Route on-time record
SMF to SAN: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
Sacramento (Sacramento International Airport) to San Diego (San Diego International Airport). 5,182 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 74% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.0% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 3260 at 6:30 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
SMF → SAN
Sacramento to San Diego: 5,182 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
74%
Cancelled
1.0%
avg delay 14 min
Best time to leave
Before 9 AM
89% on time vs 63% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
Alaska
82% 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 · Southwest 3260
6:30 AM → 8:00 AM1h 30m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
90%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 93%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 4 min
- Arrived on time 93% 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: 89% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Lands 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 3260 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · SkyWest 3398 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
6:40 AM → 8:21 AM1h 41m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
90%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 92%
- Cancelled
- 1.6%
- Avg arrival delay
- 8 min
- Arrived on time 92% of the time (180 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 89% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Lands inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
Moderate track record · 180 flights
Find 6:40 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · Alaska 1496
7:00 AM → 8:39 AM1h 39m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-12.
90%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 95%
- Cancelled
- 4.8%
- Avg arrival delay
- 2 min
- Arrived on time 95% of the time (20 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 89% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Lands inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Short track record (20 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 20 flights
Find Alaska 1496 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Southwest 443
9:20 AM → 10:50 AM1h 30m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
88%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 93%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 4 min
- Arrived on time 93% of the time (54 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 55 scheduled flights.
- Lands inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Short track record (54 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 54 flights
Find Southwest 443 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · Southwest 3947
6:05 AM → 7:35 AM1h 30m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
88%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 93%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 8 min
- Arrived on time 93% of the time (15 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 89% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Lands 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 3947 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#6 · Alaska 1453
7:17 AM → 8:55 AM1h 38m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-21.
88%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 91%
- Cancelled
- 2.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 5 min
- Arrived on time 91% of the time (33 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 89% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Lands 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 Alaska 1453 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#7 · Southwest 240
9:30 AM → 11:00 AM1h 30m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-06.
87%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 97%
- Cancelled
- 3.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 6 min
- Arrived on time 97% of the time (32 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Cancelled 3.0% of the time (1 of 33).
- Lands inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Short track record (32 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 32 flights
Find Southwest 240 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#8 · SkyWest 3368 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
10:50 AM → 12:30 PM1h 42m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-12.
85%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 86%
- Cancelled
- 0.5%
- Avg arrival delay
- 9 min
- Arrived on time 86% of the time (212 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
Strong track record · 212 flights
Find 10:50 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#9 · Southwest 1472
7:30 AM → 9:00 AM1h 30m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
84%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 85%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 8 min
- Arrived on time 85% of the time (39 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 39 scheduled flights.
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 89% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Lands inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
Limited track record · 39 flights
Find Southwest 1472 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#10 · Southwest 4472
8:20 AM → 9:50 AM1h 30m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
82%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 100%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 1 min
- Arrived on time 100% of the time (8 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 89% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 63%).
- Lands inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
- Short track record (8 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.
Limited track record · 8 flights
Find Southwest 4472 fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- Alaska Airlines82%
164 flights · 87% on time as flown · 2.4% cancel
- SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)78%
1,196 flights · 80% on time as flown · 1.7% cancel
- Southwest Airlines72%
3,822 flights · 72% on time as flown · 0.6% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM89%
1,087 flights · avg delay 6 min
- 9 AM to noon80%
1,122 flights · avg delay 13 min
- Noon to 3 PM73%
972 flights · avg delay 14 min
- 3 to 6 PM66%
910 flights · avg delay 19 min
- 6 to 9 PM63%
982 flights · avg delay 20 min
Best day: Tuesday (85%). Worst: Friday (71%).
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 aircraft47%
- Air traffic control and airport volume28%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)24%
- 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
SMF to SAN questions
- What time of day is best to fly SMF to SAN?
- Before 9 AM: 89% of flights arrived on time, against 63% 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 SMF to SAN?
- Alaska, with a season-adjusted 82% chance of operating and arriving on time over 164 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 SMF to SAN?
- October (73% on time); the best was January (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 SMF
- SAN to SMF (return)
- SMF to LAX 86%
- SMF to SEA 82%
- SMF to LAS 80%
- SMF to DEN 82%
- SMF to PHX 82%
- SMF to BUR 85%
- SMF to SNA 84%
- SMF to SLC 88%
- SMF to ONT 85%
- SMF to PDX 82%
- SMF to LGB 86%
- SMF to DFW 80%
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops