When is the Los Angeles to Dubai route most turbulent?

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

LAX to DXB Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to Dubai flight turbulent?

The LAX–DXB route typically experiences light turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to DXB?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A380 · Boeing 777, that's rows 32–50. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The LAX to DXB flight takes approximately 16h 0m, covering 9,364 miles at 39,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

LAX

→

DXB

Los Angeles · Dubai · 16h 0m

Turb Score

16h 0m

Duration

8,136 nm

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LAX–DXB

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h16h 0m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–DXB route

The Los Angeles to Dubai route heads southeast over Europe and the Middle East, covering 9,364 miles at 39,000 feet. This corridor is generally smooth — turbulence is most common over the Alps and occasionally over the Zagros Mountains in Iran. The approach into Dubai crosses dry, stable desert air which is typically calm.

The route is served by Emirates on Airbus A380 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 39,000 feet over a distance of 9,364 miles (8,136 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Generally smooth. Mountain ranges over Europe/Iran can cause brief turbulence.

Los Angeles to Dubai Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to DXB?

16h 0m

Flight Time

9,364 mi

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A380

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to Dubai (DXB) flight takes approximately 16h 0m, covering 9,364 miles (8,136 nautical miles) at 39,000 feet. The route is operated by Emirates. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on LAX–DXB

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 LAX–DXB

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–DXB

Airbus A380

Front

Rows 1–31

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 32–50

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 51+

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

Los Angeles → Singapore

Light

LAX → HKG

Los Angeles → Hong Kong

Moderate

LAX → DEL

Los Angeles → New Delhi

Light

LAX → BKK

Los Angeles → Bangkok

Light

See all middle east 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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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Some light chop over Turkey — seatbelt sign came on for maybe 20 minutes but nothing to worry about. Typical for this route in March.

Regular traveler · March

The 16h 0m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · August

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

First-time flyer · January

All LAX routes→ All DXB routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to Dubai flight turbulent?

The LAX–DXB route typically experiences light turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps. The turbulence score for this route is 45/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX to DXB?

Generally smooth. Mountain ranges over Europe/Iran can cause brief turbulence. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on LAX to DXB?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A380 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 32–50. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LAX to DXB?

The LAX to DXB flight takes approximately 16h 0m, covering 9,364 miles (8,136 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to DXB?

The main airlines operating this route are Emirates, flying Airbus A380 · 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