Both sides get strong bookends, but the left side's landing approach delivers Mount Rainier, one of the most striking single landmarks visible on any West Coast arrival, tipping the balance over the right side's slightly less dramatic Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains view.
Flown OGG to SEA? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Kahului to Seattle is 2,640 miles (4,249 km), a flight of about 5 hours 50 minutes.
The route crosses roughly 2,300 miles of open North Pacific Ocean with no landmasses visible, passing well north of the main Hawaiian Islands and far offshore from the Pacific Northwest coast until descent begins near Washington state.
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from OGG
RIGHTDeparting OGG toward the northeast, the right side looks straight across the isthmus at Haleakala's massive shield volcano rising over 10,000 feet, with the sunny south Maui coastline of Kihei and Wailea curving below. The left side only gets the smaller West Maui Mountains and a distant glimpse of Molokai.
Landing at SEA
LEFTOn the descent into SEA, the aircraft typically lines up heading south, putting the Cascade foothills and the unmistakable snow-capped cone of Mount Rainier on the left side. The right side instead faces the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, pleasant but less dramatic than Rainier's solitary volcanic peak.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Kahului (OGG) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Kahului to Seattle. Both sides get strong bookends, but the left side's landing approach delivers Mount Rainier, one of the most striking single landmarks visible on any West Coast arrival, tipping the balance over the right side's slightly less dramatic Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains view.
What can I see during takeoff from Kahului in Kahului?
During takeoff from Kahului (OGG), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing OGG toward the northeast, the right side looks straight across the isthmus at Haleakala's massive shield volcano rising over 10,000 feet, with the sunny south Maui coastline of Kihei and Wailea curving below. The left side only gets the smaller West Maui Mountains and a distant glimpse of Molokai. Notable sights include: Haleakala volcano, Kihei-Wailea coastline, Maalaea Bay, Kahoolawe island silhouette.
What can I see when landing at Seattle Tacoma International in Seattle?
When landing at Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the descent into SEA, the aircraft typically lines up heading south, putting the Cascade foothills and the unmistakable snow-capped cone of Mount Rainier on the left side. The right side instead faces the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, pleasant but less dramatic than Rainier's solitary volcanic peak. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier, Cascade Range foothills, Lake Washington, Seattle's eastside suburbs.
How long is the flight from Kahului to Seattle?
The flight from Kahului (OGG) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) takes about 5 hours 50 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 2,640 miles (4,249 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Kahului to Seattle flight path pass over?
The route crosses roughly 2,300 miles of open North Pacific Ocean with no landmasses visible, passing well north of the main Hawaiian Islands and far offshore from the Pacific Northwest coast until descent begins near Washington state.