The right side bookends the long flight with two strong scenic moments — the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline on departure, and the Chao Phraya River with Bangkok's skyline on arrival — while both sides share the same long, largely featureless North Pacific cruise.
Flown SFO to BKK? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
San Francisco to Bangkok is 7,923 miles (12,751 km), a flight of about 17 hours 25 minutes.
The flight's midpoint falls over the North Pacific near the Aleutian Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula, where the great-circle route curves southwest toward Japan; for several hours neither side has significant landmarks beyond open ocean and, in clear conditions, distant volcanic coastline of the Russian Far East.
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from SFO
RIGHTAs the aircraft climbs out over San Francisco Bay and banks north toward the great-circle track for Asia, the right side faces the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco skyline, and the Marin Headlands before the coastline recedes into the Pacific haze.
Landing at BKK
RIGHTArriving from the north during the dry-season pattern, the aircraft lines up for runway 19, and the right side faces west toward central Bangkok, revealing the Chao Phraya River and the city's skyscraper skyline before touchdown amid the surrounding rice paddies.
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from San Francisco International (SFO) to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Bangkok. The right side bookends the long flight with two strong scenic moments — the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline on departure, and the Chao Phraya River with Bangkok's skyline on arrival — while both sides share the same long, largely featureless North Pacific cruise.
What can I see during takeoff from San Francisco International in San Francisco?
During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Right side for the best views. As the aircraft climbs out over San Francisco Bay and banks north toward the great-circle track for Asia, the right side faces the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco skyline, and the Marin Headlands before the coastline recedes into the Pacific haze. Notable sights include: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco skyline, Marin Headlands, Point Reyes coastline.
What can I see when landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok?
When landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), sit on the Right side for the best views. Arriving from the north during the dry-season pattern, the aircraft lines up for runway 19, and the right side faces west toward central Bangkok, revealing the Chao Phraya River and the city's skyscraper skyline before touchdown amid the surrounding rice paddies. Notable sights include: Chao Phraya River, Bangkok skyscraper skyline (Sathorn/Silom towers), flooded rice paddies, canal-crossed farmland near Suvarnabhumi.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Bangkok?
The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) takes about 17 hours 25 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 7,923 miles (12,751 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the San Francisco to Bangkok flight path pass over?
The flight's midpoint falls over the North Pacific near the Aleutian Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula, where the great-circle route curves southwest toward Japan; for several hours neither side has significant landmarks beyond open ocean and, in clear conditions, distant volcanic coastline of the Russian Far East.