San Diego (SAN) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through May 2026
San Diego (SAN) to Los Angeles (LAX) effectively runs on two schedules. In April 2026, 96% of arrivals were on time; in October 2024 that fell to 78% — a 17-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 88% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 88%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 10 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Flights/day
- 6.7
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 9m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 109 mi
Best airline from SAN to LAX
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-06 and 2026-05.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 92% | 6 min | 0.0% | 158 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 87% | 10 min | 0.7% | 4,500 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SAN to LAX
Aim for departures around 6 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 4 p.m. departures (76%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 87% | 13 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 91% | 7 min |
| Wednesday | 89% | 11 min |
| Thursday | 87% | 9 min |
| Friday | 83% | 13 min |
| Saturday | 90% | 9 min |
| Sunday | 86% | 9 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft14%
- Airline operations47%
- National airspace system18%
- Weather21%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SAN to LAX delayed?
- 13% of SAN–LAX 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 10 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SAN to LAX?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 92%, based on 158 flights. 2 airlines flew SAN–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SAN to LAX?
- Departures around 6 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 4 p.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 LAX?
- The scheduled SAN–LAX flight time averages 1h 9m over 109 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 13% of the time.
- How often are SAN to LAX flights cancelled?
- 0.7% 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 SAN to LAX?
- October 2024 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 78% of arrivals on time. The best was April 2026 at 96%. If your dates are flexible, that 17-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 4,658 flights, 2024-06–2026-05. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-07-01.