I find myself thinking about which side of the aircraft the sun will end up shining on and then avoid sitting on that side. I'm one of those that likes to look out of the window and don't want to be blinded by the sun. Therefore, when I fly between LAX and NRT, I usually sit on the right hand side. Same on the return since the morning sun usually hits the left side of the aircraft after flying through the night. IAD to GIG, I will sit on the right hand side and GIG-IAD I'll be on the left hand side. LAX-MIA I sit on the left hand side and MIA-LAX, I'm on the right hand side. I don't recall this topic being discussed on other threads. I wonder if other FT'ers besides me take into consideration which side the sun is on when deciding where to sit on their flights?

Gonna take a stab and guess this thread will be moved to an appropriate area since it isn't really a UA specific thread.

But to answer your question I actually do take that into consideration. Port side for eastbound daytime flights, starboard for wesbound daytime flights Especially since I prefer the window as I enjoy looking outside.

Absolutely. This is almost as important as my selection of a window seat, away from the wing. However, you're the only other person I've run across who takes this into consideration (helps to have a sense of geography).

Not only do I estimate the generalized sun angle, but seasonal variations as well. For land modes such as trains, I also consider the more scenic side - for example the right side for Chesapeake Bay, the Schuykill boathouses, and the Manhattan skyline when traveling WAS-NYP.

It is UA-specific in that I describe specific UA routes when I discuss my seat choices.

I sometimes take into account the sun when picking seats, although a better seat in terms of wing location, more room, etc. will often trump the sun consideration.

When flying into/out of DCA, I've tried to pick seats to see interesting sights, but almost all of them I've had delays, rebookings, standbys, or upgrades, and thus never end up with my original selection. I have gotten to see my office in Rosslyn, most of the touristy things, the Pentagon, and that Masonic building in Alexandria on approaches / departures to date, anyway.

Same consideration as olympicnut.

International Airline seatmaps

I do this all the time. For years, I have been selecting seats based on location, flight path, wing location and sun angle. For example:

Departing Miami: When I used to live in Miami, I would pick seat A if the plane takes off from west to east in the morning. This will allow me to see my house in North Miami Beach soon after take off. I have had a few photos of my old house taken from the air inside an UA plane. Also, the sun would be shining on the right side of the plane the entire way if I was flying north.

Flying into Narita from other Asian cities: Take window seats on the left, so you can see Mount Fuji.

Into DCA: My house is in the flight path into DCA if the plane decends from the Maryland side. I ususally see the plane approaching on the left of my house, so I would pick seat on the right side of the plane to catch a glimpse of my house.

Fly into LHR (from Continental Europe): Most of the times, the plane would circle London once from the south side before decending into LHR, so I would pick the window seat on the right side of the plane to catch the view of London.

Happy flying!!

If you're my age, just seeing the sun makes the day worthwhile, no matter what side of a United plane you sit on

I certainly do consider which side of the plane the sun will be on when
selecting seats, if I have a choice.
I understand this practice goes back to trans-Atlantic steamship passages, where the best cabin was away from the sun and therefore from the US, Portside Outbound, and Starboard Homeward. Hence the word POSH, which still describes desireable accomodations.

Popular etymology has it that posh is an acronym for Port Out, Starboard Home. Supposedly, this acronym was printed on first-class tickets issued by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company going from England to India. The port side on the trip out would have the coolest cabins (or alternately the cabins with the best view). The same would be true of the starboard cabins on the return trip. From this origin, sprang the usage of the term meaning swank, elegant, or fashionable. Unfortunately for this excellent story, no tickets with Posh stamped on them have been found and company records reveal no sign of the phrase.

Sure do when flying north/south. Not so much when flying east/west.

I always take the sun into consideration and avoid that side, except for transatlantic, where I enjoy watching the sun rise. I don't worry about it too much at night though...........

I take seat location, legroom, and proximity to noise into consideration first, since I usually close the shades except for takeoff and landing. For reasons I'm unable to explain, I tend to prefer the left side of the plane over the right.

Me too. I also find I can sleep much more comfortably if I am in an "A" seat on the port side.

John

I tend to seek the side where I'll pass by the biggest mountains (e.g. Rainier)