FlownLondon Gatwick to Heraklion, Crete: which side of the plane?
Flying out, both sides have something: the left (seat A) for the Zugspitze and the Dolomites, the right (seat F) for the Eiger and Jungfrau, and the Matterhorn.
- RouteLGW → HER
- Distance1,665 miles (2,680 km) direct
- Flight timeroughly 4 hours
What you might see, flying out
Left side · seat A
- The White Cliffs of Doversoon after take-off
- The Zugspitzeabout 1h 20m in
- The Dolomitesabout 1h 30m in
- Veniceabout 1h 40m in
Right side · seat F
- The Eiger and Jungfrauabout 1h 10m in
- The Matterhornabout 1h 15m in
- Lake Gardaabout 1h 30m in
- Corfuabout 3h 05m in
- Creteon the way in to land
Leaving London Gatwick (LGW), the sun is mostly on the right in the morning and the afternoon alike, so the left side is shadier.
Flying home: Crete (Heraklion) to Gatwick
Flying home, both sides have something: the left (seat A) for the Matterhorn, and the Eiger and Jungfrau, the right (seat F) for the Dolomites and the Zugspitze.
Left side · seat A
- Cretesoon after take-off
- Corfuabout 1h 00m in
- Lake Gardaabout 2h 30m in
- The Matterhornabout 2h 50m in
- The Eiger and Jungfrauabout 2h 50m in
Right side · seat F
- Veniceabout 2h 20m in
- The Dolomitesabout 2h 30m in
- The Zugspitzeabout 2h 40m in
- The White Cliffs of Doveron the way in to land
Leaving Heraklion, Crete (HER) in the afternoon, the sun is mostly on the left, so the right side is shadier.
Worked out along the direct (great-circle) route between the two airports. Real flights follow airways, winds and air traffic control, often tens of miles either side of it, so these are likely rather than certain, and clouds permitting. Times assume a typical 4-hour flight. Seat letters are for the window: A on the left; on the right, F on most single-aisle jets and K on most wide-bodies.