Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Phoenix. The right side wins both ends of the flight. During cruise over New Mexico and Arizona, the right (north-facing) side also picks up the southern Colorado Plateau terrain, including high desert mesas and the transition from Great Plains to Rockies foothills, making it the stronger choice throughout the journey.

During takeoff from Chicago Midway International (MDW), sit on the Right side for the best views. Midway typically departs southwest on runway 31L/31C or northeast on 4R/4L. On a westbound departure toward Phoenix, aircraft often turn southwest, putting the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan on the left briefly, but the right side picks up the broader suburban grid and then open Illinois farmland as you climb out heading west-southwest. On a southwest departure heading, the right side faces northwest and catches the downtown Chicago skyline receding in the distance. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline to the north, Lake Michigan visible to the northeast, Illinois/Indiana flat agricultural grid below, Chicago Southland suburban sprawl.

When landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. Phoenix Sky Harbor sits just east of downtown Phoenix, and aircraft typically land from the east on runway 26 or from the west on runway 8. On the common easterly approach (landing west on runway 26), the aircraft flies over the eastern Valley suburbs. The right side faces north and captures the Phoenix Mountain Preserves, Camelback Mountain, and the downtown Phoenix skyline clearly as you descend. Notable sights include: Camelback Mountain, Phoenix Mountain Preserves, downtown Phoenix skyline, Salt River and its dry braided channels through the Valley.

The flight from Chicago Midway International (MDW) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) takes Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes.

The flight crosses flat Illinois and Missouri farmland, then the Ozark Plateau in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, transitions into Oklahoma and Texas panhandle grasslands, crosses the Sangre de Cristo and Sacramento mountain ranges in New Mexico, passes over the high desert of the Colorado Plateau with its mesa and canyon terrain, and descends into the Phoenix Basin through the Sonoran Desert.