Best Time to Fly SFO to ORD: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
San Francisco International → Chicago O'Hare International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
5,617 flights were scheduled from San Francisco (SFO) to Chicago (ORD) in the last 12 months, and 76.0% of those that flew arrived on time, 1.6 points below the US average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, United Airlines led with 77.6% on time and American Airlines was last with 72.7%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (84% on time) and July the worst month (69%).
The cancellation rate was 1.2% (US average 1.8%).
SFO to ORD 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 77.6% | 73 min | 0.9% | 3,830 |
| American Airlines | 72.7% | 105 min | 1.8% | 1,768 |
| Alaska Airlines | Limited data | 19 | ||
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SFO to ORD
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 10,823 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12am–1am | 82.7% | 0.7% | 303 |
| 1am–2am | Limited data | 1 | |
| 5am–6am | 93.8% | 0.5% | 583 |
| 6am–7am | 92.4% | 1.4% | 1,239 |
| 7am–8am | 88.8% | 0.6% | 179 |
| 8am–9am | 85.0% | 1.1% | 1,052 |
| 9am–10am | 83.9% | 0.7% | 138 |
| 10am–11am | 72.0% | 1.4% | 1,167 |
| 11am–12pm | 66.8% | 1.2% | 243 |
| 12pm–1pm | 61.5% | 1.1% | 261 |
| 1pm–2pm | 62.6% | 1.2% | 1,095 |
| 2pm–3pm | 66.9% | 1.0% | 808 |
| 3pm–4pm | 67.5% | 0.5% | 387 |
| 4pm–5pm | 79.8% | 0.2% | 599 |
| 5pm–6pm | 78.2% | 2.0% | 199 |
| 6pm–7pm | 81.0% | 0.4% | 466 |
| 7pm–8pm | Limited data | 16 | |
| 9pm–10pm | Limited data | 4 | |
| 10pm–11pm | 81.4% | 0.7% | 552 |
| 11pm–12am | 80.4% | 1.0% | 1,531 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SFO to ORD
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) | 75.1% | -5.1 pts | 5.7% | 192 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 79.4% | -0.8 pts | 0.0% | 419 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 70.9% | -9.3 pts | 1.9% | 2,121 |
| All other days | 80.2% | — | 0.7% | 8,091 |
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).