Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Cincinnati to Phoenix. The right side wins overall because the PHX arrival view of South Mountain, the Salt River, and the Phoenix grid is genuinely spectacular and hard to beat. During the cruise, the right side also picks up better views of the Ozarks, Oklahoma plains, and the New Mexico high desert transition. The left side has the better takeoff view, but the right side delivers more across the full flight.

During takeoff from Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International (CVG), sit on the Left side for the best views. CVG's primary departure runway 18L/36R sends westbound flights climbing out over the Ohio River valley. A left-side seat gives you a clear look back at the Cincinnati skyline across the river, with the Ohio River bends visible below. The Kentucky hills roll away to the south on the left side. Notable sights include: Ohio River bends south of Cincinnati, downtown Cincinnati skyline across the river, Kentucky bluegrass farmland patchwork, I-275 beltway arc.

When landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. PHX arrivals typically come in from the east on runway 26 or from the north on runway 8, with the approach over the Valley of the Sun. A right-side seat on westbound approach gives you South Mountain Park and the Estrella Mountains to the south, plus the dense Phoenix metro grid spreading out below. The approach over Tempe and Mesa on the right side is more visually interesting than the open desert to the north. Notable sights include: South Mountain Park and preserve, Estrella Mountains to the southwest, Tempe Town Lake and ASU campus, Salt River bed and its dry braided channels.

The flight from Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International (CVG) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) takes Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.

The flight tracks southwest over Kentucky and Tennessee briefly, then crosses the Mississippi River near Memphis, cuts across Arkansas and the Ozark Plateau, crosses Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, then traverses the New Mexico high desert and the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque before descending into Arizona. The Painted Desert and the transition from high desert plateau to the lower Sonoran Desert basin around Phoenix is visible in the final 45 minutes.