Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Keflavik to Chicago. The left side wins both the departure and arrival phases. Over the Atlantic and Greenland the difference is minimal since both sides see open ocean and ice, but the left side catches better views of southern Greenland's ice sheet edge if the route tracks that way, and decisively wins on both ends of the flight.

During takeoff from Keflavik Nas (KEF), sit on the Left side for the best views. Keflavik typically departs eastward on runway 10 or northward on runway 01. A left-side seat on eastward departure gives you a view back over Reykjavik, Faxaflói Bay, and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. On a northward departure, the left side looks west over the open Atlantic but you still catch the Reykjanes Peninsula lava fields below. Notable sights include: Reykjavik city and harbor, Faxaflói Bay, Snæfellsjökull glacier on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Reykjanes lava fields directly below.

When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. O'Hare predominantly uses runways oriented east-west (09L/27R, 10/28 complex) or northwest-southeast. On a westbound approach from the east, the left side gives you the Chicago lakefront, downtown skyline, and Lake Michigan as you descend over the suburbs. The right side faces northwest toward flat suburban sprawl with little of interest. Notable sights include: Lake Michigan shoreline, Chicago downtown skyline (Willis Tower, John Hancock), suburban grid of the North Shore, O'Hare's distinctive runway complex.

The flight from Keflavik Nas (KEF) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes Approximately 7 to 8 hours.

The great circle route from KEF to ORD tracks southwest over the North Atlantic, passing south of Greenland's Cape Farewell, then over the Labrador Sea, across southern Labrador and Quebec, over the Great Lakes region entering via Lake Huron or Lake Michigan depending on routing. Passengers may see Greenland's southeastern ice sheet edge, pack ice in the Labrador Sea, the forested Canadian Shield, and the distinctive blue expanse of the Great Lakes on descent.