Chicago (ORD) to San Jose (SJC): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Chicago (ORD) to San Jose (SJC) is a thinner route than most in this dataset — 301 departures over the past year, roughly 6 a week — so treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. Of the flights that did operate, 70% arrived on time, noticeably below the national average of 78%.
- On-time
- 70%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 23 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 0.82
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 49m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,829 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from ORD to SJC
Aim for departures around 9 a.m. (84% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 73% | 17 min |
| Tuesday | 68% | 26 min |
| Wednesday | 67% | 33 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 18 min |
| Friday | 71% | 25 min |
| Saturdaybest | 76% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 66% | 24 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft48%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from ORD to SJC delayed?
- 30% of ORD–SJC 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 23 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from ORD to SJC?
- Departures around 9 a.m. have the best record (84% on-time), while departures around 8 p.m. have the worst (59%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from ORD to SJC?
- The scheduled ORD–SJC flight time averages 4h 49m over 1,829 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 30% of the time.
- How often are ORD to SJC flights cancelled?
- 1.3% 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 SJC?
- June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 33% of arrivals on time. The best was October 2024 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 57-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from ORD
Other ways to fly to San Jose (SJC)
Related guides
Based on 697 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.