Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Frankfurt to Chicago. Left side wins both ends of the flight. The Frankfurt departure gives Rhine valley and Taunus views, and the Chicago arrival over Lake Michigan with the downtown skyline profile is genuinely spectacular. Over the ocean the difference is minimal, but the bookend views make left the clear choice for this route.

During takeoff from Frankfurt Main (FRA), sit on the Left side for the best views. Frankfurt departures on runway 07L/07R head east before turning northwest, briefly putting the Rhine-Main region on the left. On the more common westerly departures from 25C/25L/25R, the left side gets the city of Frankfurt itself including the Sachsenhausen district and the Main River bends. As the aircraft banks north toward the transatlantic track, the left side picks up the Taunus hills and Rhine valley. Notable sights include: Frankfurt city center and Main River bends, Taunus hill range to the north, Rhine River valley near Mainz/Wiesbaden, Wiesbaden urban area.

When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Flights from Europe typically approach ORD from the northeast, often landing on runways 10L/10C/10R heading southeast or 28L/28C/28R heading northwest. On the common easterly approach over Lake Michigan, the left side faces south and picks up the Chicago lakefront, Grant Park, and the downtown skyline in profile before crossing the shore. This is one of the most dramatic urban approaches in North America. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline (Willis Tower, John Hancock) seen in profile from the lake, Lake Michigan shoreline and Grant Park, Wrigleyville and North Side grid, O'Hare's surrounding suburban sprawl.

The flight from Frankfurt Main (FRA) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours westbound.

Departure track crosses the Netherlands and exits Europe near the British Isles or Ireland depending on the North Atlantic Track system that day. The flight then crosses the North Atlantic at 35,000-39,000 feet, typically passing south of Greenland or over southern Greenland's ice sheet edge. Landfall is made over Newfoundland or Nova Scotia, then across Quebec and Ontario before descending over Lake Michigan into Chicago. The Great Lakes — particularly Lake Huron and Lake Michigan — are visible during descent on clear days.