Route on-time record
STL to SFO: most on-time flights and the best time to fly
St Louis (St. Louis Lambert International Airport) to San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport). 804 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 66% arrived within 15 minutes and 0.9% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 1469 at 9:45 AM.
Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.
STL → SFO
St Louis to San Francisco: 804 nonstop flights a year
On time (12 months)
66%
Cancelled
0.9%
avg delay 25 min
Best time to leave
3 to 6 PM
76% on time vs 35% 6 to 9 PM
Most reliable airline
United
69% chance on time
Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $412 (United 1257 on 2026-10-26). 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 1469
9:45 AM → 12:10 PM4h 25m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
69%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 75%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 14 min
- Arrived on time 75% of the time (8 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Limited track record · 8 flights
Find Southwest 1469 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#2 · SkyWest 5728 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
8:30 AM → 11:13 AM4h 43m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
58%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 49%
- Cancelled
- 1.9%
- Avg arrival delay
- 43 min
- Arrived on time 49% of the time (51 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Limited track record · 51 flights
Find 8:30 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales#3 · United 2482
7:23 PM → 9:43 PM4h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.
56%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 36%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 41 min
- Arrived on time 36% of the time (11 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 35% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 76%).
Limited track record · 11 flights
Find United 2482 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#4 · Southwest 1749
8:25 AM → 10:45 AM4h 20m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-29.
50%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 31%
- Cancelled
- 0.0%
- Avg arrival delay
- 47 min
- Arrived on time 31% of the time (39 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Never cancelled in 39 scheduled flights.
- Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 60% of its 334 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
Limited track record · 39 flights
Find Southwest 1749 fares Opens this date on Aviasales#5 · SkyWest 5943 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska
7:05 PM → 9:50 PM4h 45m nonstop
Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-20.
44%
chance on time
- On time (history)
- 25%
- Cancelled
- 2.7%
- Avg arrival delay
- 85 min
- Arrived on time 25% of the time (36 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
- Leaves in this route's least on-time window (6 to 9 PM: 35% on time; 3 to 6 PM: 76%).
Limited track record · 36 flights
Find 7:05 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales
Airlines on this route
Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.
- United Airlines69%
229 flights · 70% on time as flown · 0.6% cancel
- Southwest Airlines65%
342 flights · 66% on time as flown · 0.5% cancel
- SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)64%
233 flights · 63% on time as flown · 1.6% cancel
On time by departure time
All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.
- Before 9 AM60%
236 flights · avg delay 31 min
- 9 AM to noon76%
189 flights · avg delay 12 min
- Noon to 3 PM61%
59 flights · avg delay 22 min
- 3 to 6 PM76%
240 flights · avg delay 19 min
- 6 to 9 PM35%
79 flights · avg delay 59 min
Best day: Tuesday (76%). Worst: Sunday (63%).
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
- Air traffic control and airport volume45%
- Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)32%
- Late-arriving aircraft21%
- 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
STL to SFO questions
- What time of day is best to fly STL to SFO?
- 3 to 6 PM: 76% of flights arrived on time, against 35% for departures 6 to 9 PM.
- Which airline is most on time from STL to SFO?
- United, with a season-adjusted 69% chance of operating and arriving on time over 229 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 STL to SFO?
- May (55% on time); the best was January (85%), 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 STL
- SFO to STL (return)
- STL to ATL 85%
- STL to DEN 75%
- STL to ORD 71%
- STL to LGA 75%
- STL to MCO 78%
- STL to DCA 73%
- STL to DFW 74%
- STL to PHX 76%
- STL to LAS 79%
- STL to DAL 77%
- STL to DTW 83%
- STL to MSP 80%
Most on-time flights from STL on every route →
Live status: FAA delays and ground stops