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Lihue to San Jose Flight Distance

Lihue Airport (LIH) to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)

Medium HaulNortheast (56°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

Loading globe...

2,466
Miles
3,969
Kilometers
2,143
Nautical miles
5h 20m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale3,969 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

LIH
Origin
Lihue Airport
Lihue, United States
21.9760°, -159.3390°
SJC
Destination
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport
San Jose, United States
37.3626°, -121.9290°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 2,466 miles, this medium-haul flight will take approximately 5h 20m. Consider bringing a book or downloading entertainment for the journey.

Time Adjustment: San Jose is 3 hours ahead of Lihue. Expect mild jet lag with 1-2 days to fully adjust.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 595 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs—planting 54 trees could offset this flight.

Flight Options: 2 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)2,466 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)3,969 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)2,143 nmAviation standard
Flight Time5h 20mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationMEDIUM HAULMedium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Flight Direction56° NENortheast
Cruising Altitude37,000 ftFL370 (11,278 m)
Time Difference+3hJet lag: mild
CO2 (Economy)595 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)1727 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)2381 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset54Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger119 L~21,420 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines2Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the left side for views with less sun glare on this northeast flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Bring entertainment, snacks, and a neck pillow for comfort.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 595 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 54 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
LIH
DEPARTURE

Lihue Airport

Lihue, United States

IATA / ICAO
LIH / PHLI
Elevation
153 ft (47 m)
Local Time
09:58 AM
GMT-10
Coordinates
21.9760°, -159.3390°
View full airport details
SJC
ARRIVAL+3h from departure

Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport

San Jose, United States

IATA / ICAO
SJC / KSJC
Elevation
62 ft (19 m)
Local Time
12:58 PM
GMT-7
Coordinates
37.3626°, -121.9290°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

2 airlines operate flights between Lihue and San Jose.

AS
Alaska Airlines
ALASKA
AA
American Airlines
United States

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
37,000 ft (11,278 m)
FL370
Flight Direction
Northeast
Initial bearing: 56°
Route Type
Medium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A321Boeing 737 MAXAirbus A320neo
Fuel Consumption
119 L per passenger
~21,420 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
Route stays within the Northern Hemisphere
Both airports are in the Northern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
31° 0' 57.9" N
31.0161°
Longitude
142° 7' 35.6" W
-142.1265°
Halfway Point
1,233 mi
160 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
595 kg
CO2e: 1131 kg
Premium Economy
953 kg
CO2e: 1810 kg
Business
1727 kg
CO2e: 3280 kg
First Class
2381 kg
CO2e: 4525 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 54 trees.Equivalent to 1.1 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
mild
Recovery time: ~2 days
Time Zone Change
3 hours forward
Flying eastward
Tips for This Journey
  • Adjust sleep schedule 1-2 hours before departure
  • Stay hydrated during the flight
  • Get sunlight exposure at destination

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
left Side
Sun will be on the right (south) side during daytime
Recommendation
Left window for views away from sun glare, right for warmth

Distance in Perspective

1
9.9% of Earth's circumference
2
97 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Similar to Los Angeles to New York (3,944 km)
4
3.2 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles2,466 mi
Kilometers3,969 km
Nautical Miles2,143 nm
Meters3,969,000 m
Feet13,020,480 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)5h 20m

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 3,969 km between Lihue and San Jose at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h5h 20m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h7h 56m
Bullet Train320 km/h12h 24m
Car (highway)100 km/h39h 41m
Walking5 km/h794h (33 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h3h 13m

Round Trip Summary

4,932
total miles
7,938
total km
10h 40m
total flight time
1,190
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: SJC to LIH

Quick Facts

Distance2,466 mi
Flight Time5h 20m
Route Typemedium haul
DirectionNE
AltitudeFL370
Time Diff+3h
CO2 (Economy)595 kg
Airlines2

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Lihue from San Jose?

The flight distance from Lihue Airport (LIH) to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) is 2,466 miles (3,969 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 5h 20m. This is a medium-haul flight typically cruising at 37,000 feet (FL370).

What is the time difference?

San Jose is 3 hours ahead of Lihue. Expect mild jet lag with ~2 days recovery time.

What airlines fly this route?

2 airlines operate this route: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 595 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 1727 kg. First class: 2381 kg. Offset with ~54 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this Northeast flight, the left side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Lihue to San Jose instead of flying?

Driving is not practical for this 3,969 km distance. It would theoretically take over 50 hours of driving. Flying at 5h 20m is the recommended option.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This medium-haul route is typically served by Airbus A321, Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo aircraft. A mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft may operate this route depending on demand.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 595 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 54 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route