Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Brussels. The left side wins overall. The Chicago departure view — skyline plus Lake Michigan — is genuinely spectacular and hard to beat. Over the Atlantic the views are similar on both sides, but on the left you also get better angles over southern Greenland's ice sheet and coastal fjords if the flight tracks that far north, and the approach into Brussels on the right is pleasant but over flat terrain. Left side edges it for the departure alone.

During takeoff from Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. ORD's most common eastbound departures use runways 10L/10R, heading east-southeast. The left (north) side gives you a clear view back over the Chicago metro grid, Lake Michigan's southern shoreline, and the downtown skyline as you climb out and bank northeast. The right side faces south toward suburban sprawl with no distinctive landmarks. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline (Willis Tower, John Hancock), Lake Michigan southern shoreline, Chicago River grid pattern, Gary Indiana industrial waterfront.

When landing at Brussels Natl (BRU), sit on the Right side for the best views. Brussels Airport's most common westerly approaches use runway 25R/25L, meaning aircraft arrive from the east heading west. The right (north) side gives views over the Flemish countryside, the city of Leuven, and the Brussels urban area spreading out ahead. Left side faces south toward flat agricultural land with little of interest. Notable sights include: Brussels city center and Grand Place district, Atomium structure in Laeken, Leuven university town to the east, flat Brabant agricultural patchwork.

The flight from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Brussels Natl (BRU) takes Approximately 8 hours 30 minutes to 9 hours.

After departing Chicago the route tracks northeast over Lake Michigan, then across southern Ontario and Quebec. It crosses the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Newfoundland's rocky coastline before heading out over the North Atlantic. Depending on the jet stream routing, the flight may arc over southern Greenland where the ice sheet and coastal fjords are visible, then tracks over Iceland or just south of it. The route crosses northern Scotland or Ireland before descending over the English Channel and into Belgium. The Atlantic crossing itself offers occasional glimpses of sea ice or icebergs near Greenland, and the Irish and Scottish coastlines are clearly visible on descent.