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OAK → AZA
Which side of the plane to sit from Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (Oakland) to Phoenix-Mesa-Gateway Airport (Mesa)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers the most dramatic scenery, including the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada and the iconic Superstition Mountains on the final approach into Mesa.
Search flights from OAK to AZA
San Francisco Bay
Aerial views of the Oakland shoreline and the East Bay hills immediately after takeoff.
Sierra Nevada Range
Parallel views of the snow-capped southern Sierra peaks and the vast San Joaquin Valley.
Mojave National Preserve
Desert landscapes featuring cinder cones, sand dunes, and the vast expanse of the high desert.
Colorado River
The winding blue waterway marking the transition from California into the Arizona desert.
Superstition Mountains
Dramatic, jagged rock formations that dominate the horizon during the descent into Phoenix-Mesa.
Choose the left side for morning flights to keep the sun behind you, providing better visibility and photo opportunities of the Sierra Nevada. During the final descent into AZA, keep your camera ready for the Superstition Mountains, which are a major landmark of the East Valley.
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San Joaquin Valley
Intricate geometric patterns of California's massive agricultural heartland.
Joshua Tree Region
Distinctive desert terrain where the Mojave and Sonoran deserts meet in Southern California.
Lake Havasu
Views of the reservoir and the Parker Dam area along the Colorado River border.
Phoenix Metro View
Broad panoramas of the sprawling Valley of the Sun as the aircraft aligns for landing.
South Mountain
The large municipal park and communications towers visible during the final southern approach.
The right side is ideal for sunset flights, offering spectacular orange and purple hues over the Arizona desert. While this side gets more direct sun on southbound flights, it provides excellent views of the vast agricultural grids of the Central Valley and the distant silhouette of the San Jacinto Mountains.
Book Hotels in MesaDistance: 1,074 km (667 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 26 min
Departure: OAK (37.721298, -122.221001)
Arrival: AZA (33.30780029, -111.6549988)
Route Type: Domestic
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