Which side to sit on from San Francisco to Portland?
Sit on the left side flying San Francisco (SFO) to Portland (PDX). It has the better view on 7 of 11 daily flights, with SF, Oakland and Bay Bridge.
By time of day
| Departs | Side | Agree | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Left | 4 of 5 flights | San Francisco, Oakland, San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge |
| Afternoon | Right | 3 of 3 flights | South Bay Salt Ponds, Mt. Shasta, Crater Lake |
| Evening | Left | 3 of 3 flights | Oakland, San Francisco, Port of Oakland |
What you'll see
- SF on the left, 2 min after takeoff
- Salt ponds on the right, 3 min after takeoff
- San Jose on the right, 3 min after takeoff
- Oakland on the left, 4 min after takeoff
- Bay Bridge on the left, 4 min after takeoff
- Mt. Diablo on the right, 5 min after takeoff
- Mt. Tam on the left, 6 min after takeoff
- Lassen Peak on the right, 29 min after takeoff
- Mt. Shasta on the right, 37 min after takeoff
- Crater Lake on the right, 50 min after takeoff
- Three Sisters on the right, 60 min after takeoff
- Mt. Jefferson on the right, 68 min after takeoff
Based on 11 daily nonstop flights and the real paths they flew in the last 10 days. No clouds: within 3 days of departure, pick your exact flight for the cloud forecast.
Questions
Which side is best for the sunset from San Francisco to Portland?
The left. This flight heads north, so the western sky is on the left. Open your exact flight in Window Seat to see if it's in the air at sunset.
Is the left side of the plane seat A?
Yes. On almost every airline, seat A is the left window when you face the front. The right window is the highest letter in the row, usually F, K or L.
Does the best side change by flight?
It can. The left side is usual for this route, but the time of day moves the sun and glare. Pick your exact flight for its own answer, with the cloud forecast within 3 days.
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- 1Real flights, not straight linesWe pull about 20 recent flights on your route, so the path matches how planes actually fly it.
- 2Score every window6,500 rated landmarks, the sun and glare, sunsets, city lights and, within 3 days of your flight, the cloud forecast.
- 3Book the right seatYou get the side, when to look, and the rows without a window to skip.
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Questions
Is the left side of the plane seat A?
Yes. On almost every airline, seat A is the left window when you face the front. The right window is the highest letter in the row, usually F, K or L.
Which side is best for the sunset?
It depends on your direction and the time. Flying west in the evening, the sunset is ahead of you, so either side works. Flying north, it's on the left. Window Seat works it out for your exact flight.
Which side do I sit on to see Mount Rainier?
Flying south out of Seattle, the left. Flying into Seattle from the south, usually the right. See Seattle to Los Angeles.
Does it work for any flight?
Any nonstop between 3,000 airports worldwide. Pick a route for a general answer, or your exact flight for its sun, plus clouds within 3 days of departure.
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