Chicago (MDW) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Chicago (MDW) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In October 2024, 81% of arrivals were on time; in May 2026 that fell to 19% — a 62-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 59% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (66% vs 46%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 59%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 26 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 1.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 36m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,855 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from MDW to SFO
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (78% on-time); avoid 10 a.m. departures (35%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 59% | 23 min |
| Tuesday | 62% | 24 min |
| Wednesday | 53% | 26 min |
| Thursday | 60% | 29 min |
| Friday | 54% | 29 min |
| Saturdaybest | 65% | 22 min |
| Sunday | 59% | 25 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft34%
- Airline operations30%
- National airspace system32%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from MDW to SFO delayed?
- 41% of MDW–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 26 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from MDW to SFO?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (78% on-time), while departures around 10 a.m. have the worst (35%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from MDW to SFO?
- The scheduled MDW–SFO flight time averages 4h 36m over 1,855 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 41% of the time.
- How often are MDW to SFO flights cancelled?
- 0.9% 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 MDW to SFO?
- May 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 19% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 81%. If your dates are flexible, that 62-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 881 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.