Which side of the plane
Dec 11, 2015 | 12:44 am
#1
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Which side of the plane
Hi all
Leaving JFK mid-afternoon for SJU. What side of the plane is the best to see the New York skyline? Just wondering, and I might as well enjoy the view during take-off. Thanks
Cindy
Leaving JFK mid-afternoon for SJU. What side of the plane is the best to see the New York skyline? Just wondering, and I might as well enjoy the view during take-off. Thanks
Cindy
Dec 11, 2015 | 1:11 am
#2
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Departures this time of year very generally favor a departure from runway 31L/R, which favors sitting on the right side, as there is a sharp left turn after departure that gives a great view of Manhattan from the right side of the plane. I'd give that a > 2/3 chance of working.
You could improve the odds by taking a crash course in reading aviation weather forecasts and changing your seat based on that but it's really not worth the effort.
You could improve the odds by taking a crash course in reading aviation weather forecasts and changing your seat based on that but it's really not worth the effort.
Dec 11, 2015 | 2:06 am
#3
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Departures this time of year very generally favor a departure from runway 31L/R, which favors sitting on the right side, as there is a sharp left turn after departure that gives a great view of Manhattan from the right side of the plane. I'd give that a > 2/3 chance of working.
You could improve the odds by taking a crash course in reading aviation weather forecasts and changing your seat based on that but it's really not worth the effort.
You could improve the odds by taking a crash course in reading aviation weather forecasts and changing your seat based on that but it's really not worth the effort.
Cindy
Dec 11, 2015 | 4:36 am
#4
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OP is flying JFK-SJU, so the right side will certainly afford some view during/after a departure on runway 22L/R as well (less so on 4L/R, not knowing how far out the right turn would be); if the flight uses 13L/R it would be an over-the-shoulder contortion to even have a chance of seeing something during the turn to a more southerly heading
Dec 11, 2015 | 5:42 am
#5
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OP is flying JFK-SJU, so the right side will certainly afford some view during/after a departure on runway 22L/R as well (less so on 4L/R, not knowing how far out the right turn would be); if the flight uses 13L/R it would be an over-the-shoulder contortion to even have a chance of seeing something during the turn to a more southerly heading
. Cindy
Dec 11, 2015 | 6:52 am
#6
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I usually pick the side away from the sun to minimize glare. So that would be the left side of the plane for an afternoon southbound flight. To me, knowing that I won't have to deal with any sun glare for the duration of the flight is more valuable than a brief glimpse of NYC. YMMV.
Dec 11, 2015 | 9:34 am
#7
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I usually pick the side away from the sun to minimize glare. So that would be the left side of the plane for an afternoon southbound flight. To me, knowing that I won't have to deal with any sun glare for the duration of the flight is more valuable than a brief glimpse of NYC. YMMV.
But...I've also flown in/out of LGA and JFK more times than I can count, so seeing the skyline isn't as important to me.
It was fun a few months ago coming into LGA at night and making that left turn over Citi field while a game was in progress. On the left side and with the plane banking, you could look right into the stadium and actually make out the play (appeared to be a double into right field with an RBI, IIRC).
Dec 12, 2015 | 11:03 am
#8
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I usually pick the side away from the sun to minimize glare. So that would be the left side of the plane for an afternoon southbound flight. To me, knowing that I won't have to deal with any sun glare for the duration of the flight is more valuable than a brief glimpse of NYC. YMMV.
. Thanks for that info, hadn't thought about the bright sun. Changing sides again 
Cindy
Dec 13, 2015 | 7:05 pm
#10
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she's in F ... probably not a real issue
Dec 14, 2015 | 1:28 am
#11
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. Yes, picked row 2, because I have no idea what the bulkhead is like in F Cindy
Dec 14, 2015 | 7:01 am
#12
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on a 738, my only complaint about Row 2 is that the life raft in the ceiling compartment can make it a little more challenging to get a larger bag into and out of the overhead bin; the opening isn't quite parallel to the aisle, since the fuselage starts to taper toward the nose at that point
Dec 14, 2015 | 7:25 am
#13
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on a 738, my only complaint about Row 2 is that the life raft in the ceiling compartment can make it a little more challenging to get a larger bag into and out of the overhead bin; the opening isn't quite parallel to the aisle, since the fuselage starts to taper toward the nose at that point
Cindy
Dec 14, 2015 | 8:10 am
#14
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Dec 15, 2015 | 12:44 am
#15
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aaaaaand here we go ... PLEASE don't anyone hijack this thread!
Cindy