The left seat delivers the more dramatic departure experience with San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate, and the city in full view during climb-out. The landing views are good on the right but the Brisbane approach is less spectacular than the SFO departure. Left wins overall for the iconic San Francisco scenery alone.
Flight Path
The flight tracks southwest from SFO across the central Pacific Ocean, passing well south of Hawaii. The route crosses the equator roughly over open ocean at around 170 degrees west longitude. The vast majority of the flight is over featureless deep Pacific water. As the aircraft approaches Australia it crosses the Coral Sea, and the Great Barrier Reef system may be faintly visible as pale turquoise shallow water patterns if the approach track passes over northeastern Queensland, though many routings arrive from the northeast over open ocean directly to Brisbane.
Great circle distance and headings ›Phase by phase
Takeoff from SFO
LEFTSFO typically departs southward on runways 28L/28R or northward on 01L/01R. On the dominant westward departures over the Bay, a left (south-facing) seat gives you San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Peninsula. Climbing out over the Pacific heading northwest toward Hawaii, the left side captures the San Francisco coastline, Golden Gate, and Marin Headlands as the aircraft banks.
Landing at BNE
RIGHTBrisbane Airport sits on the eastern side of the city near Moreton Bay. Flights from the north Pacific typically approach from the northeast, and the dominant runway 01/19 configuration means a southward approach gives the right (west-facing) seat views of the Brisbane CBD skyline, the Brisbane River winding through the city, and the D'Aguilar Range to the northwest. The left side faces Moreton Bay and Stradbroke Island.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from San Francisco International (SFO) to Brisbane International (BNE)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Brisbane. The left seat delivers the more dramatic departure experience with San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate, and the city in full view during climb-out. The landing views are good on the right but the Brisbane approach is less spectacular than the SFO departure. Left wins overall for the iconic San Francisco scenery alone.
What can I see during takeoff from San Francisco International in San Francisco?
During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO typically departs southward on runways 28L/28R or northward on 01L/01R. On the dominant westward departures over the Bay, a left (south-facing) seat gives you San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Peninsula. Climbing out over the Pacific heading northwest toward Hawaii, the left side captures the San Francisco coastline, Golden Gate, and Marin Headlands as the aircraft banks. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay and city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.
What can I see when landing at Brisbane International in Brisbane?
When landing at Brisbane International (BNE), sit on the Right side for the best views. Brisbane Airport sits on the eastern side of the city near Moreton Bay. Flights from the north Pacific typically approach from the northeast, and the dominant runway 01/19 configuration means a southward approach gives the right (west-facing) seat views of the Brisbane CBD skyline, the Brisbane River winding through the city, and the D'Aguilar Range to the northwest. The left side faces Moreton Bay and Stradbroke Island. Notable sights include: Brisbane CBD skyline and Story Bridge, Brisbane River meanders, Moreton Bay and North Stradbroke Island, D'Aguilar Range.
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Brisbane?
The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Brisbane International (BNE) takes Approximately 14 to 15 hours nonstop.
What does the San Francisco to Brisbane flight path pass over?
The flight tracks southwest from SFO across the central Pacific Ocean, passing well south of Hawaii. The route crosses the equator roughly over open ocean at around 170 degrees west longitude. The vast majority of the flight is over featureless deep Pacific water. As the aircraft approaches Australia it crosses the Coral Sea, and the Great Barrier Reef system may be faintly visible as pale turquoise shallow water patterns if the approach track passes over northeastern Queensland, though many routings arrive from the northeast over open ocean directly to Brisbane.