Philadelphia (PHL) to Los Angeles (LAX) is 2,396 miles in a straight line, about 5h 18m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 12 air traffic control facilities along the way.
Who handles your flight
Every airliner is passed from one air traffic control facility to the next. On the most direct path, these are the teams that guide you, in order. Weather and traffic can send a flight through other centers, so your actual flight may differ a little.
- PHLTowerPhiladelphia Tower (PHL)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- PHLTRACONPhiladelphia TRACON (PHL)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZNYCenterNew York ARTCC (ZNY)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZDCCenterWashington ARTCC (ZDC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZOBCenterCleveland ARTCC (ZOB)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZIDCenterIndianapolis ARTCC (ZID)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZDVCenterDenver ARTCC (ZDV)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZLACenterLos Angeles ARTCC (ZLA)Starts your descentThank them →
- SCTTRACONSouthern California TRACON (SCT)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- LAXTowerLos Angeles International Tower (LAX)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
Los Angeles (LAX) to Philadelphia (PHL)
LAX → SCT → ZLA → ZDV → ZKC → ZAU → ZID → ZOB → ZDC → ZNY → PHL → PHL
About the airports
Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia, PA
Codes: PHL · KPHL
Time zone: Eastern
Control tower: Philadelphia Tower (PHL)
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles, CA
Codes: LAX · KLAX
Time zone: Pacific
Control tower: Los Angeles International Tower (LAX)
More routes
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Atlanta (ATL)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Denver (DEN)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Orlando (MCO)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Miami (MIA)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Charlotte (CLT)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Seattle (SEA)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to San Francisco (SFO)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Houston (IAH)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Boston (BOS)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Minneapolis (MSP)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Detroit (DTW)
How we figure this out
Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, the shortest path over the curved Earth. Flight time assumes an average airliner speed of about 500 mph plus about 30 minutes for taxi, takeoff and landing. The list of facilities follows the same path, using each airport's tower and approach control and the FAA's en route center boundaries.
Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.
Common questions
How long is the flight from Philadelphia (PHL) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
About 5h 18m gate to gate for the 2,396-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.
How far is Philadelphia (PHL) from Los Angeles (LAX)?
2,396 miles (2,082 nautical miles, 3,856 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Philadelphia (PHL) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
Usually 12 facilities: Philadelphia Tower (PHL), Philadelphia TRACON (PHL), New York ARTCC (ZNY), Washington ARTCC (ZDC), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), Indianapolis ARTCC (ZID), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Kansas City ARTCC (ZKC), Denver ARTCC (ZDV), Los Angeles ARTCC (ZLA), Southern California TRACON (SCT) and Los Angeles International Tower (LAX). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.
Is there a time change between Philadelphia (PHL) and Los Angeles (LAX)?
Yes. Los Angeles (LAX) is 3 hours behind Philadelphia (PHL).