Route on-time record

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

Chicago (Chicago O'Hare International Airport) to San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport). 5,607 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 70% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.3% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 246 at 6:25 AM.

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

ORD → SFO

Chicago to San Francisco: 5,607 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

70%

Cancelled

1.3%

avg delay 23 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

84% on time vs 54% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

United

71% chance on time

Check ORD to SFO fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $165 (American 2158 on 2026-10-18). 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 246
6:25 AM → 9:16 AM4h 51m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
92%
chance on time
On time (history)
94%
Cancelled
1.1%
Avg arrival delay
4 min
- Arrived on time 94% of the time (87 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 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 · 87 flights
Find United 246 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#2 · United 1116
7:40 AM → 10:38 AM4h 56m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 2418; its record covers all of them.
89%
chance on time
On time (history)
92%
Cancelled
1.1%
Avg arrival delay
10 min
- Arrived on time 92% of the time (87 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 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 · 87 flights
Find United 1116 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#3 · American 2543
6:45 AM → 9:25 AM4h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 2416; its record covers all of them.
84%
chance on time
On time (history)
85%
Cancelled
2.4%
Avg arrival delay
6 min
- Arrived on time 85% of the time (40 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 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 · 40 flights
Find American 2543 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#4 · United 2860
12:05 PM → 3:00 PM4h 55m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-18.
77%
chance on time
On time (history)
73%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
18 min
- Arrived on time 73% of the time (15 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 (15 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 15 flights
Find United 2860 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#5 · United 1902
12:45 PM → 3:28 PM4h 43m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 1097; its record covers all of them.
76%
chance on time
On time (history)
75%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
17 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (146 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 146 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 146 flights
Find United 1902 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#6 · American 1253
6:55 AM → 9:52 AM4h 57m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
75%
chance on time
On time (history)
74%
Cancelled
0.6%
Avg arrival delay
25 min
- Arrived on time 74% of the time (308 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 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 · 308 flights
Find American 1253 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#7 · United 1577
2:15 PM → 5:12 PM4h 57m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
74%
chance on time
On time (history)
75%
Cancelled
1.9%
Avg arrival delay
23 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (357 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.
Strong track record · 357 flights
Find United 1577 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#8 · United 2106
9:40 PM → 12:39 AM4h 59m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
74%
chance on time
On time (history)
77%
Cancelled
2.8%
Avg arrival delay
17 min
- Arrived on time 77% of the time (175 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).
Moderate track record · 175 flights
Find United 2106 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#9 · United 1486
8:55 AM → 11:44 AM4h 49m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 343; its record covers all of them.
74%
chance on time
On time (history)
76%
Cancelled
1.1%
Avg arrival delay
18 min
- Arrived on time 76% of the time (261 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 54%).
- Departs outside ORD's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 44% of its 243 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 · 261 flights
Find United 1486 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#10 · United 2148
10:45 PM → 1:35 AM4h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-27.
73%
chance on time
On time (history)
73%
Cancelled
6.3%
Avg arrival delay
19 min
- Arrived on time 73% of the time (15 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 (15 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 15 flights
Find United 2148 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

United Airlines71%
3,772 flights · 72% on time as flown · 1.0% cancel
American Airlines65%
1,755 flights · 66% on time as flown · 1.8% cancel
Alaska Airlines62%
80 flights · 60% on time as flown · 2.2% cancel

On time by departure time

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

Before 9 AM84%
1,327 flights · avg delay 13 min
9 AM to noon69%
936 flights · avg delay 24 min
Noon to 3 PM75%
820 flights · avg delay 22 min
3 to 6 PM69%
1,012 flights · avg delay 25 min
6 to 9 PM54%
1,173 flights · avg delay 31 min
After 9 PM66%
339 flights · avg delay 22 min

Best day: Saturday (77%). Worst: Friday (70%).

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 aircraft41%
Air traffic control and airport volume28%
Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)26%
Severe weather4%

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 SFO questions

What time of day is best to fly ORD to SFO?: Before 9 AM: 84% of flights arrived on time, against 54% 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 ORD to SFO?: United, with a season-adjusted 71% chance of operating and arriving on time over 3,772 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 SFO?: May (64% on time); the best was September (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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