PHX to ORD: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Phoenix (PHX) to Chicago (ORD) is a 2,313 km (1,437 mi), roughly 3h 13m eastbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime PHX to ORD departures the sun favors the right side — sit on the left (an A seat) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Right | Right | Left |
| June solstice | Right | Left | Left |
| September equinox | Right | Both | Left |
| December solstice | Right | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side wins for both views and shade.
Sit on the left for this eastbound flight. The same side also gets the shade, so you pick one side and win twice.
Takeoff
On departure from Phoenix Sky Harbor, depending on the runway in use, the left side gets the best early look at Phoenix, Glendale, and Scottsdale. Phoenix and Scottsdale can sit almost under you, so the view is brief and steep.
En route
- 22m in← LeftPetrified Forest National Park
About 20 minutes in, look left for Petrified Forest National Park. It reads as a wide, pale patch against the darker ground.
- 22m in← LeftPainted Desert
Also about 20 minutes in, the Painted Desert is on the left. You get the broad, striped desert colors from above.
- 2h 12m in← LeftLincoln
Around 2 hours 10 minutes in, Lincoln is on the left. It is one of the cleaner city picks on this leg.
- 2h 18m in← LeftOmaha
A few minutes after that, Omaha stays on the left. You see a large city footprint rather than a single sharp landmark.
- 2h 34m in← LeftDes Moines
About 2 hours 35 minutes in, Des Moines comes up on the left. It is another easy city shape to spot from cruise altitude.
Landing
On descent into Chicago O'Hare, depending on the runway in use, the right side gets the city view as Chicago comes into range. It is a final urban look before touchdown.
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 PHX to ORD?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the right side of the aircraft, so the left side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose an A seat.
Which side has the sunset views on PHX to ORD flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the left side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from PHX to ORD?
The great-circle distance is 2,313 km (1,437 mi), which works out to roughly 3h 13m in the air on this eastbound 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 should I sit on from PHX to ORD?
Sit on the left. It has the stronger views and also the shade side on this route.
What will I see on this flight?
Early on, the left side gets Phoenix-area cities, then the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park, and later cities like Lincoln, Omaha, and Des Moines.