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IAD → SVO
Which side of the plane to sit from Washington Dulles International Airport (Washington) to Sheremetyevo International Airport (Moscow)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a front-row seat to the most dramatic geographic features of the high-latitude Great Circle route, including the Greenland ice sheet, the rugged Norwegian coast, and the best vantage point for the Aurora Borealis during night flights.
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Labrador Coast
View the rugged and often ice-filled waters off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador during the initial crossing.
Greenland Ice Sheet
Witness the massive, sprawling white expanse of the world's second-largest ice body and its carved coastal fjords.
Norwegian Fjords
Observe the serrated, snow-capped peaks and deep blue inlets as the aircraft enters Scandinavian airspace.
Swedish Wilderness
Vast stretches of dense boreal forests and thousands of small lakes across central Sweden.
Aurora Borealis
Facing north during the dark hours of this transatlantic crossing provides the highest chance to see the Northern Lights.
For the best experience, choose a seat forward of the wing to avoid engine heat haze. Since these flights typically depart IAD in the evening, the left side is the only side that will allow for Aurora viewing. In the summer months, the 'Midnight Sun' effect will keep the Greenland glaciers visible even at local midnight.
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US Northeast Corridor
Aerial views of the glowing city lights of Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston shortly after takeoff.
Atlantic Sunrise
A spectacular sunrise over the ocean horizon as the flight approaches the European continent.
Baltic Islands
Clear views of large islands like Gotland (Sweden) and Saaremaa (Estonia) during the crossing of the Baltic Sea.
Gulf of Finland
The busy shipping lanes and coastal industrial zones of Estonia and southern Finland.
Moscow Suburbs
The final descent offers views of the dense forests and sprawling dacha communities surrounding Sheremetyevo.
The right side is ideal for those who enjoy watching the sunrise, which occurs relatively early in the flight due to the eastbound speed and northern latitude. It also provides a better chance of seeing the Moscow skyline in the distance if the aircraft is assigned a southern approach into SVO.
Book Hotels in MoscowDistance: 7,812 km (4,854 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 9 hrs 11 min
Departure: IAD (38.94449997, -77.45580292)
Arrival: SVO (55.972599, 37.4146)
Route Type: International
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