When is the Los Angeles to Seoul 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 ICN Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to Seoul flight turbulent?

The LAX–ICN route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to ICN?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A380 · Boeing 777, that's rows 28–48. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The LAX to ICN flight takes approximately 12h 0m, covering 6,870 miles at 38,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

LAX

→

ICN

Los Angeles · Seoul · 12h 0m

Turb Score

12h 0m

Duration

5,969 nm

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Moderate

Typical

⚠️ Moderate turbulence today

Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free

Download free on the App Store Get it on Google Play

★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android

Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android · No sign-up

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LAX–ICN

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h12h 0m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–ICN route

The Los Angeles to Seoul route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 6,870 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 Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, United Airlines on Airbus A380 · Boeing 777 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 6,870 miles (5,969 nautical miles).

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

Los Angeles to Seoul Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to ICN?

12h 0m

Flight Time

6,870 mi

Distance

38,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A380

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to Seoul (ICN) flight takes approximately 12h 0m, covering 6,870 miles (5,969 nautical miles) at 38,000 feet. The route is operated by Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, United Airlines. Return flights (ICN 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–ICN

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

Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Best time to fly LAX–ICN

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–ICN

Airbus A380

Front

Rows 1–27

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 28–48

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 49+

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 → ICN

San Francisco → Seoul

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

LAX → HKG

Los Angeles → Hong Kong

Moderate

LAX → SIN

Los Angeles → Singapore

See all transpacific flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

→

Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

Clear-Air Turbulence

The invisible rough air that's increasing

→

Turbulence in 2025

Is turbulence getting worse?

→

Is Turbulence Dangerous?

What the safety data shows

→

Passenger Reports

Flew this in May 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 · May

The crossing the dateline 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 0m flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · June

Moderate turbulence crossing the dateline — 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 · March

All LAX routes→ All ICN routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to Seoul flight turbulent?

The LAX–ICN route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 60/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX to ICN?

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 ICN?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A380 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 28–48. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LAX to ICN?

The LAX to ICN flight takes approximately 12h 0m, covering 6,870 miles (5,969 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to ICN?

The main airlines operating this route are Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, United Airlines, 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