Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Detroit to Phoenix. Right-side seats win both segments—Detroit River departure views and Phoenix desert-to-urban transition on arrival. The route itself (southwest across the Great Lakes, then over the Great Plains and into Arizona) offers more dramatic geography on the right side during both critical flight phases.

During takeoff from Detroit City (DET), sit on the Right side for the best views. Detroit City Airport typically departs eastbound (Runway 9) or westbound (Runway 27). Westbound departures favor right-side views of the Detroit River and Windsor, Ontario across the water. Right seats capture the immediate urban-water interface as you climb out over the strait. Notable sights include: Detroit River (immediate foreground), Windsor skyline across the water to the north, Lake St. Clair appearing as you gain altitude to the northeast, Belle Isle in the river below.

When landing at Luke Afb (LUF), sit on the Right side for the best views. Luke AFB is located northwest of Phoenix. Typical approach vectors bring aircraft from the east or northeast. Right-side seats on descent into Phoenix capture the dramatic transition from the Sonoran Desert to the sprawling Phoenix metropolitan area, with the White Tank Mountains visible to the west. Notable sights include: White Tank Mountains (western horizon), Phoenix metropolitan sprawl filling the valley floor, Lake Pleasant to the north appearing as a blue reservoir, the Salt River valley defining the terrain.

The flight from Detroit City (DET) to Luke Afb (LUF) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes.

The flight path crosses Lake Michigan's eastern shore, then traverses the Great Plains of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas. The Mississippi River valley is visible mid-flight. As you approach Arizona, the Rocky Mountain foothills appear on the left (north) around New Mexico, while the Sonoran Desert dominates the right (south) approach into Phoenix.