Philadelphia (PHL) to San Diego (SAN): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Philadelphia (PHL) to San Diego (SAN) effectively runs on two schedules. In March 2026, 89% of arrivals were on time; in August 2024 that fell to 60% — a 29-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 74% 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
- 74%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 21 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Flights/day
- 2.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 50m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,370 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHL to SAN
Aim for departures around 8 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 5 p.m. departures (60%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 76% | 18 min |
| Tuesday | 77% | 23 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 77% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 70% | 22 min |
| Friday | 71% | 27 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 17 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 aircraft29%
- Airline operations36%
- National airspace system26%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHL to SAN delayed?
- 26% of PHL–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 21 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHL to SAN?
- Departures around 8 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 5 p.m. have the worst (60%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from PHL to SAN?
- The scheduled PHL–SAN flight time averages 5h 50m over 2,370 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 26% of the time.
- How often are PHL to SAN flights cancelled?
- 1.4% 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 SAN?
- August 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 60% of arrivals on time. The best was March 2026 at 89%. If your dates are flexible, that 29-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,144 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.