Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Atlanta to Phoenix. While the right side wins at takeoff for Atlanta city views, the left side dominates the majority of the flight. Once airborne and heading west, the left side tracks the southern view corridor over Alabama, Mississippi, and into the dramatic terrain of eastern Arizona including the White Mountains and Mogollon Rim. The Phoenix approach on the left also delivers the most visually interesting desert mountain scenery.

During takeoff from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL), sit on the Right side for the best views. ATL typically departs westbound on runways 26L/26R or 27L/27R, so the right side faces north and gives you a clear view back over downtown Atlanta's skyline as you climb out. You can track the city grid and Midtown towers before the aircraft turns westward. Notable sights include: Downtown Atlanta skyline, Stone Mountain (visible to the northeast as a distinctive granite dome), Lake Allatoona to the northwest, Chattahoochee River corridor.

When landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Left side for the best views. PHX typically lands eastbound on runways 07L/07R or westbound on 25L/25R depending on wind. On the dominant westbound approach (runway 26), the left side faces south and gives you the best view of South Mountain Park, the Salt River bed, and the broad Phoenix metro grid. On the less common eastbound approach, the left side still captures the downtown Phoenix skyline and Camelback Mountain. Notable sights include: Camelback Mountain, South Mountain Park, downtown Phoenix skyline, Salt River bed (dry braided channel visible as pale sandy corridor).

The flight from The William B Hartsfield Atlanta International (ATL) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) takes Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.

The flight crosses central Alabama and Mississippi (flat agricultural lowlands), the broad Mississippi River near Jackson MS, then the pine forests of eastern Texas give way to the arid scrubland of west Texas. Over New Mexico the terrain rises noticeably with the Sacramento Mountains and Guadalupe Mountains visible. Entering Arizona, the White Mountains and the dramatic escarpment of the Mogollon Rim are visible, followed by the Tonto Basin and the transition into the Sonoran Desert approaching Phoenix.