Seeing William P. Hobby Airport from a plane

6 ★ best score on our routes · rated 3 of 10

William P. Hobby Airport

Photo: Houston, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Houston's original airport, about 7 miles southeast of downtown, and a Southwest Airlines stronghold. Look for the downtown skyline to the northwest and the refinery-lined Ship Channel to the east.

28 of our routes pass it. Texas

The easy pick

Houston to Aguascalientes: sit on the right, on the climb, 5 min after takeoff.

Which side, by route

RouteSideWhen
Houston to DubaiRight
(the left side is better for the whole flight)
on the climb, 3 min after takeoff
Houston to São PauloRight
(the left side is better for the whole flight)
on the climb, 3 min after takeoff
Houston to AguascalientesRighton the climb, 5 min after takeoff
Houston to Buenos AiresRighton the climb, 5 min after takeoff
Houston to LimaRight
(the left side is better for the whole flight)
on the climb, 5 min after takeoff
Houston to MedellinRighton the climb, 5 min after takeoff
Houston to MonterreyRighton the climb, 5 min after takeoff
Houston to Panama CityRight
(the left side is better for the whole flight)
on the climb, 5 min after takeoff
Houston to TulumRighton the climb, 5 min after takeoff
Houston to QuitoRighton the climb, 5 min after takeoff
Houston to BrownsvilleRighton the climb, 6 min after takeoff
Houston to McAllenRighton the climb, 6 min after takeoff
Houston to OaxacaRighton the climb, 6 min after takeoff
Houston to QueretaroRighton the climb, 6 min after takeoff
Houston to San JoseRighton the climb, 6 min after takeoff
Houston to AucklandRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to LeonRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to Corpus ChristiRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to GuadalajaraRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to HarlingenRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to MoreliaRight7 min after takeoff
Houston to Puerto VallartaRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to Puerto EscondidoRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to San Jose del CaboRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to San Luis PotosiRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to TampicoRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to VeracruzRighton the climb, 7 min after takeoff
Houston to PueblaRighton the climb, 8 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 William P. Hobby Airport from?

It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (28 of 28). The table lists each route's side.

When can you see William P. Hobby 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 William P. Hobby 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.

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