Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Columbus to Phoenix. The right side wins overall because while the left side has a decent Columbus departure view, the right side delivers the dramatic Phoenix basin arrival with Camelback Mountain, South Mountain, and the Salt River all visible in sequence. Across the mid-flight the right side also faces south toward the Ozarks, Oklahoma plains, and eventually the New Mexico high desert terrain, which is more visually varied than the flat farmland on the left.

During takeoff from Port Columbus International (CMH), sit on the Left side for the best views. CMH typically departs west on runway 28L/28R, so a left (south-facing) window gives you a clear view of downtown Columbus and the Scioto River corridor as you climb out. You'll see the grid of the city center and the river bending southward before the aircraft turns toward its westerly heading. Notable sights include: Downtown Columbus skyline, Scioto River, Rickenbacker area to the southeast, Ohio State University campus to the northwest.

When landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. PHX predominantly lands from the east on runway 26 or from the west on runway 8, but the most common approach is from the east heading west. A right (north-facing) window on westbound approach gives you South Mountain Park and the Phoenix metro grid laid out clearly, plus the distinctive ridgeline of the White Tank Mountains to the northwest. If landing on 26, the right side also captures Camelback Mountain and the dense Scottsdale grid. Notable sights include: South Mountain Park, Camelback Mountain, Salt River bed, Phoenix street grid.

The flight from Port Columbus International (CMH) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) takes Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 50 minutes.

The flight tracks southwest across Indiana and Illinois farmland, then crosses the Mississippi River near St. Louis, continues over the Ozark Plateau in southern Missouri and Arkansas, crosses Oklahoma's red clay plains, then enters the Texas Panhandle before crossing into New Mexico over the Llano Estacado. The Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque may be visible to the south, and the White Mountains of eastern Arizona appear before descending into the Phoenix basin.