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ORD → MEX
Which side of the plane to sit from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Chicago) to Licenciado Benito Juarez International Airport (Mexico City)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side is superior for the iconic Chicago skyline departure and spectacular views of the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl during the descent into Mexico City.
Search flights from ORD to MEX
Chicago Skyline
Immediate views of downtown Chicago and the Willis Tower after take-off from O'Hare.
Lake Michigan
Expansive blue horizons of the Great Lakes during the initial climb.
Gulf Coast
Stunning coastal views as you cross the Texas border into Mexican airspace near the Gulf of Mexico.
Sierra Madre Oriental
Dramatic mountain ridges and deep valleys of the northeastern Mexican highlands.
Popocatépetl Volcano
Breathtaking views of the snow-capped active volcano on the approach to the Valley of Mexico.
Sit on the left for the best chance to see the Chicago skyline if departing to the east. During arrival, morning flights offer the clearest views of the volcanoes before smog or afternoon clouds accumulate in the Valley of Mexico. Choosing a window seat in front of the wing is recommended to avoid engine heat distorting the view of the mountains.
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Ozark Mountains
Dense forests and rolling terrain across Missouri and Arkansas as the plane heads south.
Great Plains
Geometric patterns of agricultural fields across the American Midwest and central Texas.
Monterrey View
Distant views of the industrial hub of Monterrey and its jagged mountain backdrop.
Mexico City Sprawl
Incredible scale of the metropolis filling the entire valley during the final descent.
Nevado de Toluca
The fourth highest peak in Mexico, a large stratovolcano visible to the west of the city.
The right side offers excellent sunset views on late afternoon flights heading south. It also provides a better perspective of the vast urban landscape and the high-altitude plateau of the State of Mexico during the northern approach. Look for circular irrigation patterns over Texas which are particularly striking from high altitudes.
Book Hotels in Mexico CityDistance: 2,719 km (1,690 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 38 min
Departure: ORD (41.9786, -87.9048)
Arrival: MEX (19.4363, -99.072098)
Route Type: International
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