When is the Los Angeles to Rome 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 FCO Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to Rome flight turbulent?

The LAX–FCO route typically experiences moderate turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to FCO?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 777 · Airbus A350, that's rows 20–38. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The LAX to FCO flight takes approximately 12h 30m, covering 6,340 miles at 37,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

LAX

→

FCO

Los Angeles · Rome · 12h 30m

50.7

Turb Score

12h 30m

Duration

5,510 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 LAX–FCO

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h12h 30m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–FCO route

The Los Angeles to Rome route crosses the North Atlantic, where the jet stream is the primary source of turbulence. Flying at 37,000 feet, the aircraft encounters the strongest bumps roughly 2–5 hours into the flight. This is clear-air turbulence — no clouds, no visual warning — which makes a pre-flight forecast especially valuable.

The route is served by American Airlines, United, Delta on Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 37,000 feet over a distance of 6,340 miles (5,510 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth.

Los Angeles to Rome Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to FCO?

12h 30m

Flight Time

6,340 mi

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to Rome (FCO) flight takes approximately 12h 30m, covering 6,340 miles (5,510 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by American Airlines, United, Delta. Return flights (FCO to LAX) take a similar time, though westbound transatlantic and transpacific routes are typically 30–60 minutes longer due to headwinds.

Turbulence levels on LAX–FCO

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–FCO

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–FCO

Boeing 777

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20–38

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 39+

Rougher

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

What you'll see in the app

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Passenger Reports

This was genuinely difficult for me. Real bumps for a long stretch mid-Atlantic, seatbelt sign on for what felt like forever. The flight attendants were calm which helped. Got through it.

Nervous flyer · May

Flew this in November 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 · November

Rough patch crossing the jet stream in March — drinks went everywhere on the row behind me. Probably 45 minutes of actual turbulence. Nothing dangerous but definitely uncomfortable.

Business traveler · March

All LAX routes→ All FCO routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to Rome flight turbulent?

The LAX–FCO route typically experiences moderate turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 50.7/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX to FCO?

Turbulence peaks mid-flight over the Atlantic. First and last hour are usually smooth. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on LAX to FCO?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 777 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–38. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LAX to FCO?

The LAX to FCO flight takes approximately 12h 30m, covering 6,340 miles (5,510 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to FCO?

The main airlines operating this route are American Airlines, United, Delta, flying Boeing 777 · Airbus A350 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