About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) to General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Phoenix to Boston. The right side wins overall because the Phoenix departure offers genuinely dramatic desert mountain scenery that the left side misses, and while the left side is better for the Boston landing, the right side still has a partial harbor view on approach. The desert Southwest terrain early in the flight — including the Mogollon Rim and Colorado Plateau — is more visually distinctive than the inland New England suburbs on the left during descent.
What can I see during takeoff from Phoenix Sky Harbor International in Phoenix?
During takeoff from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), sit on the Right side for the best views. PHX typically departs east on runway 26R/25R or west on 8/7. For eastbound departures to BOS, the aircraft climbs and turns northeast, putting the South Mountain Park and the Superstition Mountains on the right side. You also get a clear look down at the Salt River valley and the dense Phoenix metro grid. Notable sights include: South Mountain Park, Superstition Mountains (distant to the east), Salt River bed, Phoenix downtown skyline.
What can I see when landing at General Edward Lawrence Logan International in Boston?
When landing at General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Logan Airport sits on a peninsula in Boston Harbor, and aircraft typically land on runways 04L/04R or 22L/22R depending on wind. On the common approach from the southwest, the left side gives you Boston Harbor, the downtown skyline, and the Charles River basin. The right side faces inland toward suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Boston Harbor and its islands, downtown Boston skyline, Charles River basin, Cape Cod Bay visible to the southeast.
How long is the flight from Phoenix to Boston?
The flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) to General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS) takes Approximately 4 hours 45 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes.
What does the Phoenix to Boston flight path pass over?
After climbing out of Phoenix, the route crosses the Mogollon Rim and the Colorado Plateau with its canyon systems visible in northern Arizona. Over New Mexico and the Texas panhandle, the flat High Plains dominate. The route then crosses the Ozarks in Missouri and Arkansas, followed by the Appalachian Mountains running diagonally across Pennsylvania and into New England. The Hudson River valley is often visible before the final descent into Boston.