Chicago (ORD) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
The calendar drives reliability on ORD–SFO. September 2024 flights landed on schedule 87% of the time, but June 2026 dropped to 50% — a gap of 38 points. Across the full period the route averages 72% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (80% vs 59%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 72%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 15
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 50m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,846 mi
Best airline from ORD to SFO
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 74% | 19 min | 1.0% | 7,683 |
| American Airlines | 67% | 24 min | 1.5% | 3,198 |
| Alaska Airlines | 65% | 22 min | 0.7% | 446 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to SFO
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (54%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 69% | 23 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 78% | 16 min |
| Wednesday | 71% | 20 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 23 min |
| Friday | 70% | 23 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 17 min |
| Sunday | 69% | 23 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft41%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system28%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to SFO delayed?
- 28% of ORD–SFO 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 21 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from ORD to SFO?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 74%, based on 7,683 flights. 3 airlines flew ORD–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to SFO?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (54%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to SFO?
- The scheduled ORD–SFO flight time averages 4h 50m over 1,846 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 28% of the time.
- How often are ORD to SFO flights cancelled?
- 1.1% 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 ORD to SFO?
- June 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 50% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2024 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 38-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from ORD
Other ways to fly to San Francisco (SFO)
Related guides
Based on 11,327 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.