Route on-time record

ATL to SFO: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

Atlanta (Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport) to San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport). 3,359 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 72% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.7% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 571 at 6:30 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

ATL → SFO

Atlanta to San Francisco: 3,359 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

72%

Cancelled

0.7%

avg delay 18 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

83% on time vs 63% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

United

79% chance on time

Check ATL to SFO fares

Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.

Most reliable nonstop flights

Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.

#1 · United 571
6:30 AM → 8:35 AM5h 05m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
85%
chance on time
On time (history)
73%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
22 min
- Arrived on time 73% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 83% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find United 571 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#2 · United 1259
6:45 AM → 9:30 AM5h 29m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-19.
85%
chance on time
On time (history)
85%
Cancelled
0.5%
Avg arrival delay
9 min
- Arrived on time 85% of the time (213 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 83% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Strong track record · 213 flights
Find United 1259 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#3 · Delta 693
8:25 AM → 10:52 AM5h 27m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Delta 785; its record covers all of them.
79%
chance on time
On time (history)
80%
Cancelled
0.6%
Avg arrival delay
12 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (357 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 83% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Strong track record · 357 flights
Find Delta 693 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#4 · Delta 750
12:53 PM → 2:56 PM5h 03m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
78%
chance on time
On time (history)
77%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
16 min
- Arrived on time 77% of the time (214 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 215 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 214 flights
Find Delta 750 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#5 · Delta 531
10:45 AM → 12:33 PM5h 21m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-06.
71%
chance on time
On time (history)
73%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
14 min
- Arrived on time 73% of the time (154 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 154 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Moderate track record · 154 flights
Find Delta 531 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#6 · Delta 656
10:15 PM → 12:35 AM5h 18m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
70%
chance on time
On time (history)
72%
Cancelled
2.0%
Avg arrival delay
17 min
- Arrived on time 72% of the time (245 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 245 flights
Find Delta 656 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#7 · United 2416
7:12 PM → 9:45 PM5h 33m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-19.
70%
chance on time
On time (history)
71%
Cancelled
1.7%
Avg arrival delay
23 min
- Arrived on time 71% of the time (58 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 63% on time; Before 9 AM: 83%).
- Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (58 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 58 flights
Find United 2416 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#8 · United 285
6:00 PM → 8:10 PM5h 10m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
67%
chance on time
On time (history)
22%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
67 min
- Arrived on time 22% of the time (9 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 63% on time; Before 9 AM: 83%).
- Departs inside ATL's trouble window: 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Short track record (9 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 9 flights
Find United 285 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#9 · Delta 517
4:59 PM → 7:19 PM5h 13m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
67%
chance on time
On time (history)
67%
Cancelled
0.3%
Avg arrival delay
20 min
- Arrived on time 67% of the time (301 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside ATL's trouble window: 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Strong track record · 301 flights
Find Delta 517 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#10 · Delta 545
8:53 PM → 11:19 PM5h 19m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
66%
chance on time
On time (history)
66%
Cancelled
0.8%
Avg arrival delay
23 min
- Arrived on time 66% of the time (261 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 63% on time; Before 9 AM: 83%).
- Departs outside ATL's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 59% of its 96 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 261 flights
Find Delta 545 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

United Airlines79%
640 flights · 80% on time as flown · 0.4% cancel
Delta Air Lines71%
2,412 flights · 71% on time as flown · 0.7% cancel
Frontier Airlines66%
307 flights · 65% on time as flown · 1.1% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

Before 9 AM83%
728 flights · avg delay 10 min
9 AM to noon74%
443 flights · avg delay 17 min
Noon to 3 PM77%
235 flights · avg delay 16 min
3 to 6 PM70%
825 flights · avg delay 18 min
6 to 9 PM63%
855 flights · avg delay 27 min
After 9 PM71%
273 flights · avg delay 17 min

Best day: Tuesday (78%). Worst: Sunday (68%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

ATL → SJC 85% chance on time
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport · 900 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 72%
Rank flights Fares

On time by month

All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.

What delays this route

Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)41%
Air traffic control and airport volume36%
Late-arriving aircraft18%
Severe weather5%

Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.

Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

ATL to SFO questions

What time of day is best to fly ATL to SFO?: Before 9 AM: 83% of flights arrived on time, against 63% for departures 6 to 9 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
Which airline is most on time from ATL to SFO?: United, with a season-adjusted 79% chance of operating and arriving on time over 640 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
What is the worst month for delays on ATL to SFO?: May (60% on time); the best was October (83%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
Is this a prediction for my flight?: No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.

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