Seeing Boston from a plane
Much of the city sits on fill: Back Bay was a tidal marsh until the 1800s. Boston Common, set aside in 1634, is the oldest public park in the US; look for it beside the Charles River basin.
3 of our routes pass it. Massachusetts · rated 4 of 10
The easy pick
Boston to Orlando: sit on the right, on the climb, 0 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Boston to Orlando | Right | on the climb, 0 min after takeoff |
| Detroit to Boston | Right the other side is usually better on this route | on the way down |
| New York to Paris | Left the other side is usually better on this route | 22 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Boston from?
It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (2 of 3). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Boston from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Can you see Boston at night?
Yes, by its lights. The app scores lit places at night by how bright they are.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge Massachusetts Institute of Technology Deer Island Egg Digesters Cape Ann Brown University Boston (BOS) Orlando (MCO) Detroit (DTW) New York (JFK) All routes