Philadelphia (PHL) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Philadelphia (PHL) to Los Angeles (LAX) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2025, 87% of arrivals were on time; in August 2024 that fell to 62% — a 25-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 77% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 65%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 77%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 17 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Flights/day
- 6.6
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 54m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,402 mi
Best airline from PHL to LAX
3 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Airlinesmost reliable | 78% | 13 min | 1.2% | 337 |
| American Airlines | 77% | 17 min | 1.3% | 4,765 |
| Frontier Airlines | 61% | 26 min | 0.0% | 119 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHL to LAX
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 8 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 20 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 81% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 79% | 12 min |
| Thursday | 74% | 18 min |
| Friday | 76% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 77% | 19 min |
| Sunday | 76% | 19 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft37%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system22%
- Weather5%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHL to LAX delayed?
- 23% of PHL–LAX 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 17 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PHL to LAX?
- Spirit Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 78%, based on 337 flights. 3 airlines flew PHL–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHL to LAX?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (90% 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 PHL to LAX?
- The scheduled PHL–LAX flight time averages 5h 54m over 2,402 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 23% of the time.
- How often are PHL to LAX 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 PHL to LAX?
- August 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 62% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,221 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.