Which side of the plane
London Heathrow ⇄ Geneva: which side should you sit on?
The cruise across France has no clear side. The landing does: Geneva usually lands towards the south-west, with the Alps on one side.
London Heathrow → Geneva · 755 km · about 100 min gate to gate
Sit on the left · seat A
For the Alps, the Salève and, in clear weather, Mont Blanc on the usual landing towards the south-west. With a north-east wind (the bise) the sides swap.
Possible 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 Wembley StadiumDepends 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
- take-off Canary Wharf (One Canada Square)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Cret de la Neige (Jura)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Lake Geneva (Lac Leman)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Jet d'Eau, GenevaDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Saleve (Grand Piton)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Lake AnnecyDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Dent du MidiDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Mont BlancDepends on the runway in use either
- landing MatterhornDepends 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 Geneva
Geneva usually lands towards the south-west (the default in calm wind). The approach crosses the end of Lake Geneva with the Alps, the Salève, the Jet d'Eau and, in clear weather, Mont Blanc on the LEFT and the Jura on the RIGHT. With the bise you land from the other end, and Mont Blanc is on the RIGHT.
Sun side
| Departing | 08:00 | 13:00 | 17:00 | 20:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | ahead | right | dark | dark |
| Summer | left | right | right | behind |
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.
Geneva → London Heathrow · 755 km · about 100 min gate to gate
Left for Mont Blanc on take-off, right for London on landing
On the usual take-off towards the south-west, the Salève and Mont Blanc are on the left. On the usual westerly landing at Heathrow, central London is on the right.
Possible Clear-weather estimate from the usual path. Actual routes vary by tens of kilometres.
What you will see
- take-off MatterhornDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Mont BlancDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Dent du MidiDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Lake AnnecyDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Saleve (Grand Piton)Depends on the runway in use either
- take-off Jet d'Eau, GenevaDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Lake Geneva (Lac Leman)Depends on the runway in use either
- take-off Cret de la Neige (Jura)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Canary Wharf (One Canada Square)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Tower BridgeDepends on the runway in use either
- landing London EyeDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Wembley StadiumDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Windsor CastleDepends on the runway in use either
Take-off and landing
Leaving Geneva
Geneva usually takes off towards the south-west: the Salève and Mont Blanc are on the LEFT and the Jura on the RIGHT. London-bound flights then turn right over the Jura. With the bise (north-east wind) you take off along the lake, with the city and Mont Blanc on the RIGHT.
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 | behind | left | left, low | dark |
| Summer | right | left | 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.