Houston (HOU) to San Diego (SAN): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Houston (HOU) to San Diego (SAN) effectively runs on two schedules. In August 2025, 94% of arrivals were on time; in June 2026 that fell to 59% — a 35-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (88% vs 68%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 13 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 2.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 3h 23m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,313 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from HOU to SAN
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 3 p.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Mondaybest | 81% | 10 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 75% | 13 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 16 min |
| Friday | 78% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 79% | 11 min |
| Sunday | 73% | 14 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft42%
- Airline operations31%
- National airspace system20%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from HOU to SAN delayed?
- 24% of HOU–SAN flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 13 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from HOU to SAN?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 3 p.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from HOU to SAN?
- The scheduled HOU–SAN flight time averages 3h 23m over 1,313 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are HOU to SAN flights cancelled?
- 0.7% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from HOU to SAN?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 59% of arrivals on time. The best was August 2025 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 35-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 1,897 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.