CTU to LAX Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Chengdu to Los Angeles flight turbulent?

The CTU–LAX route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on CTU to LAX?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a 228, that's rows 20-30. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The CTU to LAX flight takes approximately 12h 0min.

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

Live forecast

CTU

→

LAX

Chengdu · Los Angeles · 12h 0min

Turb Score

12h 0min

Duration

5,840 nm

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for CTU–LAX

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h12h 0min

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the CTU–LAX route

The Chengdu to Los Angeles route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 6,722 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 Sichuan Airlines, Air China on B · o · e · i · n · g · · 7 · 8 · 7 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 6,722 miles (5,840 nautical miles).

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

Turbulence levels on CTU–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 CTU–LAX

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on CTU–LAX

228

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20-30

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 31+

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

PEK → LAX

Beijing → Los Angeles

Moderate

CAN → LAX

Guangzhou → Los Angeles

See all transpacific flights →

Passenger Reports

The over the Pacific section was legitimately rough. I was holding on to the armrests. Lasted maybe 40 minutes. One of the flight attendants had to sit down. Not a fun 12h 0min flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · January

Flew this in September expecting smooth skies based on past experience, but it was noticeably bumpier than usual. About an hour of moderate chop. Seatbelt sign basically stayed on.

Regular traveler · September

Moderate turbulence somewhere over the ocean — the kind where you're glad you kept your seatbelt on. Lasted about 30-40 minutes, then smoothed out. I've had worse on transatlantic routes.

Frequent flyer · May

All CTU routes→ All LAX routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chengdu to Los Angeles flight turbulent?

The CTU–LAX route typically experiences moderate turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 5/100.

When is turbulence worst on CTU 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 CTU to LAX?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a 228 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20-30. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from CTU to LAX?

The CTU to LAX flight takes approximately 12h 0min, covering 6,722 miles (5,840 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly CTU to LAX?

The main airlines operating this route are Sichuan Airlines, Air China, flying B · o · e · i · n · g · · 7 · 8 · 7 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