Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX) is 955 miles in a straight line, about 2h 25m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 7 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.
- SEATowerSeattle-Tacoma Tower (SEA)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- S46TRACONSeattle TRACON (S46)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZSECenterSeattle ARTCC (ZSE)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZOACenterOakland ARTCC (ZOA)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 Seattle (SEA)
LAX → SCT → ZLA → ZOA → ZSE → S46 → SEA
About the airports
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
Seattle, WA
Codes: SEA · KSEA
Time zone: Pacific
Control tower: Seattle-Tacoma Tower (SEA)
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles, CA
Codes: LAX · KLAX
Time zone: Pacific
Control tower: Los Angeles International Tower (LAX)
More routes
- Seattle (SEA) to Atlanta (ATL)
- Seattle (SEA) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Seattle (SEA) to Denver (DEN)
- Seattle (SEA) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Seattle (SEA) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Seattle (SEA) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- Seattle (SEA) to Orlando (MCO)
- Seattle (SEA) to Miami (MIA)
- Seattle (SEA) to Charlotte (CLT)
- Phoenix (PHX) to Seattle (SEA)
- Newark (EWR) to Seattle (SEA)
- San Francisco (SFO) to Seattle (SEA)
- Houston (IAH) to Seattle (SEA)
- Boston (BOS) to Seattle (SEA)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Seattle (SEA)
- Minneapolis (MSP) to Seattle (SEA)
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 Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
About 2h 25m gate to gate for the 955-mile trip.
How far is Seattle (SEA) from Los Angeles (LAX)?
955 miles (830 nautical miles, 1,537 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
Usually 7 facilities: Seattle-Tacoma Tower (SEA), Seattle TRACON (S46), Seattle ARTCC (ZSE), Oakland ARTCC (ZOA), 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 Seattle (SEA) and Los Angeles (LAX)?
No. Seattle (SEA) and Los Angeles (LAX) are in the same time zone.