) takes Approximately 10 to 11 hours.
What does the London to San Francisco flight path pass over?
The typical routing tracks northwest over Ireland, then across the North Atlantic near southern Iceland and Greenland's southern tip where the ice sheet and fjords are visible. The track then crosses northern Canada over Labrador and Quebec, followed by the Great Lakes region or northern US plains depending on jet stream routing, before crossing the Sierra Nevada into California. Greenland's ice sheet, the Canadian Shield's lake-dotted boreal forest, and the Sierra Nevada are the most visually distinctive features at cruise altitude.