Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Los Angeles. Right side wins both ends of the flight. During the cruise over the Southwest, right-side passengers also get better views of the Colorado River corridor and the Mojave Desert terrain as the route curves southwest, making it the consistent choice for the full journey.

During takeoff from Chicago Midway International (MDW), sit on the Right side for the best views. MDW typically departs westbound on runway 31C/31R, which means a right-bank turn toward the southwest gives you a clear look back over downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan. The city grid and lakefront are unmistakable from this angle during climb-out. Notable sights include: Downtown Chicago skyline, Lake Michigan shoreline, Grant Park and Museum Campus, Chicago River corridor.

When landing at Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX approaches from the east on runways 24L/24R, meaning the aircraft tracks westbound over the LA Basin. Right-side seats get a prolonged view of the Santa Monica Mountains, the urban sprawl of the San Fernando Valley, and then the Pacific Ocean opening up ahead as you descend over the coast. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Mountains, Pacific Ocean coastline, Santa Monica Bay, Los Angeles urban grid.

The flight from Chicago Midway International (MDW) to Los Angeles International (LAX) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours.

The route crosses the Mississippi River near the Iowa-Missouri border, then tracks over the flat plains of Kansas and Oklahoma before reaching the high desert of New Mexico and Arizona. The Colorado Plateau's canyon country is visible in northeastern Arizona, and the Mojave Desert dominates the final hour before the LA Basin, with the San Gabriel Mountains visible to the north as a clear snow-capped wall in winter months.