Route on-time record
DTW to SEA: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport) to Seattle (Seattle–Tacoma International Airport). 2,085 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 73% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.9% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Alaska 1524 at 5:14 PM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
DTW → SEA
Detroit to Seattle: 2,085 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
73%
Cancelled
0.9%
avg delay 15 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
81% on time vs 64% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Alaska
74% 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 · Alaska 1524
5:14 PM → 7:09 PM4h 55m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-12.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 95%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 95% of the time (21 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 SEA's trouble window: 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
- Short track record (21 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 21 flights
Find Alaska 1524 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Alaska 381
7:09 AM → 9:08 AM4h 59m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 85%
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 8 min
- Arrived on time 85% of the time (154 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 81% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 64%).
- 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 · 154 flights
Find Alaska 381 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Delta 734
8:25 AM → 10:33 AM5h 02m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
78%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 79%
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 79% of the time (358 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 81% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 64%).
- 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 · 358 flights
Find Delta 734 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Delta 728
12:20 PM → 2:20 PM4h 57m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
77%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 78%
- Cancelled
- 0.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 78% of the time (360 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 · 360 flights
Find Delta 728 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Delta 732
6:45 PM → 8:41 PM4h 56m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
74%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 79%
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 79% of the time (85 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 64% on time; Before 9 AM: 81%).
- Departs inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
- Lands inside SEA's trouble window: 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
Moderate track record · 85 flights
Find Delta 732 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Alaska 313
4:52 PM → 6:56 PM5h 04m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
71%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 70%
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 70% of the time (308 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 SEA's trouble window: 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
Strong track record · 308 flights
Find Alaska 313 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Delta 944
4:29 PM → 6:26 PM4h 57m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
67%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 68%
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 16 min
- Arrived on time 68% of the time (321 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 SEA's trouble window: 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started between 4 PM and 10 PM.
Strong track record · 321 flights
Find Delta 944 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Delta 565
8:15 PM → 10:15 PM4h 58m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
60%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 60%
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 27 min
- Arrived on time 60% of the time (331 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 64% on time; Before 9 AM: 81%).
- 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 · 331 flights
Find Delta 565 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Alaska Airlines74%
538 flights · 75% on time as flown · 0.5% cancel
- Delta Air Lines72%
1,547 flights · 73% on time as flown · 1.1% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM81%
600 flights · avg delay 10 min
- Noon to 3 PM78%
364 flights · avg delay 12 min
- 3 to 6 PM70%
654 flights · avg delay 15 min
- 6 to 9 PM64%
438 flights · avg delay 23 min
Best day: Tuesday (84%). Worst: Friday (77%).
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 volume30%
- Late-arriving aircraft26%
- Severe weather3%
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 SEA questions
- What time of day is best to fly DTW to SEA?
- Before 9 AM: 81% of flights arrived on time, against 64% 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 DTW to SEA?
- Alaska, with a season-adjusted 74% chance of operating and arriving on time over 538 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 SEA?
- December (72% 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
- SEA 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