About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN) to John F Kennedy International (JFK)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Diego to New York. The right side wins overall. The San Diego Bay and Coronado departure is spectacular and hard to beat. En route, the right side also gives better views of the Colorado River corridor, southern Utah canyon country, and the Appalachians on descent into the northeast. The JFK landing view is strong on the left, but the departure experience on the right is the highlight of this route.
What can I see during takeoff from San Diego International Lindbergh Fld in San Diego?
During takeoff from San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN), sit on the Right side for the best views. SAN's primary runway 27 departure heads west over the bay before turning north/northeast. The right side gives you San Diego Bay, Coronado Island, and the Coronado Bridge as you climb out. Left side faces the city and Balboa Park but loses the water views quickly. Notable sights include: San Diego Bay, Coronado Island and Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado Bridge, Point Loma peninsula.
What can I see when landing at John F Kennedy International in New York?
When landing at John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK primarily uses runways 31L/31R for arrivals from the southwest, meaning the approach comes in from the south over Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway Peninsula. The left side gives you the Manhattan skyline in the distance to the northwest, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and Jamaica Bay's distinctive wetland geometry on final approach. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline (distant, northwest), Jamaica Bay and Gateway National Recreation Area wetlands, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Long Island shoreline.
How long is the flight from San Diego to New York?
The flight from San Diego International Lindbergh Fld (SAN) to John F Kennedy International (JFK) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 45 minutes westbound winds permitting, typically 5h 20m eastbound.
What does the San Diego to New York flight path pass over?
After departure the route tracks northeast over the Salton Sea (visible below in the Imperial Valley), then crosses the Colorado River into Arizona. The route passes over the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau with its red rock canyon systems visible in northern Arizona and southern Utah. The Rockies appear as a broad mountain mass crossing into Colorado and New Mexico. The Great Plains of Kansas and Missouri follow — flat, agricultural, grid-patterned. The Appalachian Mountains appear as a series of parallel ridges crossing Pennsylvania and New Jersey before the descent into the New York metro area.