Oakland (OAK) to San Diego (SAN): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Oakland (OAK) to San Diego (SAN) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 87% of arrivals were on time; in July 2026 that fell to 57% — a 30-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 73% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (82% vs 59%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 73%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 16 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 8.8
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 31m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 446 mi
Best airline from OAK to SAN
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 14 min | 3.5% | 373 |
| Southwest Airlines | 73% | 16 min | 1.1% | 6,300 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 68% | 18 min | 1.1% | 271 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from OAK to SAN
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (92% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (43%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 72% | 16 min |
| Tuesday | 81% | 10 min |
| Wednesday | 80% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 65% | 21 min |
| Friday | 64% | 22 min |
| Saturdaybest | 82% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 70% | 18 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 operations23%
- National airspace system33%
- Weather2%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from OAK to SAN delayed?
- 27% of OAK–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 16 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from OAK to SAN?
- Spirit Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 373 flights. 3 airlines flew OAK–SAN frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from OAK to SAN?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (92% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (43%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from OAK to SAN?
- The scheduled OAK–SAN flight time averages 1h 31m over 446 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 27% of the time.
- How often are OAK to SAN flights cancelled?
- 1.2% 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 OAK to SAN?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 57% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 30-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 6,944 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.