Which side of the plane
London Heathrow ⇄ Zurich: which side should you sit on?
Zurich's daytime landing heads straight at the Alps. The cruise over France and Germany has no clear side.
London Heathrow → Zurich · 789 km · about 100 min gate to gate
Sit on the right · seat F
For the Bernese Oberland, with the Eiger and the Jungfrau, on the usual daytime landing from the north-west. In the evening you land from the east, with the Alps on the left.
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 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
- ~68 min Black Forest (Feldberg)Close to the path: either side, or straight below · about 12 km from the path either
- landing Rhine FallsDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Zurich cityDepends on the runway in use either
- landing PilatusDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Lake LucerneDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Lake ZurichDepends on the runway in use either
- landing RigiDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Eiger / Jungfrau (Bernese Oberland)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Lake ConstanceDepends on the runway in use either
- landing SaentisDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Toedi (Glarus Alps)Depends 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 Zurich
For most of the day you land from the north-west, heading towards the Alps: the Bernese Oberland, with the Eiger and the Jungfrau, is ahead on the RIGHT, and Säntis and the Glarus Alps are ahead on the LEFT. In the evening you land from the east, with the Alps on the LEFT. Early mornings come in from the south, over the city.
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.
Zurich → London Heathrow · 789 km · about 100 min gate to gate
Left for the Alps on take-off, right for London
By day the Alps, the Rigi and Pilatus are on the left as you leave Zurich. 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 Toedi (Glarus Alps)Depends on the runway in use either
- take-off SaentisDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Lake ConstanceDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Eiger / Jungfrau (Bernese Oberland)Depends on the runway in use either
- take-off RigiDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Lake ZurichDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Lake LucerneDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off PilatusDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Zurich cityDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Rhine FallsDepends on the runway in use either
- ~7 min Black Forest (Feldberg)Close to the path: either side, or straight below · about 12 km from the path 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 Windsor CastleDepends on the runway in use either
Take-off and landing
Leaving Zurich
Zurich switches runways by time of day. By day, westbound flights usually take off towards the west, with the Alps, the Rigi and Pilatus on the LEFT, or towards the south before turning right, which also puts Lake Zurich and the Alps on 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 | behind | left | dark | dark |
| Summer | right | left | left | ahead |
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.