San Diego (SAN) to Detroit (DTW): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
When you fly SAN to DTW matters as much as anything else about the booking: the route swung from 93% on-time in November 2024 to just 73% in July 2026. Across the full period the route averages 84% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 84%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 10 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Flights/day
- 3.5
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 4h 26m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 1,956 mi
Best airline from SAN to DTW
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Linesmost reliable | 85% | 9 min | 0.9% | 2,583 |
| Spirit Airlines | 68% | 28 min | 1.5% | 66 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SAN to DTW
Aim for departures around 10 p.m. (89% on-time); avoid 11 a.m. departures (76%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 85% | 8 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 91% | 4 min |
| Wednesday | 85% | 8 min |
| Thursday | 83% | 12 min |
| Friday | 83% | 15 min |
| Saturday | 83% | 8 min |
| Sunday | 81% | 12 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft31%
- Airline operations34%
- National airspace system32%
- Weather3%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SAN to DTW delayed?
- 16% of SAN–DTW 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 10 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SAN to DTW?
- Delta Air Lines has the best on-time record on this route at 85%, based on 2,583 flights. 2 airlines flew SAN–DTW frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SAN to DTW?
- Departures around 10 p.m. have the best record (89% on-time), while departures around 11 a.m. have the worst (76%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SAN to DTW?
- The scheduled SAN–DTW flight time averages 4h 26m over 1,956 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 16% of the time.
- How often are SAN to DTW flights cancelled?
- 0.9% 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 SAN to DTW?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 73% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2024 at 93%. If your dates are flexible, that 21-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 2,649 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.