How to Experience the Northern Lights While Flying

Travel writer Kelly Lewis was soaring over Canada's eastern coastline, close to Greenland, when she noticed something through her window: a dazzling display of colors flickering across the night sky. It could only be the northern lights.

“Watching the lights dance outside my window was enchanting,” Lewis remarked. “Seeing them swirl around the wing truly felt like a magnificent gift.”

Around 1 a.m. on Lewis’s flight, there was no announcement from the pilot or crew about the solar spectacle occurring outside. She scanned the cabin, hoping to catch someone’s gaze to share the sight, but most passengers were asleep—she was among the few fortunate enough to witness the natural wonder.

Despite her good fortune, spotting the northern lights on a commercial flight is relatively easy (well, easier), thanks to a few factors—you’re above the clouds, and there's no light pollution. The coming years will bring particularly vibrant displays as we near solar maximum, a period when auroras are especially lively.

Here’s what you should know about viewing the northern lights from cruising altitude: the best side of the plane to choose, the optimal flight paths, and how an aerial display of the aurora differs from ground observations.

Where in the world can you catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis from an airplane?

The northern lights manifest within the auroral oval, a ring-shaped area primarily situated above the Arctic Circle. To witness the aurora borealis, you'll need to be in or near this zone.

“If we consider geographical latitudes, the zone between 60 and 75 degrees is the most promising,” stated Finnair Fleet Captain Tomi Tervo to Dinogo, adding that within this range, “auroras can be spotted more than half the nights of the year.”

Northern lights can only be seen when it’s dark—if you hope to glimpse them from a plane, you’ll need to fly at night (particularly in winter, as the sun doesn’t set in the polar regions during summer). Your chances are also better on a moonless night compared to a full moon. The brighter the moon, the more challenging it is to see faint auroras. Additionally, cabin lights can hinder your view, as the auroras will compete with interior lighting. You'll need to wait for the cabin lights to dim to truly see outside.

Flight paths for viewing the northern lights

Richard Tresch Fienberg, senior contributing editor at Sky & Telescope magazine and a senior advisor for the American Astronomical Society, shared with Dinogo that the best chances of spotting the northern lights from an airplane occur during intercontinental flights over the Arctic or on flights that start or conclude at airports in far-northern locations (think Iceland, Scandinavia, Alaska, Canada’s northern territories, and Siberia).

Tervo mentioned that, at least within Finnair’s network, the most vivid auroras are typically observed over Canada and the North Atlantic, especially on westbound flights.

If he had to select a single route, Tervo believes that the flight from Los Angeles to Helsinki offers the greatest probability. This flight departs in the early evening, and as cabin lights are dimmed after the initial service, they are usually flying over Canada. “In that area, I have personally witnessed the most stunning auroras,” Tervo noted.

Best seat selection on a plane for viewing the northern lights

Fienberg suggests selecting a seat either just ahead of or behind the wing to ensure an unobstructed view.

“Since you’re likely to observe auroras towards the north, you should sit on the north-facing side of the aircraft,” Fienberg advised. “That would be the left side when flying west to east and the right side when flying east to west. And definitely opt for a window seat, so you won’t have to lean over your fellow passengers to see outside.”

How viewing the northern lights from an airplane contrasts with seeing them on the ground

Although Lewis had previously experienced the aurora borealis from the ground in Alaska and Iceland, she remarked that witnessing the shimmering green curtains from a plane felt entirely different. Instead of looking up at the northern lights, they surrounded her.

“Being surrounded by the northern lights was absolutely surreal,” Lewis expressed.

Since the auroral displays occur at altitudes ranging from 80 to 500 kilometers above the Earth, they are impossible to see during cloudy nights. However, cloud cover doesn’t impede aurora visibility from airplanes, as they typically fly above the clouds.

“The lack of light pollution and being above the clouds can significantly enhance the likelihood and intensity of the visual experience,” Tervo noted.

It’s important to remember that while aurora enthusiasts on the ground enjoy a 360-degree view of the night sky, from an airplane you can only see what is outside your window.

Tips for photographing the northern lights from a plane

“It’s crucial to block any light that might hit the window, as this will cause reflections and hinder your ability to capture the view outside,” astrophotographer “Aurora” Dora Redman advised Dinogo. Ideally, Redman suggested that if you're traveling with someone, they can hold a jacket or blanket over your head and the window to create a small darkroom effect.

Redman suggested that you should press the camera lens (or phone lens) against the window as flat as possible; otherwise, reflections are likely. This technique can help steady your hands, making it easier to capture sharp photos of the celestial display.