When is the Auckland to Los Angeles route most turbulent?

See the monthly chart above for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical and Caribbean routes peak during monsoon season (Jul–Sep).

What aircraft operates the AKL to LAX route?

The AKL–LAX route is typically operated by Boeing 787 · Boeing 777. Airlines include Air New Zealand, United Airlines, Qantas.

Is turbulence on AKL to LAX dangerous?

No — turbulence on the AKL–LAX route is not dangerous to the aircraft. Modern commercial aircraft are built to withstand far more stress than any turbulence encountered. The main risk is to unbelted passengers. Always keep your seatbelt fastened when seated.

How can I check turbulence before my AKL to LAX flight?

Use the Turbulence Forecast app (iOS & Android) for real-time PIREPs, SIGMET alerts, and AI-powered forecasts for the AKL–LAX route. The app shows minute-by-minute turbulence timing for your specific flight date.

AKL to LAX Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Auckland to Los Angeles flight turbulent?

The AKL–LAX route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on AKL to LAX?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 787 · Boeing 777, that's rows 20–36. Avoid the rear of the aircraft where turbulence is felt most.

Q: How long is the flight from AKL to LAX?

The AKL to LAX flight takes approximately 12h 30m, covering 6,633 miles (5,765 nautical miles) at a cruising altitude of 39,000 feet.

Is the Auckland to Los Angeles flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

AKL

→

LAX

Auckland · Los Angeles · 12h 30m

Turb Score

12h 30m

Duration

5,765 nm

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for AKL–LAX

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h12h 30m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the AKL–LAX route

The Auckland to Los Angeles route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 6,633 miles. The Pacific jet stream creates moderate turbulence, typically around 3–7 hours into the flight. The sheer length of the route means passengers experience varying conditions: calm stretches punctuated by bumpy patches.

The route is served by Air New Zealand, United Airlines, Qantas on Boeing 787 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 39,000 feet over a distance of 6,633 miles (5,765 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion.

Auckland to Los Angeles Flight Time

How long is the flight from AKL to LAX?

12h 30m

Flight Time

6,633 mi

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 787

Aircraft

The Auckland (AKL) to Los Angeles (LAX) flight takes approximately 12h 30m, covering 6,633 miles (5,765 nautical miles) at 39,000 feet. The route is operated by Air New Zealand, United Airlines, Qantas. Return flights (LAX to AKL) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on AKL–LAX

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly AKL–LAX

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on AKL–LAX

Boeing 787

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20–36

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 37+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

LAX → AKL

Los Angeles → Auckland

Auckland → San Francisco

Light

SFO → AKL

San Francisco → Auckland

Light

SFO → NRT

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

See all transpacific flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

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Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

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Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

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Passenger Reports

A few bumpy patches somewhere over the ocean, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.

Frequent flyer · January

The 12h 30m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · June

There was some noticeable movement somewhere over the ocean that made me grip the armrest. My seatmate (clearly a regular) didn't even look up from their book. Perspective.

First-time flyer · March

All AKL routes→ All LAX routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Auckland to Los Angeles flight turbulent?

The AKL–LAX route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 50/100.

When is turbulence worst on AKL to LAX?

Long flight — turbulence varies throughout. Wing seats significantly reduce motion. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on AKL to LAX?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–36. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from AKL to LAX?

The AKL to LAX flight takes approximately 12h 30m, covering 6,633 miles (5,765 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly AKL to LAX?

The main airlines operating this route are Air New Zealand, United Airlines, Qantas, flying Boeing 787 · Boeing 777 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data