Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in July 2026 that fell to 70% — a 20-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 83% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (86% vs 78%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 83%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 11 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Flights/day
- 20
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 49m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 954 mi
Best airline from SEA to LAX
6 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlinesmost reliable | 91% | 10 min | 0.4% | 1,130 |
| Spirit Airlines | 87% | 12 min | 1.1% | 276 |
| Delta Air Lines | 86% | 9 min | 0.5% | 4,615 |
| SkyWest Airlines | 83% | 18 min | 0.6% | 2,114 |
| Frontier Airlines | 81% | 12 min | 2.5% | 474 |
| Alaska Airlines | 80% | 10 min | 0.9% | 7,041 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SEA to LAX
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (90% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (71%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 83% | 11 min |
| Tuesday | 86% | 9 min |
| Wednesdaybest | 86% | 9 min |
| Thursday | 81% | 11 min |
| Friday | 81% | 11 min |
| Saturday | 84% | 12 min |
| Sunday | 80% | 13 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 operations51%
- National airspace system15%
- Weather3%
- Security1%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SEA to LAX delayed?
- 17% of SEA–LAX 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 11 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SEA to LAX?
- United Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 91%, based on 1,130 flights. 6 airlines flew SEA–LAX frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SEA to LAX?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (90% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (71%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SEA to LAX?
- The scheduled SEA–LAX flight time averages 2h 49m over 954 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 17% of the time.
- How often are SEA to LAX flights cancelled?
- 0.8% 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 SEA to LAX?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 70% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 20-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 15,665 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.