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JFK → PEK
Which side of the plane to sit from John F Kennedy International Airport (New York) to Beijing Capital International Airport (Beijing)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a superior sequence of diverse landscapes, from the icy Hudson Bay to the dramatic expanse of the Gobi Desert, typically enjoying better lighting on westbound daytime flights.
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Hudson Bay
Witness the massive scale of the Canadian north, often filled with pack ice or deep blue waters depending on the season.
Baffin Island
Jagged fjords and massive glaciers are visible as the flight heads toward the high Arctic circle.
Arctic Ocean
A rare opportunity to see the polar ice cap stretching toward the horizon during the crossing of the North Pole.
Siberian Taiga
The world's largest forest ecosystem, featuring massive meandering rivers like the Yenisei cutting through the green or white landscape.
Gobi Desert
Stunning aerial views of the Mongolian plateau's dunes and rocky outcrops as you begin the descent into China.
Choose a window seat forward of the wing to avoid engine heat distortion. On morning departures, the left side remains shaded for most of the polar crossing, which reduces glare and makes photography easier. Look for the transition from the Siberian forest to the Gobi Desert roughly 2 hours before landing.
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Manhattan Skyline
A potential view of the NYC skyline if the departure path loops north immediately after takeoff from JFK.
Greenland Ice Sheet
If the route tracks slightly east, you may see the spectacular ice canyons and glaciers of the Greenland interior.
The North Pole
The unique experience of flying directly over or very near the geographic top of the world.
Stanovoy Range
Rugged mountain peaks in the Russian Far East, often covered in deep snow year-round with dramatic shadows.
The Great Wall
On the final approach to PEK from the north, you can sometimes spot segments of the wall winding through the rugged hills.
The right side can get significant direct sunlight depending on the season, so keep your window shade down during the polar transit to allow others to sleep. If the aircraft approaches Beijing from the north, look out for the Great Wall 15-20 minutes before touchdown; it appears as a thin, winding line on the ridge-lines.
Book Hotels in BeijingDistance: 10,978 km (6,821 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 12 hrs 55 min
Departure: JFK (40.63980103, -73.77890015)
Arrival: PEK (40.0801010131836, 116.58499908447266)
Route Type: International
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