Route on-time record
SAN to ORD: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
San Diego (San Diego International Airport) to Chicago (Chicago O'Hare International Airport). 3,742 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 78% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.3% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was United 1457 at 10:30 PM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
SAN → ORD
San Diego to Chicago: 3,742 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
78%
Cancelled
1.3%
avg delay 19 min
Best time to leave
After 9 PM
95% on time vs 64% noon to 3 PM
Most reliable airline
United
81% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $155 (United 2486 on 2026-11-03). 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 1457
10:30 PM → 4:35 AM4h 05m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
92%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 93%
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Avg arrival delay
- 9 min
- Arrived on time 93% of the time (81 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (After 9 PM: 95% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 64%).
- Departs outside SAN's trouble window (6 AM to noon, when 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started).
Moderate track record · 81 flights
Find United 1457 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · American 1543
10:45 PM → 5:18 AM4h 33m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 2366; its record covers all of them.
92%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 95%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 32 min
- Arrived on time 95% of the time (55 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (After 9 PM: 95% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 64%).
- Departs outside SAN's trouble window (6 AM to noon, when 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started).
Limited track record · 55 flights
Find American 1543 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · American 518
6:15 AM → 12:33 PM4h 18m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as American 1494; its record covers all of them.
87%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 89%
- Cancelled
- 2.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 89% of the time (319 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- 57% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Strong track record · 319 flights
Find American 518 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · American 909
10:35 PM → 4:39 AM4h 04m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-05.
86%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 82%
- Cancelled
- 3.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 80 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (28 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (After 9 PM: 95% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 64%).
- Departs outside SAN's trouble window (6 AM to noon, when 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (28 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 28 flights
Find American 909 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · United 2343
7:00 AM → 12:34 PM4h 14m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
86%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 86%
- Cancelled
- 0.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 86% of the time (324 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
Strong track record · 324 flights
Find United 2343 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · United 1069
6:40 AM → 1:09 PM4h 29m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
86%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 82%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 36 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find United 1069 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Alaska 1495
7:55 AM → 2:21 PM4h 26m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
84%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 88%
- Cancelled
- 1.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 10 min
- Arrived on time 88% of the time (117 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Lands inside ORD's trouble window: 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
Moderate track record · 117 flights
Find Alaska 1495 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · United 1710
10:52 AM → 5:04 PM4h 10m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
83%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 85%
- Cancelled
- 1.4%
- Avg arrival delay
- 19 min
- Arrived on time 85% of the time (141 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Lands inside ORD's trouble window: 44% of its 243 ground stops and delay programs started between 2 PM and 8 PM.
- 53% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Moderate track record · 141 flights
Find United 1710 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · United 2486
4:49 PM → 10:59 PM4h 10m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 13 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (318 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside SAN's trouble window (6 AM to noon, when 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 318 flights
Find United 2486 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · American 1261
7:28 AM → 1:51 PM4h 23m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 82%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 30 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Short track record (11 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find American 1261 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- United Airlines81%
1,675 flights · 82% on time as flown · 0.5% cancel
- American Airlines76%
1,382 flights · 77% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel
- Alaska Airlines73%
605 flights · 75% on time as flown · 2.2% cancel
- Frontier Airlines54%
80 flights · 32% on time as flown · 1.7% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM85%
954 flights · avg delay 14 min
- 9 AM to noon82%
536 flights · avg delay 15 min
- Noon to 3 PM64%
990 flights · avg delay 24 min
- 3 to 6 PM73%
778 flights · avg delay 24 min
- After 9 PM95%
484 flights · avg delay 18 min
Best day: Saturday (85%). 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
- Late-arriving aircraft40%
- Air traffic control and airport volume29%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)26%
- Severe weather5%
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
SAN to ORD questions
- What time of day is best to fly SAN to ORD?
- After 9 PM: 95% of flights arrived on time, against 64% for departures noon to 3 PM.
- Which airline is most on time from SAN to ORD?
- United, with a season-adjusted 81% 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 SAN to ORD?
- July (73% on time); the best was September (88%), 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 SAN
- ORD to SAN (return)
- SAN to SFO 68%
- SAN to LAS 76%
- SAN to DEN 79%
- SAN to PHX 76%
- SAN to SMF 77%
- SAN to SJC 78%
- SAN to SEA 81%
- SAN to DFW 77%
- SAN to OAK 75%
- SAN to SLC 84%
- SAN to AUS 74%
- SAN to ATL 84%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops