Both sides share the same many hours of open North Pacific, but the left side's approach into Seattle delivers the flight's single most dramatic landmark, Mount Rainier, along with the Cascades and Lake Washington, giving it a slight edge over the right side's Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains view.
Flown TPE to SEA? Did we get it right?
Flight Path
Taipei to Seattle is 6,063 miles (9,757 km), a flight of about 11 hours 35 minutes.
Open North Pacific Ocean roughly south of the Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska, with no land visible for most of the crossing between Japan's longitude and the North American coast.
Great circle distance and headings ›
Phase by phase
Takeoff from TPE
RIGHTDeparting TPE on runway 05 toward the northeast, the right-side windows face Taipei's basin and the volcanic Yangmingshan massif just north of the city, with Keelung's rugged coastline beyond. The left side only shows the flatter Taoyuan plain and the open Taiwan Strait.
Landing at SEA
LEFTOn the southbound approach into SEA, the left side faces east toward the Cascade foothills, Lake Washington, and the unmistakable snow-capped cone of Mount Rainier rising above the horizon. The right side mostly shows Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, which are scenic but less dramatic than Rainier's singular profile.
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Pick a date and time in the Sun Map to watch the sun move across your whole flight.
About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Taipei to Seattle. Both sides share the same many hours of open North Pacific, but the left side's approach into Seattle delivers the flight's single most dramatic landmark, Mount Rainier, along with the Cascades and Lake Washington, giving it a slight edge over the right side's Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains view.
What can I see during takeoff from Chiang Kai Shek International in Taipei?
During takeoff from Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE), sit on the Right side for the best views. Departing TPE on runway 05 toward the northeast, the right-side windows face Taipei's basin and the volcanic Yangmingshan massif just north of the city, with Keelung's rugged coastline beyond. The left side only shows the flatter Taoyuan plain and the open Taiwan Strait. Notable sights include: Taipei 101 skyline, Yangmingshan National Park volcanic peaks, Keelung coastline, Taipei Basin river network.
What can I see when landing at Seattle Tacoma International in Seattle?
When landing at Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the southbound approach into SEA, the left side faces east toward the Cascade foothills, Lake Washington, and the unmistakable snow-capped cone of Mount Rainier rising above the horizon. The right side mostly shows Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, which are scenic but less dramatic than Rainier's singular profile. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier, Cascade Range foothills, Lake Washington, Seattle's eastern suburbs.
How long is the flight from Taipei to Seattle?
The flight from Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) takes about 11 hours 35 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 Taipei to Seattle flight path pass over?
Open North Pacific Ocean roughly south of the Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska, with no land visible for most of the crossing between Japan's longitude and the North American coast.