Los Angeles → Seattle
Part 135 on-demand charter · Los Angeles departures · Seattle arrivals
Expect $19K–$26K for this route, assuming mid-week, shoulder season travel. Flight time ranges from 2h 2m–2h 5m depending on aircraft type and headwinds.
Estimates based on Q2 2026 market data. Actual quotes vary by availability and demand.
Part 135 is the FAA standard for on-demand charter operations: ATP-rated crews, certified aircraft, and direct safety accountability.
Top 3 Aircraft: Los Angeles to Seattle
Phenom 300E
Embraer · Light Jet
“818 nm is a comfortable day for the Phenom with plenty of fuel reserves. Boeing Field is a sea-level airport with a 10,000-foot runway. No performance concerns on arrival or departure. For 2-5 passengers on a business trip, the Phenom covers this route efficiently. Save the bigger cabin for a longer flight.”
Citation Latitude
Cessna · Midsize Jet
“On a 2-hour flight, the Latitude's flat-floor cabin and stand-up headroom turn the trip into a working session. 127 cubic feet of baggage handles anything a business group brings. If you are traveling with 5-7 people or want to work during the flight, the Latitude is worth the step up.”
Challenger 350
Bombardier · Super-Midsize Jet
“The widest cabin in super-midsize class. Full galley, full lavatory. For groups of 8+ or when the 2-hour flight doubles as a team meeting, the Challenger gives everyone space. Boeing Field handles the Challenger without a second thought.”
818 nautical miles, roughly 2 hours gate to gate. Boeing Field (KBFI) is the private aviation airport for Seattle. Sea-level elevation, 10,000-foot runway, no operational complications. The Pacific Northwest weather is the variable. Seattle sees 150+ overcast days per year, but KBFI has ILS approaches and the cloud ceiling rarely drops below minimums. Your crew will file an alternate, but diversions are uncommon. The Phenom handles this route with ease and saves you $2,500 over the Latitude.
The LA-Seattle corridor has a pattern. Tech executives fly up Monday morning for meetings in Bellevue or downtown Seattle. They land at Boeing Field, 5 miles from downtown. A car meets them on the ramp. They are in their first meeting before 10 AM. The return flight Tuesday or Wednesday is the same in reverse. I have seen clients try SeaTac (KSEA) to save money on ground transportation. The airline congestion, taxi delays, and gate wait times cost them more in time than they saved. Boeing Field exists for this reason.
Seattle weather gets a bad reputation, but it rarely shuts down the airport. The rain is steady drizzle, not thunderstorms. Cloud ceilings sit at 2,000-3,000 feet most of winter. Every charter aircraft on this route has ILS capability, and Boeing Field's approaches are standard. What catches people is the short winter days. If you depart LA at 3 PM in December, you are landing in Seattle at 5 PM in the dark. Plan around daylight if weather is marginal. Morning departures give your crew the most options.
Departure Airports from Los Angeles
| Airport | Code | Distance from Loop | FBO | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Nuys Airport | KVNY | 20 mi | Signature Flight Support | Default for Seattle business trips. Handles all aircraft types for the Pacific Northwest corridor. |
| Hollywood Burbank Airport | KBUR | 12 mi | Atlantic Aviation | Closest to downtown LA and Hollywood for Seattle-bound flights. |
| John Wayne Airport | KSNA | 40 mi | ACI Jet | Orange County departures to Seattle. Avoids the drive to Van Nuys. |
Boeing Field/King County International (KBFI)
Boeing Field is Seattle's private aviation airport. 5 miles from downtown, 10 miles from Bellevue, and zero airline congestion. The 10,000-foot runway at 21 feet elevation handles any charter aircraft. Seattle's overcast weather is steady but rarely below ILS minimums. The airport operates 24 hours with no curfew or slot restrictions. Ground transportation to downtown Seattle takes 15 minutes. Bellevue and the Eastside take 20-25 minutes.
Alternative: Paine Field (KPAE)
30 mi north from Seattle. North Seattle and Bellevue access.
Seasonal Pricing: Los Angeles to Seattle
Fall tech conference season and return from summer drive demand on the LA-Seattle corridor. Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing meetings fill the calendar.
Holiday travel between LA and Seattle picks up in December. Short winter days mean earlier departure times for daylight arrivals.
Base pricing. Seattle weather is at its grayest, but operations continue normally. Low overcast ceilings with ILS approaches keep flights on schedule.
Seattle in summer is one of the best destinations in the country. Clear skies, 75-degree days, and long daylight hours. Leisure demand adds 10-15% to pricing.
Flight Operations into KBFI
Boeing Field is operationally simple. Sea-level elevation, 10,000-foot runway, ILS approaches. Seattle weather is overcast and drizzly October through May, but ceilings rarely drop below ILS minimums. Thunderstorms are rare. The main consideration is winter darkness. Seattle in December has sunrise after 7:30 AM and sunset before 4:30 PM. If you are landing after 4 PM in winter, you are landing in the dark. Plan morning departures for the most options. Ground transportation to downtown Seattle runs 15 minutes in normal traffic, 25+ minutes during rush hour. The drive to Bellevue and the Eastside takes 20-25 minutes via I-90.
Round-Trip Cost: $32K
A same-day round trip is feasible at 818 nm. Roughly 4.5 hours of total block time leaves 5-6 hours on the ground within crew duty limits. It works for a meeting day. For anything longer, plan an overnight.
Pre-Flight Briefing: Seattle
How much does a Los Angeles to Seattle charter cost?
A Phenom 300E runs around $18,500 in shoulder season. The Citation Latitude steps up to $21,000. The Challenger 350 comes in at $25,500. Fall business season adds 15-20%. All prices are all-in estimates.
How long is the flight from LA to Seattle?
2 hours 2 minutes to 2 hours 5 minutes depending on aircraft and winds. Distance is 818 nautical miles. Northbound flights face headwinds that can add 10-15 minutes. Southbound returns are typically faster.
Does Seattle weather affect charter flights?
Rarely. Seattle is overcast and drizzly, not stormy. Cloud ceilings sit at 2,000-3,000 feet most of winter. Every charter aircraft has ILS capability, and Boeing Field's approaches handle low weather. Diversions are uncommon.
Boeing Field vs Paine Field: which airport?
Boeing Field (KBFI) is 5 miles from downtown Seattle and the default for charter traffic. Paine Field (KPAE) is 30 miles north, closer to Everett and north Bellevue. For downtown Seattle or standard Eastside access, KBFI wins.
Can I do a same-day round trip to Seattle?
Yes. About 4.5 hours of total block time, leaving 5-6 hours on the ground. Works for a meeting day or a quick site visit. Plan morning departure from LA for maximum ground time in Seattle.
Los Angeles to Seattle: 818 nm, 2h 02m to 2h 05m. Phenom 300E, Citation Latitude, or Challenger 350. $18.5K to $25.5K base pricing. Boeing Field (KBFI) is 5 miles from downtown Seattle with no restrictions. Pacific Northwest weather is overcast but rarely below minimums. Fall business season drives peak pricing. Paine Field (KPAE) serves as an alternative for north Seattle access. Same-day round trips are feasible.
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Phelipe
ATP-Rated Airline Pilot · E175 Type Rating · CFI/CFII/MEI · 7+ Years Aviation
Verify Airman CertificateData sources: Pricing: Aviapages Q2 2026 · Airport data: FAA NASR · Aircraft performance: Published POH · Analysis: ATP-rated airline pilot