Route on-time record

SAN to SMF: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

San Diego (San Diego International Airport) to Sacramento (Sacramento International Airport). 5,176 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 77% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.9% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 4126 at 6:45 AM.

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

SAN → SMF

San Diego to Sacramento: 5,176 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

77%

Cancelled

0.9%

avg delay 12 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

94% on time vs 67% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

SkyWest

77% chance on time

Check SAN to SMF fares

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 · Southwest 4126
6:45 AM → 8:25 AM1h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
92%
chance on time
On time (history)
94%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
4 min
- Arrived on time 94% of the time (54 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 54 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 94% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 67%).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
Limited track record · 54 flights
Find Southwest 4126 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#2 · Southwest 4127
8:00 AM → 9:45 AM1h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
89%
chance on time
On time (history)
91%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
5 min
- Arrived on time 91% of the time (47 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 47 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 94% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 67%).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
Limited track record · 47 flights
Find Southwest 4127 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#3 · Southwest 3284
6:30 AM → 8:15 AM1h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
89%
chance on time
On time (history)
91%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
5 min
- Arrived on time 91% of the time (33 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 33 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 94% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 67%).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
Limited track record · 33 flights
Find Southwest 3284 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#4 · SkyWest 3026 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
9:40 AM → 11:32 AM1h 52m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
89%
chance on time
On time (history)
100%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
1 min
- Arrived on time 100% of the time (16 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 (16 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 16 flights
Find 9:40 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#5 · SkyWest 3368 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
7:16 AM → 9:16 AM2h 00m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-12.
88%
chance on time
On time (history)
90%
Cancelled
1.5%
Avg arrival delay
6 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (201 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 94% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 67%).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
Strong track record · 201 flights
Find 7:16 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#6 · Southwest 1316
9:20 AM → 11:10 AM1h 50m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
87%
chance on time
On time (history)
94%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
2 min
- Arrived on time 94% of the time (33 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 33 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Short track record (33 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 33 flights
Find Southwest 1316 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#7 · Southwest 736
8:10 AM → 9:55 AM1h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
87%
chance on time
On time (history)
87%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
4 min
- Arrived on time 87% of the time (15 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 94% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 67%).
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Short track record (15 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 15 flights
Find Southwest 736 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#8 · SkyWest 3006 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
11:27 AM → 1:22 PM1h 55m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-11.
85%
chance on time
On time (history)
90%
Cancelled
2.3%
Avg arrival delay
6 min
- Arrived on time 90% of the time (125 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.
Moderate track record · 125 flights
Find 11:27 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#9 · Southwest 2304
11:45 AM → 1:30 PM1h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
83%
chance on time
On time (history)
88%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
6 min
- Arrived on time 88% of the time (33 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 33 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Short track record (33 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 33 flights
Find Southwest 2304 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
#10 · Southwest 1716
10:30 AM → 12:10 PM1h 40m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31. Same departure also flew as Southwest 3291; its record covers all of them.
82%
chance on time
On time (history)
82%
Cancelled
0.0%
Avg arrival delay
8 min
- Arrived on time 82% of the time (62 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 62 scheduled flights.
- Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
Moderate track record · 62 flights
Find Southwest 1716 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)77%
1,194 flights · 78% on time as flown · 1.4% cancel
Alaska Airlines77%
164 flights · 80% on time as flown · 2.0% cancel
Southwest Airlines76%
3,818 flights · 76% on time as flown · 0.6% cancel

On time by departure time

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

Before 9 AM94%
832 flights · avg delay 4 min
9 AM to noon86%
1,149 flights · avg delay 8 min
Noon to 3 PM71%
906 flights · avg delay 14 min
3 to 6 PM70%
1,043 flights · avg delay 16 min
6 to 9 PM67%
817 flights · avg delay 17 min
After 9 PM68%
429 flights · avg delay 15 min

Best day: Tuesday (85%). Worst: Friday (72%).

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 aircraft69%
Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)20%
Air traffic control and airport volume9%
Severe weather1%

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 SMF questions

What time of day is best to fly SAN to SMF?: Before 9 AM: 94% of flights arrived on time, against 67% 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 SAN to SMF?: SkyWest, with a season-adjusted 77% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,194 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 SMF?: July (71% on time); the best was January (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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