About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Heathrow (LHR) to Imperial Co (IPL)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Imperial. The left side wins overall because the Salton Sea on approach is one of the most visually striking and unexpected features of the entire flight — a vast inland sea in the middle of the desert. The right side at Heathrow is better for takeoff, but the left side delivers more across the transatlantic and western US portions, including potential views of Greenland's ice sheet, Canadian Rockies foothills, and the Sierra Nevada on the left side of a typical polar routing.
What can I see during takeoff from Heathrow in London?
During takeoff from Heathrow (LHR), sit on the Right side for the best views. Heathrow departures on runway 27L/27R head westbound, and the right side gives you a clear view south over Windsor Castle, the Thames, and the Surrey Hills as you climb out. The left side faces north toward Slough and the M25 corridor, which is less scenic. Notable sights include: Windsor Castle and Windsor Great Park, the River Thames snaking westward, the Surrey Hills escarpment, Staines Reservoir complex.
What can I see when landing at Imperial Co in Imperial?
When landing at Imperial Co (IPL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Imperial County Airport (IPL) sits in the Imperial Valley, and aircraft typically approach from the west or northwest. The left side faces south and east, giving you the Salton Sea — a massive, unmistakable inland body of water — and the Sonoran Desert floor. The right side looks north into featureless desert scrub. Notable sights include: Salton Sea (35 miles long, impossible to miss), Mexicali urban area across the US-Mexico border, Imperial Valley agricultural grid, Algodones Dunes to the east.
How long is the flight from London to Imperial?
The flight from Heathrow (LHR) to Imperial Co (IPL) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.
What does the London to Imperial flight path pass over?
Typical routing follows a North Atlantic polar track over southern Greenland or its ice sheet edge, then across Hudson Bay or northern Canada, over the Canadian Rockies and Great Basin desert of Nevada, before descending into the Sonoran Desert of southern California. Key features include the Greenland ice cap, the St. Lawrence River valley, the Rocky Mountain front range, the Mojave Desert, and the Salton Sea basin.