When is the Los Angeles to Sydney 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 SYD Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to Sydney flight turbulent?

The LAX–SYD route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to SYD?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 787 · Airbus A350, that's rows 20–35. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

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

The LAX to SYD flight takes approximately 15h 25m, covering 8,620 miles at 39,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

LAX

→

SYD

Los Angeles · Sydney · 15h 25m

Turb Score

15h 25m

Duration

7,488 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–SYD

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h15h 25m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–SYD route

The Los Angeles to Sydney route spans the Pacific Ocean — one of the longest commercial flight paths in the world at 8,620 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 Qantas, United Airlines on Boeing 787 · Airbus A350 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 39,000 feet over a distance of 8,620 miles (7,488 nautical miles).

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

Los Angeles to Sydney Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to SYD?

15h 25m

Flight Time

8,620 mi

Distance

39,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 787

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) flight takes approximately 15h 25m, covering 8,620 miles (7,488 nautical miles) at 39,000 feet. The route is operated by Qantas, United Airlines. Return flights (SYD 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–SYD

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–SYD

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–SYD

Boeing 787

Front

Rows 1–19

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 20–35

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 36+

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

LAX → SIN

Los Angeles → Singapore

San Francisco → Tokyo

Moderate

LAX → HNL

Los Angeles → Honolulu

Light

SFO → LHR

San Francisco → London

See all transpacific flights →

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Passenger Reports

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

Business traveler · January

The 15h 25m flight had some light shaking around the halfway point. Nothing spilled, nobody panicked. Just normal flying.

Leisure traveler · September

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

Frequent flyer · March

All LAX routes→ All SYD routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to Sydney flight turbulent?

The LAX–SYD route typically experiences light turbulence. Moderate turbulence expected — fasten seatbelt when seated. The turbulence score for this route is 55/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX to SYD?

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 SYD?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 787 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 20–35. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LAX to SYD?

The LAX to SYD flight takes approximately 15h 25m, covering 8,620 miles (7,488 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to SYD?

The main airlines operating this route are Qantas, United Airlines, flying Boeing 787 · 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