FlownLondon Gatwick to Sharm el-Sheikh: 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 Corfu. You may pass straight over Mount Sinai.
- RouteLGW → SSH
- Distance2,402 miles (3,866 km) direct
- Flight timeroughly 5½ 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
- The Grossglocknerabout 1h 30m in
- Mount Olympusabout 3h 05m in
Right side · seat F
- The Eiger and Jungfrauabout 1h 05m in
- Veniceabout 1h 35m in
- Corfuabout 2h 55m in
- Athensabout 3h 25m in
- Santoriniabout 3h 45m in
Straight below
- Mount Sinaion 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: Sharm el-Sheikh to Gatwick
Flying home, both sides have something: the left (seat A) for Crete and Corfu, the right (seat F) for Mount Olympus and the Dolomites. You may pass straight over Mount Sinai.
Left side · seat A
- Creteabout 1h 45m in
- Santoriniabout 1h 50m in
- Athensabout 2h 10m in
- Corfuabout 2h 40m in
- Veniceabout 4h 00m in
Right side · seat F
- Mount Olympusabout 2h 30m in
- The Dolomitesabout 4h 05m in
- The Grossglocknerabout 4h 05m in
- The Zugspitzeabout 4h 20m in
- The White Cliffs of Doveron the way in to land
Straight below
- Mount Sinaisoon after take-off
Leaving Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH) 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 5½-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.