When is the Los Angeles to Zurich 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 ZRH Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to Zurich flight turbulent?

The LAX–ZRH route typically experiences moderate turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to ZRH?

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 ZRH?

The LAX to ZRH flight takes approximately 11h 45m, covering 5,925 miles at 37,000 feet.

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

Live forecast

LAX

→

ZRH

Los Angeles · Zurich · 11h 45m

60.4

Turb Score

11h 45m

Duration

5,148 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–ZRH

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h11h 45m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–ZRH route

The Los Angeles to Zurich 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 5,925 miles (5,148 nautical miles).

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

Los Angeles to Zurich Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to ZRH?

11h 45m

Flight Time

5,925 mi

Distance

37,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 777

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to Zurich (ZRH) flight takes approximately 11h 45m, covering 5,925 miles (5,148 nautical miles) at 37,000 feet. The route is operated by American Airlines, United, Delta. Return flights (ZRH 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–ZRH

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–ZRH

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–ZRH

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

The mid-Atlantic 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 45m flight but we landed fine.

Solo traveler · May

More turbulent than I expected. The over the North Atlantic section was pretty rough — overhead bins rattling, some gasps from other passengers. Died down before landing.

Leisure traveler · February

Moderate turbulence over the Atlantic — 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 ZRH routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to Zurich flight turbulent?

The LAX–ZRH route typically experiences moderate turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 60.4/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX to ZRH?

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 ZRH?

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 ZRH?

The LAX to ZRH flight takes approximately 11h 45m, covering 5,925 miles (5,148 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to ZRH?

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