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PHL → SEA
Which side of the plane to sit from Philadelphia International Airport (Philadelphia) to Seattle Tacoma International Airport (Seattle)?
Right Side of the Plane
The Right Side (North) is preferred for flying west to avoid direct sunlight glare while capturing the dramatic transition from the Great Lakes to the Badlands and the jagged North Cascades.
Search flights from PHL to SEA
Chicago & Lake Michigan
Views of the Chicago skyline and the deep blue expanse of the southern Great Lakes shoreline.
Badlands National Park
The striking, multi-colored eroded buttes and spires of South Dakota visible from cruising altitude.
The Black Hills
Dense ponderosa pine forests rising sharply from the plains near Rapid City.
Bitterroot Mountains
The rugged, snow-dusted peaks of the Idaho-Montana border stretching toward the horizon.
North Cascades
The 'American Alps,' featuring jagged glaciated peaks as you cross into Washington state.
Puget Sound & Olympics
Panoramic views of the sound's islands and the Olympic Peninsula mountains during the landing sequence.
The right side offers the best lighting for photography as the sun remains on the opposite side of the plane. You will get superior views of the Badlands and the North Cascades. If the plane lands to the south (common in rainy weather), you will get an incredible view of the Olympic Mountains and the San Juan Islands as the plane banks over the sound.
Book Hotels in SeattleSusquehanna River
Dramatic views of the wide, winding river valley shortly after departure from Philadelphia.
Midwestern Grids
The perfect geometric patterns of the American heartland spanning across Iowa and Nebraska.
Mount Rainier
An unbeatable, close-up view of Washington's highest peak during the descent into the Seattle area.
Seattle Skyline
On a southern approach, views of the Space Needle, Columbia Center, and Elliott Bay waterfront.
Mount Adams
The massive volcanic sister peak to Rainier visible in the distance over the Gifford Pinchot Forest.
Sit on the left if you want a face-to-face encounter with Mount Rainier during the final 20 minutes of the flight. However, be prepared for significant sun glare throughout the afternoon since you are flying west. Choose a window seat behind the wing to ensure the engine doesn't block the mountain views during the steep descent turns.
Get eSIMs for United States
Get eSIMs for United StatesDistance: 3,818 km (2,372 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 4 hrs 30 min
Departure: PHL (39.87189865112305, -75.24109649658203)
Arrival: SEA (47.449001, -122.308998)
Route Type: Domestic
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