Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Phoenix to Kirtland A.f.b.. The left side wins overall because the Sandia Mountains on approach into ABQ are one of the most dramatic landforms on any short-haul route in the Southwest. During the cruise portion heading northeast, the left side also tracks closer to the White Mountains of Arizona and the high desert plateau terrain. The right side has the better Phoenix departure view, but the Sandia arrival is the highlight of this flight.

During takeoff from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. PHX primarily uses runways 7R/25L and 8/26. Departing eastbound toward ABQ on runway 26L/25L, the aircraft turns northeast, putting the right side toward South Mountain Park and the broad Salt River valley. The right side also gives a clear look back at downtown Phoenix and the grid of the metro as you climb out. Notable sights include: South Mountain Park (largest municipal park in the US, visible as a dark ridge to the south), downtown Phoenix skyline, Tempe Town Lake, Camelback Mountain.

When landing at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), sit on the Left side for the best views. ABQ typically lands on runway 26 or 08. On approach from the west-southwest, the left side faces north toward the Sandia Mountains, which rise dramatically 5,000 feet above the Rio Grande valley floor — one of the most striking escarpments in the American Southwest. The left side also gives a clear view of the Rio Grande corridor and the city of Albuquerque laid out against the mountain backdrop. Notable sights include: Sandia Mountains (granite escarpment rising to 10,678 ft), Rio Grande valley and bosque, Albuquerque's Old Town and downtown grid, Kirtland Air Force Base.

The flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) to Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) takes Approximately 55 to 70 minutes.

The flight crosses the Mogollon Rim — the dramatic escarpment separating the Arizona low desert from the Colorado Plateau — visible as a sudden rise in terrain. The White Mountains of eastern Arizona (Mount Baldy area, reaching 11,400 ft) pass to the south. The route then crosses the high desert of western New Mexico, including the Zuni Mountains and the broad Rio Puerco valley before descending into the Rio Grande rift at Albuquerque.