Seeing Los Angeles International Airport from a plane4 ★
Four parallel runways end right at the beach. Look for the Theme Building, the 1961 spider-legged flying saucer in the middle of the terminal loop, and planes taking off straight out over the Pacific.
2 of our routes pass it. California · rated 4 of 10
The easy pick
Sacramento to Orange County: sit on the left, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento to Orange County | Left | on the way down |
| San Diego to San Luis Obispo | Right | 18 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day. Where the best seat for the whole flight is on the other side, you'd trade this sight for more elsewhere.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Los Angeles International Airport from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (1 of 2). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Los Angeles International Airport 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 Los Angeles International Airport 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
Marina del Rey SoFi Stadium Santa Monica Pier Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum University of Southern California Sacramento (SMF) San Diego (SAN) All routes