Best Time to Fly SEA to SFO: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Seattle/Tacoma International → San Francisco International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
6,791 flights were scheduled from Seattle (SEA) to San Francisco (SFO) in the last 12 months, and 62.1% of those that flew arrived on time, 15.5 points below the US average of 77.6%.
SkyWest Airlines was the most punctual of the 4 airlines on the route at 71.9%, while Alaska Airlines trailed at 57.8%.
January has been the best month (82% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (64%).
1.1% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
SEA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlines | 71.9% | 53 min | 1.0% | 1,071 |
| Delta Air Lines | 62.9% | 57 min | 1.7% | 954 |
| United Airlines | 62.2% | 69 min | 0.8% | 2,052 |
| Alaska Airlines | 57.8% | 53 min | 1.2% | 2,710 |
| Southwest Airlines | Limited data | 4 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SEA to SFO
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 13,737 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 94.1% | 1.2% | 426 |
| 6am–7am | 88.0% | 0.2% | 451 |
| 7am–8am | 61.1% | 1.9% | 1,574 |
| 8am–9am | 58.4% | 2.6% | 841 |
| 9am–10am | 72.7% | 1.3% | 835 |
| 10am–11am | 61.1% | 0.7% | 419 |
| 11am–12pm | 66.9% | 0.6% | 891 |
| 12pm–1pm | 83.0% | 1.1% | 475 |
| 1pm–2pm | 72.6% | 0.8% | 1,443 |
| 2pm–3pm | 76.6% | 0.5% | 438 |
| 3pm–4pm | 69.9% | 0.9% | 901 |
| 4pm–5pm | 75.9% | 1.4% | 433 |
| 5pm–6pm | 68.9% | 0.5% | 1,713 |
| 6pm–7pm | 60.2% | 0.5% | 384 |
| 7pm–8pm | 58.0% | 0.4% | 1,109 |
| 8pm–9pm | 59.4% | 1.1% | 558 |
| 9pm–10pm | 67.3% | 0.7% | 771 |
| 10pm–11pm | 65.3% | 0.0% | 75 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SEA 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) | 84.4% | +13.0 pts | 0.0% | 257 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 54.6% | -16.8 pts | 0.8% | 500 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 57.5% | -13.9 pts | 1.0% | 2,597 |
| All other days | 71.4% | — | 1.0% | 10,383 |
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).