Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Cleveland to Phoenix. The left side wins overall. The Lake Erie and Cleveland lakefront departure is genuinely spectacular and hard to beat. Through the cruise portion heading southwest, the left side also tracks closer to the Colorado Plateau's canyon country in northern Arizona and the Painted Desert region as you descend. The right side landing view at PHX is strong but the departure experience on the left is the highlight of this route.

During takeoff from Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departures from CLE typically use runway 24L/24R heading southwest, or runway 06/28. On a westbound departure toward PHX, the left side gives you a clear view of Lake Erie's southern shoreline and downtown Cleveland's lakefront. The right side faces inland toward suburban sprawl with little of interest. Notable sights include: Lake Erie southern shoreline, Cleveland downtown skyline and lakefront, Cuyahoga River valley, Burke Lakefront Airport.

When landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. Phoenix Sky Harbor sits just east of downtown Phoenix, and aircraft typically land on runways 26 or 25 approaching from the east. On approach from the east-northeast, the right side faces south and gives clear views of South Mountain Park, the broad Salt River valley, and the Phoenix metro grid spreading across the desert floor. The left side looks north toward Scottsdale and the McDowell Mountains but is partially obscured by the fuselage angle on final. Notable sights include: South Mountain Park and Preserve, Salt River bed, Phoenix downtown skyline, Tempe Town Lake.

The flight from Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.

The route crosses southern Indiana and Illinois farmland, the Mississippi River near St. Louis, the flat plains of Missouri and Oklahoma, then the Texas Panhandle. Approaching Arizona, the route crosses the Painted Desert and the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau, with the Mogollon Rim visible as a dramatic escarpment before descending into the Phoenix basin.