Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Phoenix to Taipei. The right seat wins overall because the Phoenix departure offers the most dramatic and unique scenery — the Sonoran Desert, South Mountain, and the Phoenix grid are visually striking and rarely seen by international travelers. The landing left-seat advantage at TPE is real but the approach is relatively brief. Across the full 14-plus hour flight the right seat also tracks the Japanese archipelago on the descent arc, with the Ryukyu Islands and southern Japan visible on the right side as the route curves south toward Taiwan.

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 westbound on 26L/25L, the right side faces north toward the McDowell Mountains and Scottsdale, then as the aircraft turns northwest the South Mountain Park massif comes into view on the right. Departing eastbound on 7R/8, the right side looks south over the broad Salt River valley and the Estrella Mountains. Notable sights include: South Mountain Park (largest municipal park in the US, clearly visible as a dark rocky ridge south of the city), McDowell Mountains to the northeast, Camelback Mountain (distinctive camel-hump silhouette in central Phoenix metro), Salt River bed running east-west through the valley.

When landing at Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE), sit on the Left side for the best views. Arriving at TPE (Taoyuan), aircraft typically approach from the east or northeast on runway 05L/05R or 23L/23R. On the common approach from the northeast descending over the Taiwan Strait side, the left seat looks south toward Taipei city and the central mountain spine of Taiwan. The left side captures the dramatic Central Mountain Range running down the island's spine and the Taipei Basin with 101 visible. Notable sights include: Taipei 101 skyscraper visible in the Taipei Basin, Central Mountain Range spine running north-south down Taiwan's interior, Tamsui River estuary entering the Taiwan Strait, Taoyuan coastal plain between the airport and the strait.

The flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) to Chiang Kai Shek International (TPE) takes Approximately 14 to 15 hours nonstop.

The route tracks northwest from Phoenix across the Mojave Desert and California coast near Los Angeles, then crosses the North Pacific in a great circle arc passing south of the Aleutian chain. Mid-flight passes over the open North Pacific with no land visible for roughly 6 to 7 hours. The descent arc brings the aircraft over the Ryukyu Islands chain (Okinawa visible on clear days), then the East China Sea before crossing the northern tip of Taiwan toward Taoyuan.