The left side wins overall because the Chicago departure view is genuinely spectacular — the full skyline and Lake Michigan shoreline are hard to beat. En route, the left side also gives better views of Greenland's ice sheet on the polar routing and the Ural Mountains crossing. The Delhi arrival on the right is good but the city is hazy and less dramatic than the Chicago departure.
Flight Path
The great circle polar route takes the flight north over Hudson Bay, then across the southern tip of Greenland's ice sheet (left side has best views of the Greenland ice cap), across the Norwegian Sea, over Scandinavia, then southeast across Russia passing near the Ural Mountains, Kazakhstan's steppe, and finally descending over the Thar Desert fringe and the Indo-Gangetic Plain into Delhi. The Greenland ice sheet and the Urals are the two most visually dramatic geographic features on this route.
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from ORD
LEFTORD's most common departure heading for polar routes is northwest or north on runways 10/28 or 9R/27L. A left-side seat gives you the Chicago skyline to the southeast as you climb out, with Lake Michigan's southern tip and the downtown lakefront clearly visible. The city grid and the lake shoreline are unmistakable from 3,000-8,000 feet.
Landing at DEL
RIGHTIGI Delhi typically uses runways 28/10 or 29/11, with arrivals often from the east or northeast. A right-side seat on approach from the northwest gives views over New Delhi's central districts — Connaught Place, India Gate, and the Yamuna River floodplain are visible on the right side during descent. The Yamuna's wide sandy floodplain is a distinctive landmark on final approach.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Indira Gandhi International (DEL)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Delhi. The left side wins overall because the Chicago departure view is genuinely spectacular — the full skyline and Lake Michigan shoreline are hard to beat. En route, the left side also gives better views of Greenland's ice sheet on the polar routing and the Ural Mountains crossing. The Delhi arrival on the right is good but the city is hazy and less dramatic than the Chicago departure.
What can I see during takeoff from Chicago Ohare International in Chicago?
During takeoff from Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. ORD's most common departure heading for polar routes is northwest or north on runways 10/28 or 9R/27L. A left-side seat gives you the Chicago skyline to the southeast as you climb out, with Lake Michigan's southern tip and the downtown lakefront clearly visible. The city grid and the lake shoreline are unmistakable from 3,000-8,000 feet. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline (Willis Tower, John Hancock), southern tip of Lake Michigan, Chicago River grid, Wrigley Field neighborhood.
What can I see when landing at Indira Gandhi International in Delhi?
When landing at Indira Gandhi International (DEL), sit on the Right side for the best views. IGI Delhi typically uses runways 28/10 or 29/11, with arrivals often from the east or northeast. A right-side seat on approach from the northwest gives views over New Delhi's central districts — Connaught Place, India Gate, and the Yamuna River floodplain are visible on the right side during descent. The Yamuna's wide sandy floodplain is a distinctive landmark on final approach. Notable sights include: Yamuna River floodplain, India Gate and Rajpath axis, Connaught Place circular road pattern, Qutb Minar area to the south.
How long is the flight from Chicago to Delhi?
The flight from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Indira Gandhi International (DEL) takes Approximately 14-15 hours nonstop.
What does the Chicago to Delhi flight path pass over?
The great circle polar route takes the flight north over Hudson Bay, then across the southern tip of Greenland's ice sheet (left side has best views of the Greenland ice cap), across the Norwegian Sea, over Scandinavia, then southeast across Russia passing near the Ural Mountains, Kazakhstan's steppe, and finally descending over the Thar Desert fringe and the Indo-Gangetic Plain into Delhi. The Greenland ice sheet and the Urals are the two most visually dramatic geographic features on this route.