About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from El Salvador International (SAL) to Los Angeles International (LAX)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Salvador to Los Angeles. Right side wins both ends of the flight. At takeoff you get El Salvador's volcanic chain and Lago de Coatepeque; on approach into LAX you get the downtown skyline and the Hollywood Hills. The left side offers little of note at either end.
What can I see during takeoff from El Salvador International in San Salvador?
During takeoff from El Salvador International (SAL), sit on the Right side for the best views. SAL's primary departure runway is 07, meaning aircraft climb out heading roughly northeast before turning northwest toward LAX. A right-side seat gives you views south and east over the Pacific coastal plain and the chain of Salvadoran volcanoes including Santa Ana and San Vicente as the aircraft banks left. The left side faces inland scrub and Guatemala. Notable sights include: Volcán Santa Ana (Ilamatepec), Lago de Coatepeque caldera lake, Pacific coastal plain and shoreline, Volcán San Vicente (Chinchontepec).
What can I see when landing at Los Angeles International in Los Angeles?
When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX primarily uses runways 24L/24R for westward landings, meaning aircraft approach from the east over the Los Angeles Basin. A right-side seat on approach gives you a clear view north over downtown Los Angeles, the Hollywood Hills, and the Santa Monica Mountains, while the left side looks south over less distinctive suburban sprawl toward Long Beach. Notable sights include: Downtown Los Angeles skyline, Hollywood Hills and Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Monica Bay.
How long is the flight from San Salvador to Los Angeles?
The flight from El Salvador International (SAL) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 5 hours 30 minutes.
What does the San Salvador to Los Angeles flight path pass over?
The route tracks northwest over Guatemala and southern Mexico, crossing the Sierra Madre de Chiapas and the Mexican Plateau. Over Mexico the aircraft passes near Oaxaca and then over the broad central Mexican highlands before crossing the Sierra Madre Occidental. The Gulf of California may be visible on the right side in the mid-flight as a long narrow blue channel. The Baja California Peninsula appears on the right side in the final hour before the aircraft descends toward Southern California over the Pacific.