Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Chicago to Sydney. While the takeoff offers Lake Michigan views from the left, the landing approach into Sydney from the right provides more dramatic and varied scenery—the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury River system, and Sydney Harbour are all visually distinctive. The landing experience outweighs the takeoff advantage.

During takeoff from Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left seats offer views of Lake Michigan as the aircraft climbs northwestward out of ORD. You'll see the Chicago shoreline, downtown skyline, and the lake's expanse stretching toward the horizon. Notable sights include: Lake Michigan, Chicago downtown skyline, Chicago shoreline, Des Plaines River valley.

When landing at Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right seats provide excellent views during the descent into Sydney. You'll see the Blue Mountains to the west, then the Hawkesbury River system, and finally Sydney Harbour with its distinctive geography as you approach from the west. Notable sights include: Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury River, Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay.

The flight from Chicago Ohare International (ORD) to Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) takes Approximately 15.5 to 16.5 hours (including one stop, typically in San Francisco or Honolulu; direct routing would be 14-15 hours).

Over the Pacific Ocean, you'll cross the International Date Line. Notable waypoints include the Hawaiian Islands (if routing through Honolulu—Big Island's volcanic peaks visible from altitude), and the approach to Australia crosses the Tasman Sea. The flight path typically passes south of Fiji and Samoa. On the descent into Sydney, the Great Dividing Range and Blue Mountains become prominent approximately 100 miles west of the airport.