Best Time to Fly PHL to SFO: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Philadelphia International → San Francisco International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,047 flights were scheduled from Philadelphia (PHL) to San Francisco (SFO) in the last 12 months, and 72.6% of those that flew arrived on time, 5.0 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, American Airlines led with 73.2% on time and United Airlines was last with 71.5%.
Over 24 months, Wednesday was the most reliable day (79% on time) and June the worst month (61%).
The cancellation rate was 1.3% (US average 1.8%).
PHL to SFO on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 73.2% | 75 min | 1.7% | 1,320 |
| United Airlines | 71.5% | 74 min | 0.7% | 727 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly PHL to SFO
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 3,698 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 86.7% | 0.0% | 541 |
| 7am–8am | 88.1% | 0.0% | 60 |
| 8am–9am | 84.2% | 1.4% | 840 |
| 9am–10am | 64.8% | 0.0% | 139 |
| 3pm–4pm | 77.6% | 1.6% | 127 |
| 4pm–5pm | 69.2% | 1.2% | 480 |
| 5pm–6pm | 59.0% | 0.9% | 220 |
| 6pm–7pm | 65.0% | 0.8% | 743 |
| 7pm–8pm | 60.7% | 3.0% | 406 |
| 8pm–9pm | 62.0% | 0.0% | 72 |
| 9pm–10pm | 78.8% | 5.7% | 70 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on PHL to SFO
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 84.1% | +7.6 pts | 0.0% | 63 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 59.5% | -16.9 pts | 1.1% | 175 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 64.1% | -12.4 pts | 2.1% | 766 |
| All other days | 76.5% | — | 1.0% | 2,694 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).