Chicago to Paris flight path: ORD to CDG

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Paris. The left side wins because it captures the two most distinctive moments of the trip: the dramatic southern Greenland ice cap and Iceland's coastline during cruise, and a glimpse of the Seine and Paris skyline on descent into CDG. The right side is dominated by hours of open North Atlantic with little variation.

During takeoff from Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Right side for the best views. As the aircraft climbs out and banks toward its northeasterly track, the right side gives a good look at downtown Chicago's skyline and the shoreline of Lake Michigan before the flat farmland of the Midwest takes over. It's a brief but genuine urban-water highlight on an otherwise plain departure corridor. Notable sights include: Chicago Loop skyline, Lake Michigan shoreline, Navy Pier area, O'Hare's surrounding suburban grid.

When landing at Charles De Gaulle (CDG), sit on the Left side for the best views. On the arrival into CDG from the northwest, the turn onto final approach often passes close enough to Paris for the left side to catch the Seine River threading through the city and the skyline anchored by the Eiffel Tower. It's the only real landmark-dense moment of the entire flight. Notable sights include: Seine River, Eiffel Tower and central Paris skyline, Marne River confluence, farmland patchwork east of Paris.

The flight from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Charles De Gaulle (CDG) takes 7h 50m.

Southern tip of Greenland's ice cap and coastal fjords, Labrador Sea, Iceland's southern coastline, and long stretches of open North Atlantic Ocean along the great-circle track