ORD to PHX: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Chicago (ORD) to Phoenix (PHX) is a 2,313 km (1,437 mi), roughly 3h 13m westbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime ORD to PHX departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Left | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Left | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Left | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Left | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The right side wins on both views and shade, so that is the easy pick.
Sit on the right for this westbound flight. You get the better views and the shade side.
Takeoff
After takeoff from ORD, Chicago sits off your left side, depending on the runway in use. It is a quick climb-out view, so you catch the city as you leave it behind.
En route
- 39m inRight →Des Moines
About 40 minutes in, Des Moines passes on your right. It reads as a compact city shape below, not a long skyline view.
- 53m in← LeftKansas City
A few minutes later, Kansas City is off your left. You only get a brief look before the route keeps moving west.
- 55m inRight →Omaha
Around 55 minutes in, Omaha appears on your right, followed soon by Lincoln. They are quick city-side glances rather than long holds.
- 2h 30m in← LeftAlbuquerque
About two and a half hours in, Albuquerque is off your left. On a clear day it is one of the route's stronger city views.
- 2h 51m inRight →Petrified Forest National Park
On descent, the Petrified Forest National Park is on your right. It passes low and fast, so the view is brief.
- 2h 51m inRight →Painted Desert
Also on descent, the Painted Desert stays on your right. It is another short look as you come into Arizona.
Landing
On approach to PHX, Chandler is off your left and Glendale is off your right, depending on the runway in use. Phoenix itself comes in nearly overhead on the right side of the final descent, with Mesa and Scottsdale very close in beneath you, so this is a busy last stretch.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from ORD to PHX?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on ORD to PHX flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from ORD to PHX?
The great-circle distance is 2,313 km (1,437 mi), which works out to roughly 3h 13m in the air on this westbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side of the plane should I sit on ORD to PHX?
Sit on the right. It is the view side, and it is also the shade side.
What can I see on the ORD to PHX flight?
You get city views early and late: Chicago on departure, then Des Moines, Omaha, Lincoln, Albuquerque, and desert features on descent.