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LAX to NRT Turbulence Forecast

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

Live forecast
LAX
→
NRT
Los Angeles · Tokyo · 11h 30m
71
Turb Score
11h 30m
Duration
5,466 nm
Distance
38,000 ft
Cruise Alt.
Moderate
Typical
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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LAX–NRT

Smooth Light Moderate
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 30m
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Heavy

About the LAX–NRT route

The Los Angeles to Tokyo route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 6,292 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 Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, United Airlines on Boeing 777 · Boeing 787 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 38,000 feet over a distance of 6,292 miles (5,466 nautical miles).

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

Los Angeles to Tokyo Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to NRT?

11h 30m
Flight Time
6,292 mi
Distance
38,000 ft
Cruising Altitude
Boeing 777
Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo (NRT) flight takes approximately 11h 30m, covering 6,292 miles (5,466 nautical miles) at 38,000 feet. The route is operated by Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, United Airlines. Return flights (NRT 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–NRT

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–NRT

Turbulence by month

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smooth
Light
Moderate
Rough

Best seat on LAX–NRT

Boeing 777

Front
Rows 1–21
Light
✓ Wing
Rows 22–40
Smoothest
Rear
Rows 41+
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

LAX to NRT turbulence forecast app
Flight turbulence tracker
Real-time turbulence map

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Passenger Reports

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 11h 30m flight but we landed fine.
Solo traveler · May
Moderate turbulence over the Pacific — 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 · October
Rough patch mid-Pacific in April — drinks went everywhere on the row behind me. Probably 45 minutes of actual turbulence. Nothing dangerous but definitely uncomfortable.
Business traveler · April
All LAX routes→ All NRT routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to Tokyo flight turbulent?
The LAX–NRT route typically experiences moderate turbulence. Heavy turbulence likely — stay seated with seatbelt fastened. The turbulence score for this route is 71/100.
When is turbulence worst on LAX to NRT?
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 NRT?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 777 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 22–40. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from LAX to NRT?
The LAX to NRT flight takes approximately 11h 30m, covering 6,292 miles (5,466 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly LAX to NRT?
The main airlines operating this route are Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, United Airlines, flying Boeing 777 · Boeing 787 aircraft.

Data Sources

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data