I recently flew another transpacific flight from the U.S. to Japan, this time from Chicago O’Hare. Much like my many other transpacific flights, this flight took me over Northern Canada and Alaska, and I was fortunate enough to meet the northern lights again, the second time this year from an airplane.
This marked the fourth total time I’ve seen the aurora in the air. Once in August 2022, again in January 2024, and again in March 2025.
My recent sighting in March 2025 was particularly impressive, which I wrote a separate post on.
This time, I flew on Japan Airlines flight JL9 from Chicago O’Hare to Tokyo Haneda. The flight departed an hour late at 6:30 p.m. and arrived at 11 p.m. It was a night flight, and it was dark out for the entire duration.
The flight took us over Northern Canada and over Alaska, passing right by Anchorage.
A look at NOAA’s aurora forecast prior to departure told me that I had a good chance of being able to see them, thanks to some higher-than-normal solar activity.
Related: How to View the Northern Lights From a Flight
I was in First Class on this flight, on Japan Airlines’ older Boeing 777-300ER. I’ll have another post on this flight in the coming days.
After a fantastic dinner, the flight attendants made my bed in the seat in front of me. I made myself comfortable and began looking out of the window.
Sure enough, they were there:
The aurora was shining brightly, easily visible to the naked eye. I began seeing them about 3 and a half hours after departure, somewhere over Canada. They’d stick around with us for much of the flight, until after we passed Anchorage, Alaska.
Unreal.
It was an incredible feeling. I was lying down in bed with the windows open, just watching the Northern Lights dance across the cold Canadian night sky:
In a way, the view was also humbling. It reminded me of how fortunate I am to be in that position. I am no way near perfect, but I definitely have to be grateful for the sheer concept of lying down in bed, watching the aurora, all while on a transpacific trip I do many times a year.
I love long-haul flying between the U.S. and Japan, and views like this remind me of why I love it so much.
Now this is luxury.
All photos taken by the author.
