Best Time to Fly SMF to ORD: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Sacramento International → Chicago O'Hare International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,342 flights were scheduled from Sacramento (SMF) to Chicago (ORD) in the last 12 months, and 79.0% of those that flew arrived on time, 1.3 points above the US average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, United Airlines led with 81.3% on time and American Airlines was last with 72.5%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (84% on time) and July the worst month (64%).
The cancellation rate was 1.4% (US average 1.8%).
SMF 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 | 81.3% | 75 min | 1.3% | 987 |
| American Airlines | 72.5% | 108 min | 1.7% | 355 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SMF to ORD
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 2,541 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12am–1am | 71.9% | 1.5% | 66 |
| 6am–7am | Limited data | 2 | |
| 7am–8am | 89.3% | 0.8% | 670 |
| 8am–9am | 91.2% | 5.6% | 36 |
| 9am–10am | 91.2% | 1.4% | 69 |
| 10am–11am | 87.3% | 0.8% | 376 |
| 11am–12pm | 76.1% | 0.0% | 156 |
| 1pm–2pm | Limited data | 27 | |
| 2pm–3pm | 65.4% | 0.6% | 476 |
| 3pm–4pm | 64.5% | 1.4% | 144 |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 3 | |
| 11pm–12am | 80.2% | 1.9% | 516 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SMF 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) | 74.4% | -9.1 pts | 7.1% | 42 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 86.1% | +2.7 pts | 0.0% | 101 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 66.7% | -16.7 pts | 1.9% | 519 |
| All other days | 83.5% | — | 0.8% | 1,879 |
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).