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Route on-time record

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

San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) to Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport). 1,802 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 80% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.9% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Delta 772 at 5:50 AM.

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

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SFO → DTW

San Francisco to Detroit: 1,802 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

80%

Cancelled

0.9%

avg delay 12 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

92% on time vs 73% after 9 PM

Most reliable airline

United

82% chance on time

Check SFO to DTW 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. #1 · Delta 772

    5:50 AM → 1:14 PM4h 28m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    92%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    94%
    Cancelled
    0.8%
    Avg arrival delay
    6 min
    • Arrived on time 94% of the time (361 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 92% on time; After 9 PM: 73%).
    • Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 60% of its 334 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 · 361 flights

    Find Delta 772 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · United 1642

    10:55 AM → 6:50 PM4h 55m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    86%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    87%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    6 min
    • Arrived on time 87% of the time (30 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 30 scheduled flights.
    • Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
    • Lands inside DTW's trouble window: 64% of its 28 ground stops and delay programs started between 1 PM and 7 PM.

    Limited track record · 30 flights

    Find United 1642 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · Delta 361

    11:55 AM → 7:22 PM4h 30m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    78%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    78%
    Cancelled
    1.1%
    Avg arrival delay
    13 min
    • Arrived on time 78% of the time (279 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside SFO's trouble window: 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
    • 50% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Strong track record · 279 flights

    Find Delta 361 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · Delta 717

    2:50 PM → 10:16 PM4h 31m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    74%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    75%
    Cancelled
    1.2%
    Avg arrival delay
    13 min
    • Arrived on time 75% of the time (251 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 251 flights

    Find Delta 717 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · Delta 335

    10:40 PM → 6:03 AM4h 34m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    73%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    74%
    Cancelled
    0.9%
    Avg arrival delay
    14 min
    • Arrived on time 74% of the time (344 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's least on-time window (After 9 PM: 73% on time; Before 9 AM: 92%).
    • Departs outside SFO's trouble window (7 AM to 1 PM, when 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 50% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Strong track record · 344 flights

    Find Delta 335 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • United Airlines82%

    414 flights · 82% on time as flown · 0.8% cancel

  • Delta Air Lines79%

    1,388 flights · 80% on time as flown · 1.0% cancel

On time by departure time

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

  • Before 9 AM92%

    481 flights · avg delay 6 min

  • 9 AM to noon78%

    387 flights · avg delay 13 min

  • Noon to 3 PM76%

    423 flights · avg delay 14 min

  • After 9 PM73%

    470 flights · avg delay 14 min

Best day: Tuesday (87%). 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.

J
82
F
87
M
85
A
87
M
75
J
76
J
77
A
85
S
84
O
86
N
85
D
82

What delays this route

  • Late-arriving aircraft50%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)34%
  • Air traffic control and airport volume16%

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

Finding the most reliable connections from SFO to DTW…

SFO to DTW questions

What time of day is best to fly SFO to DTW?
Before 9 AM: 92% of flights arrived on time, against 73% for departures after 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 SFO to DTW?
United, with a season-adjusted 82% chance of operating and arriving on time over 414 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 SFO to DTW?
May (75% on time); the best was April (87%), 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 SFO

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Live status: FAA delays and ground stops