Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Bakersfield to Phoenix. The right side captures the dramatic Tehachapi Mountain crossing on departure and then tracks the Mojave Desert transition and eventually the approach into the Phoenix basin from the north side. While the left side wins on landing, the right side delivers more varied scenery across the full flight including the Mojave Desert floor, Joshua tree country, and the western Arizona desert ranges.

During takeoff from Meadows Fld (BFL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Meadows Field typically departs runway 30 (heading northwest), so a right-side seat looks south and east toward the southern San Joaquin Valley floor and the Tehachapi Mountains rising beyond Bakersfield. You get a clear view of the valley's agricultural patchwork and the mountain wall that separates the Central Valley from the Mojave. Notable sights include: Tehachapi Mountains to the southeast, southern San Joaquin Valley agricultural grid, Kern River oil fields east of Bakersfield, Bakersfield city grid below.

When landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Left side for the best views. Phoenix Sky Harbor primarily uses runways 26L/26R for westerly arrivals, meaning the approach comes from the east. A left-side seat on approach faces south toward South Mountain Park and the broad Phoenix metro grid, while also catching the Salt River valley and Superstition Mountains to the east during the descent. This gives the better urban and mountain panorama on final. Notable sights include: Superstition Mountains to the east, South Mountain Park and preserve, Phoenix metro grid and downtown skyline, Salt River bed and Tempe Town Lake.

The flight from Meadows Fld (BFL) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) takes Approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.

After crossing the Tehachapi Mountains, the route traverses the western Mojave Desert with its dry lake beds and sparse scrub. The flight passes over or near the Antelope Valley, then crosses into Arizona over the lower Colorado River desert. The Harquahala Mountains and Hassayampa River plain are visible before the Phoenix Basin opens up on descent.