Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Fresno to Chicago. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. Departing Fresno you get the Sierra Nevada, and arriving Chicago you get the city skyline and Lake Michigan. The mid-flight view over the Rockies and Great Basin is roughly equal on both sides, so the left seat has a clear advantage overall.

During takeoff from Fresno Yosemite International (FAT), sit on the Left side for the best views. Fresno typically departs northeast on runway 29L/R or southeast on runway 11, then turns east toward the Sierra Nevada. A left window seat gives you a direct view of the Sierra Nevada range including the Kings Canyon and Sequoia high country as the aircraft climbs and banks northeast. The Central Valley's flat agricultural grid is also clearly visible to the left before the mountains dominate. Notable sights include: Sierra Nevada crest (Kings Canyon/Sequoia high country), San Joaquin Valley agricultural grid, Kings River drainage cutting into the foothills.

When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. O'Hare arrivals from the west typically use runways oriented east-west (9L/9R or 10L/10R), meaning the aircraft approaches from the west over the Chicago suburbs. A left seat on approach gives you a clear view of downtown Chicago's skyline to the south, Lake Michigan's shoreline, and the dense urban grid of the North Side. The right side faces northwest into flat suburban sprawl with little of interest. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline (Willis Tower, John Hancock), Lake Michigan shoreline, North Side urban grid, O'Hare's runway complex.

The flight from Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 50 minutes.

After clearing the Sierra Nevada, the route crosses the Great Basin desert of Nevada and Utah with the Wasatch Range visible near Salt Lake City. Over Colorado and Wyoming the southern Rocky Mountain ranges appear, including the Uinta Mountains. The flight then crosses the high plains of Nebraska and Iowa — largely flat with the Platte River valley visible — before descending into the Chicago metro area.