I enjoyed an unusually scenic tour over downtown Los Angeles on United Airlines after my flight took a unique approach to Los Angeles International Airport.
Unique Approach Into LAX Gives Me A Scenic Tour Over Los Angeles On United Airlines
I’m a creature of habit. When I fly into Los Angeles, I always choose a window seat on the starboard side because the typical approach to LAX includes a routing with prime views of the city skylines from those window seats on the right side of the plane.
I booked my ticket from Seattle to LA weeks in advance and was annoyed that not a single window seat on that side of the plane was open in first class. I thought space might open as we drew closer, but it did not. I wound up with a window seat on the left side of the airplane and figured, oh well…no views of downtown today.
But that seat choice turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
On the flight, our routing took us on a loop around the LA basin that included amazing views directly over LA that I cannot recall experiencing before in my hundreds and hundreds of flights into LA (most on United, like this one).
After the flight, I looked up our approach and thought we must have taken the path we did because of evening congestion, but that does not appear to be the case. It seems this is the standard approach from Seattle…I looked at the flight path of my flight over several days and also others (like Alaska Airlines) and the approach is the same with an eastward approach over the LA basin, turning directly over downtown, and then a final westward approach to LAX.
Most United flights land on runway 7R/25R and are well positioned to pull into Terminal 7 on the south side of the airport. We landed in 6R/24L instead which meant a long taxi around the airport before finally reaching our gate.
Bottom line: if you’re flying to Los Angeles from Seattle, choose an “A” seat for prime viewing of the City of Angeles.
I thought 7R/25R were known officially as the “In ‘n Out” Runways.
Now I want a burger
Wait till you see my next post! 😉
In-N-Out is under the 24s. Not the 25s.
Great pictures. I’m struck by how ugly the car-based infrastructure of Los Angeles is. The massive parking lots and enormous freeway exchanges really seem like a waste of space. It’s a shame to waste that space in a place that so many people would like to live.
Plenty of homeless encampments under said freeway exchanges.
It’s funny, I find the concrete road structures in California to be achingly beautiful, especially compared to the steel structures I’m used to. Like airports and aircraft, those roads are a monument to movement.
Other than for medical care , I cannot imagine anyone traveling to any big city .
Airports are crowded , connections are a marathon , people are difficult , etc .
When in west flow (which is most of the time) at LAX, flights from the North/Northwest use the IRNMN TWO arrival… which is the path your flight followed. Landing on 24R is typical. Left-side window views are of Malibu, UCLA, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Dodger Stadium, downtown LAX (almost straight down) and, after the 180-degree right turn, SoFi Stadium. Views from the right side include LAX itself, then USC/Coliseum (before, during & after the 180-degree right turn) and, finally, In&Out Burger just before touchdown on 24R.
Flights from the East/Northeast use either the ANJLL FOUR or HLYWD ONE arrival. Landing on 25L is typical. The right side offers the better views of Big Bear, Ontario, the San Gabriel mountains, LA downtown, and SoFi stadium (if landing on 25L). Left side views are less interesting on this arrival, IMHO.
I got these same views when I flew SMF-LAX a couple months ago. Maybe it’s for most flights approaching from the north.
I had a similar routing flying LH last week.
On one of the photos of LAX, it appears as if an AA 777 is getting worked done at the UA hanger? Is that unusual?
What a depressing looking city, even from the air, I feel sorry for the poor buggers who have to live there, a million have escaped since Newsome’s dictatorship, so on second thoughts, I don’t feel sorry for them that are still there…. Spot the Yank LOL….
Robbo,
It’s not depressing. Maybe a little smoggy for you. Or could be just the marine layer of clouds.
@Robbo…..And you live in?
Oh, and from what I see, the population decline of California in 2023 was 75,00. That was California entirely, not Los Angeles. As well, it’s showing an increase in 2024. That would be a vast difference from your claim that Los Angeles has lost a million people.
Of course, given you sound like a Brit, it’s no wonder this is coming from someone whose economy is now officially smaller than the state of Mississippi.
L.A. is not a sad city. You must be a right wing, fear based American. You’re sad. Cheer up!
Maybe not sad, but definitely degenerate
These arrivals are the norm. But not particularly different over the past two decades I have commuting from sf to La. Only difference is how long the downwind leg needs to be due to traffic. Heck you can go half way to ONT sometimes before you turn on to final.
If you’re interested in old photos of Los Angeles, take a look at this blog…
https://martinturnbull.com/photo-blog/
I’m always amazed at how different Los Angeles and the surrounding areas have changed over the years.
Eh…coming from the north along the Pacific coast on United from SFO I have never not had that approach. Sometimes we fly over on top of downtown LA and I can’t get a good photo. Sometimes we pass by a little more south and I can get a photo. But we always go this way. The only question is how smoggy is it going to be which ruins photo opportunities. I am usually in A but sometimes I’ll go to the other side just to see the other view.
I fly from SFO quite often and have not experienced this approach (the little loop at the end).