Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Vienna to Chicago. The left side wins at both ends of the flight. Over the Atlantic the views are similar on both sides, but the left seat captures Vienna's Danube on departure and Chicago's lakefront skyline on arrival, making it the clear choice for the full journey.

During takeoff from Schwechat (VIE), sit on the Left side for the best views. VIE typically departs westbound on runway 29, so the left (south) side gives you a view back over Vienna city center as you climb out. You can see the Danube bending through the city and the urban grid of the Innere Stadt before the aircraft turns northwest. Notable sights include: Danube River curving through Vienna, Vienna city center grid, Lobau wetlands to the southeast, Marchfeld plains stretching east.

When landing at Chicago Ohare International (ORD), sit on the Left side for the best views. ORD predominantly lands from the east on runways 10L/10R or from the southeast on runway 9L/9R, meaning the left (north) side gives you the best view of Lake Michigan's southern shoreline and the Chicago downtown skyline as you descend. The Willis Tower and the lakefront are clearly identifiable from 10,000 feet on approach. Notable sights include: Lake Michigan southern shoreline, Chicago downtown skyline including Willis Tower, Chicago River corridor, suburban grid of the North Shore.

The flight from Schwechat (VIE) to Chicago Ohare International (ORD) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.

The route tracks northwest over Bavaria and southern Germany, crosses the Rhine near Strasbourg, then transits southern England or northern France before heading out over the North Atlantic near Ireland. The mid-Atlantic crossing passes south of Greenland's ice sheet, which may be faintly visible on the left as a white mass near the horizon at cruise altitude. The route then crosses Labrador and Quebec, where boreal forest and frozen lakes dominate, before descending over the Great Lakes region through Michigan.