San Diego (SAN) to Philadelphia (PHL): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
San Diego (SAN) to Philadelphia (PHL) effectively runs on two schedules. In August 2025, 94% of arrivals were on time; in July 2026 that fell to 78% — a 16-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 85% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 85%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Flights/day
- 2.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 5h 16m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 2,370 mi
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SAN to PHL
Aim for departures around 10 p.m. (93% on-time); avoid 9 a.m. departures (74%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 87% | 19 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 88% | 13 min |
| Wednesday | 84% | 16 min |
| Thursday | 84% | 23 min |
| Friday | 81% | 30 min |
| Saturday | 87% | 10 min |
| Sunday | 87% | 18 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft33%
- Airline operations46%
- National airspace system10%
- Weather10%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SAN to PHL delayed?
- 15% of SAN–PHL 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 18 minutes.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SAN to PHL?
- Departures around 10 p.m. have the best record (93% on-time), while departures around 9 a.m. have the worst (74%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SAN to PHL?
- The scheduled SAN–PHL flight time averages 5h 16m over 2,370 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 15% of the time.
- How often are SAN to PHL 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 SAN to PHL?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 78% of arrivals on time. The best was August 2025 at 94%. If your dates are flexible, that 16-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.