Seattle (SEA) to San Francisco (SFO): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Seattle (SEA) to San Francisco (SFO) effectively runs on two schedules. In January 2025, 87% of arrivals were on time; in July 2026 that fell to 35% — a 52-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 69% on-time against a national 78%.
- On-time
- 69%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 19 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Flights/day
- 19
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 2h 17m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 679 mi
Best airline from SEA to SFO
4 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 76% | 14 min | 0.6% | 2,444 |
| United Airlines | 72% | 21 min | 0.9% | 4,295 |
| Delta Air Lines | 70% | 20 min | 1.3% | 1,763 |
| Alaska Airlines | 63% | 20 min | 1.3% | 5,855 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from SEA to SFO
Aim for departures around 5 a.m. (94% on-time); avoid 8 a.m. departures (58%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 66% | 21 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 77% | 12 min |
| Wednesday | 71% | 19 min |
| Thursday | 64% | 23 min |
| Friday | 66% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 75% | 15 min |
| Sunday | 65% | 23 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft21%
- Airline operations25%
- National airspace system49%
- Weather4%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from SEA to SFO delayed?
- 31% of SEA–SFO 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 19 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from SEA to SFO?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 76%, based on 2,444 flights. 4 airlines flew SEA–SFO frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from SEA to SFO?
- Departures around 5 a.m. have the best record (94% on-time), while departures around 8 a.m. have the worst (58%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from SEA to SFO?
- The scheduled SEA–SFO flight time averages 2h 17m over 679 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 31% of the time.
- How often are SEA to SFO flights cancelled?
- 1.1% 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 SFO?
- July 2026 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 35% of arrivals on time. The best was January 2025 at 87%. If your dates are flexible, that 52-point gap is worth planning around.
Explore related pages
More routes from SEA
Other ways to fly to San Francisco (SFO)
Related guides
Based on 14,361 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.