When is the Los Angeles to Honolulu 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 HNL Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to Honolulu flight turbulent?

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

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to HNL?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 737 · Airbus A330 · Boeing 767, that's rows 18–28. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The LAX to HNL flight takes approximately 5h 40m, covering 2,942 miles at 36,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

LAX

→

HNL

Los Angeles · Honolulu · 5h 40m

Turb Score

5h 40m

Duration

2,556 nm

Distance

36,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Light

Typical

⚠️ Light turbulence today

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LAX–HNL

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h5h 40m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–HNL route

The Los Angeles to Honolulu route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 2,942 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 Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines on Boeing 737 · Airbus A330 · Boeing 767 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 36,000 feet over a distance of 2,942 miles (2,556 nautical miles).

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

Los Angeles to Honolulu Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to HNL?

5h 40m

Flight Time

2,942 mi

Distance

36,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 737

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL) flight takes approximately 5h 40m, covering 2,942 miles (2,556 nautical miles) at 36,000 feet. The route is operated by Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines. Return flights (HNL 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–HNL

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–HNL

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–HNL

Boeing 767

Front

Rows 1–17

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 18–28

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 29+

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

SFO → HNL

San Francisco → Honolulu

Los Angeles → San Francisco

Light

JFK → LAX

New York → Los Angeles

See all transpacific flights →

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

A few bumpy patches mid-Pacific, lasted maybe half an hour total. Drink service was paused briefly. Not unusual for this time of year.

Frequent flyer · April

Flew Los Angeles–Honolulu in April, had some light turbulence in the middle portion of the flight. Brief and nothing concerning. This route is usually fine.

Business traveler · April

The 5h 40m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · January

All LAX routes→ All HNL routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to Honolulu flight turbulent?

The LAX–HNL route typically experiences light turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps. The turbulence score for this route is 38/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX to HNL?

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 LAX to HNL?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 767 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 18–28. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LAX to HNL?

The LAX to HNL flight takes approximately 5h 40m, covering 2,942 miles (2,556 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to HNL?

The main airlines operating this route are Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, flying Boeing 737 · Airbus A330 · Boeing 767 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