Which side of the plane
Barcelona ⇄ London Heathrow: which side should you sit on?
The Pyrenees come about 15 minutes after take-off from Barcelona and are the highlight of the flight. Each side gets a different part of them.
Barcelona → London Heathrow · 1148 km · about 130 min gate to gate
Left for the high Pyrenees, right for London
Left: the high Pyrenees as far as Aneto, about 15 to 20 minutes after take-off. Right: the Canigó massif, then central London on the usual westerly landing at Heathrow.
Likely Clear-weather estimate from the usual path. Actual routes vary by tens of kilometres.
What you will see
- take-off Sagrada Familia, BarcelonaDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Montserrat (Sant Jeroni)Depends on the runway in use either
- ~14 min Canigou (eastern Pyrenees)Likely on this side · about 52 km from the path R
- ~18 min Pica d'Estats (central-eastern Pyrenees)Probably this side; depends on the exact path · about 32 km from the path L
- ~18 min Aneto (central Pyrenees)Likely on this side · about 92 km from the path L
- ~26 min ToulouseClose to the path: either side, or straight below · about 11 km from the path either
- landing London EyeDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Tower BridgeDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Windsor CastleDepends on the runway in use either
Take-off and landing
Leaving Barcelona
By day you take off towards the west and turn left out to sea early. Flights heading north then come back up the coast, so the Barcelona waterfront is likely on the LEFT. At night (11 pm to 7 am) you take off east, straight out to sea, with Montjuïc and the city ahead to the left.
Arriving at London Heathrow
About 70% of landings come in from the east along the Thames, and the London Eye, Tower Bridge, the Shard and Canary Wharf are on the RIGHT on the final straight. Before that, the holding pattern can show the city on either side. On easterly days (about 30%) you land over Berkshire, with Windsor Castle close below on the LEFT.
Sun side
| Departing | 08:00 | 13:00 | 17:00 | 20:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | right, low | left | left, low | dark |
| Summer | right | behind | left | left, low |
Where the sun is at mid-flight, by local departure time. “Low” means sunrise or sunset light on that side; the other side then gets the soft colours without the glare.
London Heathrow → Barcelona · 1148 km · about 130 min gate to gate
Right for the high Pyrenees and Barcelona
Right: the high Pyrenees as far as Aneto, then Barcelona's city and port on the usual daytime landing. Left: the Canigó massif.
Likely Clear-weather estimate from the usual path. Actual routes vary by tens of kilometres.
What you will see
- take-off Windsor CastleDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off London EyeDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Tower BridgeDepends on the runway in use either
- ~73 min ToulouseClose to the path: either side, or straight below · about 11 km from the path either
- ~82 min Aneto (central Pyrenees)Likely on this side · about 92 km from the path R
- ~83 min Pica d'Estats (central-eastern Pyrenees)Probably this side; depends on the exact path · about 32 km from the path R
- ~86 min Canigou (eastern Pyrenees)Likely on this side · about 52 km from the path L
- landing Montserrat (Sant Jeroni)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Sagrada Familia, BarcelonaDepends on the runway in use either
Take-off and landing
Leaving London Heathrow
Most days (about 70%) Heathrow takes off towards the west, with Windsor Castle just ahead and to the right. On easterly days you take off towards London. After that the turn decides which side sees the city.
Arriving at Barcelona
By day, landings come in from the east-north-east over the sea just off the port: the city, Montjuïc, the port, the Sagrada Família and Tibidabo are on the RIGHT. At night (11 pm to 7 am) you come in from the south over the sea, with the Garraf and Castelldefels coast on the LEFT.
Sun side
| Departing | 08:00 | 13:00 | 17:00 | 20:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | left | right | dark | dark |
| Summer | left | right | right | right, low |
Where the sun is at mid-flight, by local departure time. “Low” means sunrise or sunset light on that side; the other side then gets the soft colours without the glare.