Seeing Transamerica Pyramid from a plane
Photo: Supercarwaar, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
853 ft tall, San Francisco's pointed-top skyscraper since 1972. Look for the white spike at the edge of downtown.
6 of our routes pass it. California
The easy pick
San Francisco to Honolulu: sit on the right, on the climb, 2 min after takeoff.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco to Honolulu | Right | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to Kahului | Right | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to San Luis Obispo | Right | on the climb, 2 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to Chicago | Left | on the climb, 3 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to Nadi | Right | on the climb, 3 min after takeoff |
| San Francisco to Cincinnati | Right | on the climb, 5 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 Transamerica Pyramid from?
It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (5 of 6). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Transamerica Pyramid 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 Transamerica Pyramid 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
San Francisco San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Alcatraz Island Sutro Tower Port of Oakland San Francisco (SFO) Honolulu (HNL) Chicago (MDW) All routes