Route on-time record
SEA to DTW: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Seattle (Seattle–Tacoma International Airport) to Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport). 2,081 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 84% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.9% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Delta 812 at 6:00 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
SEA → DTW
Seattle to Detroit: 2,081 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
84%
Cancelled
0.9%
avg delay 10 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
88% on time vs 78% noon to 3 PM
Most reliable airline
Delta
84% chance on time
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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 · Delta 812
6:00 AM → 1:09 PM4h 13m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
90%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 91%
- Cancelled
- 1.1%
- Avg arrival delay
- 9 min
- Arrived on time 91% of the time (360 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 78%).
- Departs outside SEA's trouble window (4 PM to 10 PM, when 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Strong track record · 360 flights
Find Delta 812 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · Delta 2324
9:30 AM → 5:05 PM4h 35m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
86%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 86%
- Cancelled
- 1.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 7 min
- Arrived on time 86% of the time (124 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside SEA's trouble window (4 PM to 10 PM, when 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Moderate track record · 124 flights
Find Delta 2324 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Alaska 313
8:35 AM → 3:56 PM4h 24m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
83%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 0.3%
- Avg arrival delay
- 8 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (348 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 88% on time; Noon to 3 PM: 78%).
- Departs outside SEA's trouble window (4 PM to 10 PM, when 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Strong track record · 348 flights
Find Alaska 313 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Delta 533
1:30 PM → 8:45 PM4h 21m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
83%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 1.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (309 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (Noon to 3 PM: 78% on time; Before 9 AM: 88%).
- Departs outside SEA's trouble window (4 PM to 10 PM, when 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 309 flights
Find Delta 533 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Delta 810
11:15 PM → 6:30 AM4h 16m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 1.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (355 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside SEA's trouble window (4 PM to 10 PM, when 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started).
Strong track record · 355 flights
Find Delta 810 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Alaska 406
10:23 PM → 5:49 AM4h 26m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 84%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 11 min
- Arrived on time 84% of the time (19 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside SEA's trouble window (4 PM to 10 PM, when 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Short track record (19 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 19 flights
Find Alaska 406 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Delta 1706
9:55 AM → 5:10 PM4h 19m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
80%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 80%
- Cancelled
- 0.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 12 min
- Arrived on time 80% of the time (300 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Departs outside SEA's trouble window (4 PM to 10 PM, when 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started).
- Lands inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.
Strong track record · 300 flights
Find Delta 1706 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · Alaska 380
10:17 PM → 5:44 AM4h 27m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-12.
79%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 76%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 10 min
- Arrived on time 76% of the time (119 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 120 scheduled flights.
- Departs outside SEA's trouble window (4 PM to 10 PM, when 54% of its 68 ground stops and delay programs started).
- 54% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.
Moderate track record · 119 flights
Find Alaska 380 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Delta Air Lines84%
1,544 flights · 85% on time as flown · 1.1% cancel
- Alaska Airlines82%
537 flights · 81% on time as flown · 0.3% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM88%
648 flights · avg delay 8 min
- 9 AM to noon82%
507 flights · avg delay 10 min
- Noon to 3 PM78%
135 flights · avg delay 18 min
- 3 to 6 PM86%
220 flights · avg delay 9 min
- After 9 PM81%
571 flights · avg delay 12 min
Best day: Tuesday (89%). Worst: Sunday (82%).
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
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)49%
- Late-arriving aircraft33%
- Air traffic control and airport volume15%
- Severe weather2%
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
SEA to DTW questions
- What time of day is best to fly SEA to DTW?
- Before 9 AM: 88% of flights arrived on time, against 78% for departures noon to 3 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 SEA to DTW?
- Delta, with a season-adjusted 84% chance of operating and arriving on time over 1,544 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 SEA to DTW?
- July (77% on time); the best was November (91%), 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 SEA
- DTW to SEA (return)
- SEA to LAX 83%
- SEA to PHX 79%
- SEA to SFO 69%
- SEA to ANC 74%
- SEA to DEN 77%
- SEA to LAS 77%
- SEA to ORD 75%
- SEA to GEG 81%
- SEA to DFW 77%
- SEA to PDX 82%
- SEA to SAN 78%
- SEA to SMF 81%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops