Route on-time record
ORD to SAN: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Chicago (Chicago O'Hare International Airport) to San Diego (San Diego International Airport). 3,742 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 72% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.1% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 2428 at 7:05 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
ORD → SAN
Chicago to San Diego: 3,742 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
72%
Cancelled
1.1%
avg delay 20 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
85% on time vs 50% after 9 PM
Most reliable airline
United
77% 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 · United 2428
7:05 AM → 9:40 AM4h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
91%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 93%
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 93% of the time (87 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 85% on time; After 9 PM: 50%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
Moderate track record · 87 flights
Find United 2428 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · United 660
8:46 AM → 11:25 AM4h 39m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
84%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (365 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 365 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 85% on time; After 9 PM: 50%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 365 flights
Find United 660 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · United 2683
1:01 PM → 3:33 PM4h 36m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 2384; its record covers all of them.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (352 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 352 flights
Find United 2683 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · United 1182
8:10 PM → 10:39 PM4h 29m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
75%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 85%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 9 min
- Arrived on time 85% of the time (26 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (26 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 26 flights
Find United 1182 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · United 745
4:15 PM → 6:51 PM4h 36m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
71%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 70%
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 18 min
- Arrived on time 70% of the time (83 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside ORD's trouble window: 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- 57% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Moderate track record · 83 flights
Find United 745 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Alaska 1470
8:20 AM → 11:02 AM4h 42m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
71%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 70%
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 20 min
- Arrived on time 70% of the time (214 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 85% on time; After 9 PM: 50%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
Strong track record · 214 flights
Find Alaska 1470 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · American 3284
9:55 AM → 12:28 PM4h 33m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
70%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 83%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 8 min
- Arrived on time 83% of the time (12 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (12 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 12 flights
Find American 3284 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · United 1156
8:00 PM → 10:39 PM4h 39m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
70%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 76%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 76% of the time (21 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (21 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 21 flights
Find United 1156 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · American 2482
10:02 AM → 12:26 PM4h 24m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 2131; its record covers all of them.
69%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 71%
- Cancelled
- 1.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 17 min
- Arrived on time 71% of the time (305 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 305 flights
Find American 2482 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · Alaska 1447
4:10 PM → 6:55 PM4h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
69%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 71%
- Cancelled
- 1.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 22 min
- Arrived on time 71% of the time (208 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside ORD's trouble window: 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- 56% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Strong track record · 208 flights
Find Alaska 1447 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- United Airlines77%
1,675 flights · 78% on time as flown · 0.4% cancel
- Alaska Airlines68%
605 flights · 69% on time as flown · 2.2% cancel
- American Airlines66%
1,381 flights · 67% on time as flown · 1.5% cancel
- Frontier Airlines57%
81 flights · 46% on time as flown · 1.2% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM85%
885 flights · avg delay 11 min
- 9 AM to noon72%
879 flights · avg delay 17 min
- Noon to 3 PM72%
468 flights · avg delay 20 min
- 3 to 6 PM67%
711 flights · avg delay 23 min
- 6 to 9 PM62%
664 flights · avg delay 29 min
- After 9 PM50%
135 flights · avg delay 39 min
Best day: Saturday (78%). Worst: Friday (71%).
Smarter routing
Nearby airports that run more on time
MDW → SAN 74% chance on time
Chicago Midway International Airport to San Diego International Airport · 1,066 flights a year · 15 mi from your airports · yours: 71%
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
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)31%
- Air traffic control and airport volume23%
- Severe weather6%
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
ORD to SAN questions
- What time of day is best to fly ORD to SAN?
- Before 9 AM: 85% of flights arrived on time, against 50% 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 ORD to SAN?
- United, with a season-adjusted 77% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,675 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 ORD to SAN?
- July (66% on time); the best was March (80%), 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 ORD
- SAN to ORD (return)
- ORD to LGA 67%
- ORD to BOS 68%
- ORD to LAX 74%
- ORD to DFW 70%
- ORD to DCA 69%
- ORD to MCO 73%
- ORD to ATL 74%
- ORD to MSP 69%
- ORD to DEN 74%
- ORD to IAH 75%
- ORD to EWR 69%
- ORD to DTW 71%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops