The great-circle routing arcs north from Seattle along the Alaskan coast, past the Aleutians and Kamchatka Peninsula, then down along Japan before turning to Taiwan — nearly all of this coastal and volcanic terrain lies on the right side of the aircraft for most of the cruise, giving it far more landmark density than the largely open-ocean left side.
Flown SEA to TPE? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Seattle to Taipei is 6,063 miles (9,757 km), a flight of about 13 hours 20 minutes.
The route's highest-latitude point passes over the North Pacific near the Aleutian Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula, where the great circle curves south again toward Japan and the East China Sea en route to Taiwan.
Great circle distance and headings ›Phase by phase
Takeoff from SEA
RIGHTDepartures from SEA typically climb north over Puget Sound before banking west toward Vancouver Island, and during that initial climb the right side faces east toward Mount Rainier and the Cascade Range. The left side mainly shows Puget Sound water and the Olympic foothills, which is pleasant but less dramatic than a snow-capped volcano.
Landing at TPE
LEFTArrivals into Taoyuan coming from the northeast typically cross over northern Taiwan near Keelung before turning southwest onto final approach, putting the Taipei Basin and the volcanic Yangmingshan peaks on the left side of the aircraft. The right side mostly overlooks the flat Taiwan Strait.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) to Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Seattle to Taipei. The great-circle routing arcs north from Seattle along the Alaskan coast, past the Aleutians and Kamchatka Peninsula, then down along Japan before turning to Taiwan — nearly all of this coastal and volcanic terrain lies on the right side of the aircraft for most of the cruise, giving it far more landmark density than the largely open-ocean left side.
What can I see during takeoff from Seattle Tacoma International in Seattle?
During takeoff from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departures from SEA typically climb north over Puget Sound before banking west toward Vancouver Island, and during that initial climb the right side faces east toward Mount Rainier and the Cascade Range. The left side mainly shows Puget Sound water and the Olympic foothills, which is pleasant but less dramatic than a snow-capped volcano. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier, Cascade Range foothills, Lake Washington, Puget Sound shoreline.
What can I see when landing at Chiang Kai Shek International in Taipei?
When landing at Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE), sit on the Left side for the best views. Arrivals into Taoyuan coming from the northeast typically cross over northern Taiwan near Keelung before turning southwest onto final approach, putting the Taipei Basin and the volcanic Yangmingshan peaks on the left side of the aircraft. The right side mostly overlooks the flat Taiwan Strait. Notable sights include: Taipei Basin, Yangmingshan volcanic peaks, Keelung coastline, Taiwan Strait in the distance.
How long is the flight from Seattle to Taipei?
The flight from Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) to Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE) takes about 13 hours 20 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 6,063 miles (9,757 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Seattle to Taipei flight path pass over?
The route's highest-latitude point passes over the North Pacific near the Aleutian Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula, where the great circle curves south again toward Japan and the East China Sea en route to Taiwan.