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FRA → SFO
Which side of the plane to sit from Frankfurt am Main Airport (Frankfurt) to San Francisco International Airport (San Francisco)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side is superior for this route because it offers the iconic view of the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge during the standard arrival sequence, along with prime views of the southern Greenland ice sheet.
Search flights from FRA to SFO
English Channel
Clear views of the southern coastline of England and the busy maritime traffic entering the North Sea.
Southern Greenland
The massive ice cap and glaciers flowing into the Atlantic at the southern tip of the island.
Hudson Bay
Vast stretches of water and intricate ice patterns visible while crossing northern Canada.
Canadian Rockies
The southern portion of the range featuring high, snow-capped peaks and glacial lakes.
San Francisco Bay
A stunning perspective of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Financial District on final approach.
Sit on the left for the best chance of the 'Bridge Visual' approach into SFO. This side experiences more direct sunlight, so keep your window shade down during the mid-flight crossing of Canada to avoid glare. Best views of the bay occur about 10-15 minutes before landing.
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East Greenland Fjords
Some of the world's most dramatic and jagged mountain peaks lining the eastern coast.
Baffin Island
Remote Arctic wilderness with deep fjords and massive vertical rock faces like Mount Thor.
Arctic Archipelago
A bird's eye view of the isolated, frozen islands of Nunavut, Canada.
Great Basin Desert
Arid, colorful landscapes and salt flats across Nevada as the plane begins its descent.
Sierra Nevada
Views of the northern Sierra range and Lake Tahoe depending on the specific flight path.
The right side is perfect for photography as it faces north, providing soft, indirect light that highlights the textures of the Greenland mountains and Arctic ice. It is less likely to see the city of San Francisco on landing, but offers better views of the North Bay and Marin Headlands.
Book Hotels in San FranciscoDistance: 9,149 km (5,685 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 10 hrs 46 min
Departure: FRA (50.033333, 8.570556)
Arrival: SFO (37.61899948120117, -122.375)
Route Type: International
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