Route on-time record
DTW to LAX: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport) to Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport). 2,602 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 79% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.9% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Delta 794 at 8:25 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DTW → LAX
Detroit to Los Angeles: 2,602 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
79%
Cancelled
0.9%
avg delay 15 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
88% on time vs 66% after 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Spirit
79% chance on time
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 · Delta 794
8:25 AM → 10:33 AM5h 08m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-12.
88%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 90%
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 6 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (240 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; After 9 PM: 66%).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 240 flights
Find Delta 794 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Delta 634
12:30 PM → 2:35 PM4h 56m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
83%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 8 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (347 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 347 flights
Find Delta 634 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Spirit 3414
10:35 AM → 12:39 PM5h 04m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-13.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (10 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (10 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 10 flights
Find Spirit 3414 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Delta 523
8:51 AM → 10:45 AM4h 54m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 76%
- Cancelled
- 2.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 76% of the time (119 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; After 9 PM: 66%).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 119 flights
Find Delta 523 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Delta 908
4:25 PM → 6:29 PM4h 58m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 78%
- Cancelled
- 0.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 20 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (232 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Lands inside LAX's trouble window: 53% of its 15 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
Strong track record · 232 flights
Find Delta 908 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Delta 883
6:59 PM → 9:07 PM4h 56m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
77%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 77%
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 15 min
- Arrived on time 77% of the time (334 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Lands inside LAX's trouble window: 53% of its 15 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
Strong track record · 334 flights
Find Delta 883 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Delta 403
9:55 PM → 11:50 PM4h 55m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-06.
76%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 21 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (83 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 84 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (After 9 PM: 66% on time; Before 9 AM: 88%).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 83 flights
Find Delta 403 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Delta 852
9:45 PM → 11:52 PM5h 07m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
74%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 78%
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 18 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (246 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (After 9 PM: 66% on time; Before 9 AM: 88%).
- Departs outside DTW's trouble window (1 PM to 7 PM, when 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 246 flights
Find Delta 852 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · Spirit 626
3:46 PM → 5:38 PM4h 52m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-30.
72%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 53%
- Cancelled
- 6.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 26 min
- Arrived on time 53% of the time (15 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Lands inside LAX's trouble window: 53% of its 15 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
- Short track record (15 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 15 flights
Find Spirit 626 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · Spirit 985
6:32 PM → 8:33 PM5h 01m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-13.
66%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 59%
- Cancelled
- 3.5%
- Avg arrival delay
- 30 min
- Arrived on time 59% of the time (83 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.5% of the time (3 of 86).
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Lands inside LAX's trouble window: 53% of its 15 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
Moderate track record · 83 flights
Find Spirit 985 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Spirit Airlines79%
601 flights · 81% on time as flown · 1.1% cancel
- Delta Air Lines77%
1,999 flights · 78% on time as flown · 0.9% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM88%
503 flights · avg delay 9 min
- 9 AM to noon84%
177 flights · avg delay 8 min
- Noon to 3 PM85%
531 flights · avg delay 9 min
- 3 to 6 PM77%
376 flights · avg delay 17 min
- 6 to 9 PM72%
817 flights · avg delay 18 min
- After 9 PM66%
198 flights · avg delay 31 min
Best day: Wednesday (87%). Worst: Sunday (78%).
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)53%
- Late-arriving aircraft23%
- Air traffic control and airport volume19%
- Severe weather4%
- Security1%
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
DTW to LAX questions
- What time of day is best to fly DTW to LAX?
- Before 9 AM: 88% of flights arrived on time, against 66% for departures after 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 DTW to LAX?
- Spirit, with a season-adjusted 79% chance of operating and arriving on time over 601 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 DTW to LAX?
- January (76% on time); the best was September (90%), 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.
More routes from DTW
- LAX to DTW (return)
- DTW to ORD 72%
- DTW to ATL 78%
- DTW to LGA 75%
- DTW to MCO 75%
- DTW to EWR 75%
- DTW to CLT 84%
- DTW to DFW 76%
- DTW to DEN 79%
- DTW to DCA 68%
- DTW to PHL 79%
- DTW to LAS 77%
- DTW to FLL 72%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops