Route on-time record
PHL to SFO: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Philadelphia (Philadelphia International Airport) to San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport). 1,915 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 75% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.3% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 2661 at 6:12 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
PHL → SFO
Philadelphia to San Francisco: 1,915 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
75%
Cancelled
1.3%
avg delay 20 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
84% on time vs 65% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
United
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 · United 2661
6:12 AM → 9:30 AM6h 18m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
89%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 93%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 4 min
- Arrived on time 93% of the time (57 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 57 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 65%).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 57 flights
Find United 2661 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · American 1524
8:25 AM → 11:36 AM6h 11m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
85%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 87%
- Cancelled
- 0.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 9 min
- Arrived on time 87% of the time (163 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: 65%).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Moderate track record · 163 flights
Find American 1524 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · American 2793
8:11 AM → 11:31 AM6h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
83%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 4 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (44 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 44 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 84% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 65%).
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 44 flights
Find American 2793 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · American 2797
3:51 PM → 7:11 PM6h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 82%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (44 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 44 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside PHL's trouble window: 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Limited track record · 44 flights
Find American 2797 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · American 3295
9:55 PM → 1:18 AM6h 23m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
78%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (40 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 40 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 40 flights
Find American 3295 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · United 267
9:25 AM → 12:34 PM6h 09m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as United 1497; its record covers all of them.
75%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 72%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 72% of the time (32 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 32 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside PHL's trouble window (2 PM to 8 PM, when 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Limited track record · 32 flights
Find United 267 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · American 2045
4:30 PM → 7:45 PM6h 15m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
64%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 63%
- Cancelled
- 2.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 29 min
- Arrived on time 63% of the time (135 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside PHL's trouble window: 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Moderate track record · 135 flights
Find American 2045 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · American 3166
7:35 PM → 11:03 PM6h 28m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 522; its record covers all of them.
63%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 59%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 26 min
- Arrived on time 59% of the time (39 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 40 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 65% on time; Before 9 AM: 84%).
- Departs inside PHL's trouble window: 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Limited track record · 39 flights
Find American 3166 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · United 1575
6:21 PM → 9:39 PM6h 18m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
63%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 64%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 36 min
- Arrived on time 64% of the time (201 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 201 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 65% on time; Before 9 AM: 84%).
- Departs inside PHL's trouble window: 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Strong track record · 201 flights
Find United 1575 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · American 2663
5:59 PM → 9:19 PM6h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
61%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 61%
- Cancelled
- 1.5%
- Avg arrival delay
- 27 min
- Arrived on time 61% of the time (203 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside PHL's trouble window: 72% of its 95 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Strong track record · 203 flights
Find American 2663 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- United Airlines74%
685 flights · 75% on time as flown · 0.7% cancel
- American Airlines73%
1,230 flights · 75% on time as flown · 1.7% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM84%
829 flights · avg delay 10 min
- 3 to 6 PM71%
435 flights · avg delay 22 min
- 6 to 9 PM65%
606 flights · avg delay 32 min
Best day: Wednesday (80%). Worst: Friday (73%).
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
- Air traffic control and airport volume38%
- Late-arriving aircraft26%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)24%
- Severe weather11%
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
PHL to SFO questions
- What time of day is best to fly PHL to SFO?
- Before 9 AM: 84% of flights arrived on time, against 65% 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 PHL to SFO?
- United, with a season-adjusted 74% chance of operating and arriving on time over 685 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 PHL to SFO?
- July (70% on time); the best was October (82%), 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 PHL
- SFO to PHL (return)
- PHL to ATL 78%
- PHL to MCO 72%
- PHL to BOS 75%
- PHL to ORD 72%
- PHL to CLT 80%
- PHL to DFW 77%
- PHL to FLL 72%
- PHL to MIA 77%
- PHL to DEN 76%
- PHL to DTW 80%
- PHL to BNA 75%
- PHL to TPA 73%
Most on-time flights from PHL on every route →
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops