Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Seoul to Chicago. The left side misses the best of the Seoul departure but wins the Chicago arrival decisively with the Lake Michigan and Loop skyline view. Over the Pacific and Alaska, neither side has a consistent advantage, but the Chicago approach on the left is the single most dramatic moment of the flight.

During takeoff from Incheon International (ICN), sit on the Right side for the best views. ICN departures heading northeast (runway 33L/33R) put the right side facing Seoul city and the Han River. You get a clear look at the Han River delta, Gimpo area, and the urban sprawl of western Seoul spreading east. Notable sights include: Han River delta and tidal flats, Gimpo Airport to the northeast, western Seoul urban grid, Yellow Sea (West Sea) to the west visible briefly on left before banking.

When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. ORD arrivals from the northwest (runway 10L/10R or 09L) approach over the northern Chicago suburbs, putting the left side facing downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan. The lakefront, Grant Park, and the Loop skyline are clearly visible on final approach. Notable sights include: Chicago Loop skyline and Willis Tower, Lake Michigan shoreline, Grant Park and Museum Campus, O'Hare suburban grid of Schaumburg and Des Plaines.

The flight from Incheon International (ICN) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes Approximately 13 to 14 hours.

The route tracks northeast over the Sea of Japan, crosses the Kamchatka Peninsula and Aleutian Island chain (volcanic peaks visible on clear days), then crosses the Gulf of Alaska and the Alaska Range including Denali on clear days, before descending over the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia and Alberta, crossing the Great Plains of Manitoba and Minnesota, and arriving over the flat Illinois farmland into Chicago.