Baltimore (BWI) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Baltimore (BWI) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 97% of arrivals were on time; in June 2024 that fell to 55% — a 41-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 78% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 65%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 78%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 14 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Flights/day
- 3.0
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 6h 1m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,457 mi
Best airline from BWI to SFO
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 82% | 12 min | 1.0% | 1,277 |
| Southwest Airlines | 62% | 22 min | 0.8% | 361 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from BWI to SFO
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (97% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (40%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 78% | 13 min |
| Tuesday | 78% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 73% | 18 min |
| Thursday | 79% | 13 min |
| Friday | 76% | 19 min |
| Saturdaybest | 83% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 13 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft36%
- Airline operations23%
- National airspace system33%
- Weather8%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from BWI to SFO delayed?
- 22% of BWI–SFO flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 14 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from BWI to SFO?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 82%, based on 1,277 flights. 2 airlines flew BWI–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from BWI to SFO?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (97% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (40%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from BWI to SFO?
- The scheduled BWI–SFO flight time averages 6h 1m over 2,457 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 22% of the time.
- How often are BWI to SFO flights cancelled?
- 1% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from BWI to SFO?
- June 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 55% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 97%. If your dates are flexible, that 41-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,638 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.