Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Santa Ana to Chicago. The left side wins overall because the Chicago arrival view — the lakefront, the skyline, and Lake Michigan — is one of the most dramatic urban approaches in the US and outweighs the solid but less spectacular SNA departure views. Midway through the flight the left side also picks up the Colorado Rockies from a distance and the flat geometry of the Great Plains.

During takeoff from John Wayne Arpt Orange Co (SNA), sit on the Right side for the best views. SNA typically departs on Runway 20R heading south before turning east, then northeast toward Chicago. The right side faces inland toward the Santa Ana Mountains and the broader Inland Empire, while the left side looks out over the Pacific Ocean briefly. Once the aircraft turns northeast, the right side picks up the San Gabriel Mountains and eventually the Mojave Desert terrain. Notable sights include: Santa Ana Mountains directly to the east, Santiago Peak (5,689 ft) visible as the dominant ridge, Saddleback Valley below, and the sprawling grid of the Inland Empire cities.

When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. ORD typically lands on runways oriented east-west or northwest-southeast, with final approach often from the east or southeast. On approach from the southeast, the left side of the aircraft faces south toward downtown Chicago, giving a clear view of the city skyline, Lake Michigan's shoreline, and the urban grid. The right side faces north toward the suburbs with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Chicago downtown skyline with Willis Tower and the lakefront, Lake Michigan's western shoreline, the Chicago River corridor, and the dense urban grid of the North Side neighborhoods.

The flight from John Wayne Arpt Orange Co (SNA) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes.

After clearing the Mojave Desert, the route crosses the Colorado Plateau with its canyon systems visible from altitude, then the Rocky Mountains appear as a broad corrugated wall — the Wasatch and Colorado Rockies depending on exact routing. Over Kansas and Missouri the terrain flattens into the Great Plains, with the Missouri River visible as a wide meandering ribbon before the aircraft descends into the Chicago basin.