Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Seattle. Left side wins both ends of the flight. Chicago's skyline and lakefront on departure, then Mount Rainier and the Cascades on approach into SEA make the left side consistently more rewarding. Over the Rockies mid-flight, both sides offer similar mountain views, so the left side's bookend landmarks are the deciding factor.

During takeoff from Chicago Midway International (MDW), sit on the Left side for the best views. MDW typically departs runway 31L/31C heading northwest, putting the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan on the left side. You get a clear view of the downtown Loop towers and the lakefront as the aircraft banks northwest toward its cruise heading. Notable sights include: Chicago Loop skyline, Lake Michigan shoreline, Grant Park and Museum Campus, Midway neighborhood grid below.

When landing at Seattle Tacoma International (SEA), sit on the Left side for the best views. SEA-TAC typically lands on runways 16L/16R heading south, meaning the aircraft approaches from the north over Puget Sound. The left side faces east toward Mount Rainier, which dominates the view at 14,411 feet and is unmistakable on clear days. The Cascade Range fills the eastern horizon throughout the approach. Notable sights include: Mount Rainier, Puget Sound, the Seattle skyline to the north, Cascade Range foothills.

The flight from Chicago Midway International (MDW) to Seattle Tacoma International (SEA) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.

The flight crosses southern Wisconsin and Minnesota, then tracks over the Dakotas and Montana. The Missouri River is visible as a wide meandering ribbon crossing the plains. The Rocky Mountains appear over western Montana and Idaho, with the Bitterroot Range and Clearwater Mountains visible below. The Columbia Plateau's dramatic basalt canyon systems appear in eastern Washington before descent.