Best Time to Fly DTW to SFO: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Detroit Metro Wayne County → San Francisco International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
1,796 flights were scheduled from Detroit (DTW) to San Francisco (SFO) in the last 12 months, and 67.0% of those that flew arrived on time, 10.7 points below the US average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 70.9%, while Delta Air Lines trailed at 65.8%.
September has been the best month (91% on time) and Monday the weakest day of the week (68%).
0.7% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DTW to SFO on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 70.9% | 82 min | 0.7% | 408 |
| Delta Air Lines | 65.8% | 62 min | 0.7% | 1,388 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DTW to SFO
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 3,636 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6am–7am | 75.7% | 0.7% | 138 |
| 7am–8am | 76.9% | 0.8% | 358 |
| 8am–9am | 79.4% | 0.7% | 748 |
| 9am–10am | Limited data | 2 | |
| 12pm–1pm | 76.7% | 0.5% | 600 |
| 1pm–2pm | Limited data | 6 | |
| 3pm–4pm | 70.9% | 0.0% | 189 |
| 4pm–5pm | 68.8% | 0.2% | 483 |
| 5pm–6pm | 75.8% | 0.4% | 250 |
| 6pm–7pm | 56.2% | 0.0% | 80 |
| 7pm–8pm | 72.2% | 1.3% | 238 |
| 8pm–9pm | 60.6% | 0.9% | 531 |
| 9pm–10pm | Limited data | 6 | |
| 10pm–11pm | Limited data | 7 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DTW to SFO
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 64.8% | -11.2 pts | 0.0% | 71 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 46.7% | -29.3 pts | 1.4% | 139 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 66.6% | -9.4 pts | 1.1% | 721 |
| All other days | 76.0% | — | 0.5% | 2,705 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).