Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Kona to Phoenix. Right side wins overall because the dramatic volcanic takeoff from the Big Island outweighs the landing advantage. The climb-out views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea are spectacular and unique to this route, while the landing into Phoenix is relatively standard desert valley approach scenery.

During takeoff from Kona International At Keahole (KOA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right seats capture the Big Island's volcanic landscape immediately after departure. KOA typically departs runway 17 (southbound), so right-side passengers see Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea rising dramatically to the southeast as the aircraft climbs out over the Kona coast. Notable sights include: Mauna Loa (13,681 ft, often snow-capped), Mauna Kea (13,796 ft), Kona coast and Kailua-Kona town below, Pacific Ocean extending westward.

When landing at Luke Afb (LUF), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left seats provide the best approach view into Luke AFB. The standard arrival into Phoenix from the west uses runway 03L or 03R (northbound), so left-side passengers see the Phoenix metropolitan area spreading across the valley floor, with the Sierra Estrella Mountains and South Mountains forming the western boundary. Notable sights include: Phoenix downtown skyline and sprawl across Salt River Valley, Sierra Estrella Mountains (western rim of valley), South Mountains, Luke AFB runways and base infrastructure.

The flight from Kona International At Keahole (KOA) to Luke Afb (LUF) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes.

The flight crosses the Pacific Ocean for roughly 2,000 nautical miles with no significant landmarks visible during the middle 3+ hours. Passengers may see scattered clouds, occasional ships, and the curvature of the ocean horizon. As the aircraft approaches the Arizona coast near Yuma, the Colorado River delta and desert terrain become visible. The transition from ocean to desert is gradual, with the Sonoran Desert's characteristic sparse vegetation and washes becoming apparent around 60 miles west of Phoenix.