About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX) to Salt Lake City International (SLC)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Mexico City to Salt Lake City. The takeoff view of Popocatépetl and the high volcanic peaks is more visually striking and geographically distinctive than the landing approach. While the landing offers the Wasatch Range, the departure provides iconic snow-capped volcanoes that are rarely obscured by weather on this route.
What can I see during takeoff from Licenciado Benito Juarez International in Mexico City?
During takeoff from Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX), sit on the Right side for the best views. MEX typically departs northbound on runways 05L/05R or 23L/23R. Right-side seats offer views of the Valley of Mexico's eastern rim, including the snow-capped Popocatépetl volcano and the Sierra Nevada range. Left seats face the sprawling western suburbs and are less visually distinctive during climb-out. Notable sights include: Popocatépetl volcano (5,426 m, often snow-capped), Iztaccíhuatl peak to the northeast, Lake Texcoco remnants (visible as water bodies and wetlands), Sierra Nevada ridge forming the eastern valley wall.
What can I see when landing at Salt Lake City International in Salt Lake City?
When landing at Salt Lake City International (SLC), sit on the Left side for the best views. SLC approaches typically use runways 16L/16R or 34L/34R depending on wind. Left-side seats during descent offer unobstructed views of the Wasatch Range's western face, the Great Salt Lake to the northwest, and the city nestled in the valley floor. Right seats face the Oquirrh Mountains, which are less visually dramatic. Notable sights include: Wasatch Range (dramatic north-south ridge with multiple peaks), Great Salt Lake (large body of water with islands), Salt Lake City urban grid in the valley floor, Oquirrh Mountains to the southwest.
How long is the flight from Mexico City to Salt Lake City?
The flight from Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX) to Salt Lake City International (SLC) takes Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes.
What does the Mexico City to Salt Lake City flight path pass over?
The flight path crosses the high Mexican plateau (Altiplano) northward, passing east of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Over northern Mexico, the landscape transitions to desert basins and ranges. Entering the US, the route crosses the Chihuahuan Desert and approaches the Rocky Mountain system. The Colorado Plateau becomes visible in southern Utah before descent into the Great Basin where Salt Lake City sits.