Philadelphia (PHL) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
Philadelphia (PHL) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In September 2025, 87% of arrivals were on time; in December 2025 that fell to 65% — a 22-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 75% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 64%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 75%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 5.2
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 6h 15m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,522 mi
Best airline from PHL to SFO
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 79% | 18 min | 0.6% | 1,195 |
| American Airlines | 73% | 20 min | 1.6% | 2,252 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from PHL to SFO
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (87% on-time); avoid 7 p.m. departures (59%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 74% | 21 min |
| Tuesday | 79% | 16 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 79% | 17 min |
| Thursday | 71% | 22 min |
| Friday | 73% | 17 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 18 min |
| Sunday | 74% | 21 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft26%
- Airline operations27%
- National airspace system38%
- Weather9%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from PHL to SFO delayed?
- 25% of PHL–SFO flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-06 and 2026-05. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from PHL to SFO?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 79%, based on 1,195 flights. 2 airlines flew PHL–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from PHL to SFO?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (87% on-time), while departures around 7 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 SFO?
- The scheduled PHL–SFO flight time averages 6h 15m over 2,522 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 25% of the time.
- How often are PHL to SFO flights cancelled?
- 1.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-06 and 2026-05, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from PHL to SFO?
- December 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was September 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 22-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 3,447 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.