69% of flights from New York to San Francisco arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 86% of the time; the 6 p.m. ones 43%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (72%). 13% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for JFK → SFO: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 53% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 55 three hours or more; 2.6% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early69%
- 15–30 min late9.8%
- 30–60 min late7.9%
- 1–2 hours late6.0%
- 2–3 hours late2.3%
- 3+ hours late1.8%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled2.6%
Share of all 6,800 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 2,231 | 66% | 2.2% | 0 min | 11.4% | +70 min | Delta Air Lines |
| JetBlue | 1,955 | 71% | 2.9% | −5 min | 11.2% | +73 min | JetBlue |
| American Airlines | 1,501 | 72% | 2.9% | −7 min | 7.5% | +67 min | American Airlines |
| Alaska Airlines | 1,113 | 70% | 2.4% | −5 min | 9.4% | +66 min | Alaska Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at JFK). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | JetBlue | American Airlines | Alaska Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | — | 85% | 87% | — |
| 7 a.m. | 70% | — | 82% | — |
| 8 a.m. | — | 81% | 78% | — |
| 9 a.m. | 71% | — | — | 71% |
| 10 a.m. | — | 71% | — | — |
| 11 a.m. | 70% | — | — | 71% |
| 1 p.m. | — | 78% | — | 86% |
| 2 p.m. | 73% | — | — | — |
| 3 p.m. | — | 62% | — | — |
| 4 p.m. | 62% | — | — | 65% |
| 5 p.m. | 62% | — | 75% | — |
| 6 p.m. | — | 37% | — | 57% |
| 7 p.m. | 59% | — | — | — |
| 8 p.m. | — | 60% | 59% | 57% |
| 9 p.m. | 55% | — | 57% | — |
Last flight of the day
On JFK → SFO, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 3.6% of the time, against 2.3% for its earlier flights (1.6× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.6% of the time (earlier flights: 1.7%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 9:26 p.m. | 3.9% | 1.1% | 2.5% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| Alaska Airlines | 6:55 p.m. | 3.0% | 3.9% | 2.1% | first flight 9:30 a.m. |
| JetBlue | 8:59 p.m. | 3.6% | 3.3% | 2.7% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 8:55 p.m. | 3.8% | 2.2% | 1.9% | first flight 7:00 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in SFO tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: September (84%). Worst: June (67%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 1,043 | 64% | 3.6% |
| Tuesday | 956 | 77% | 3.7% |
| Wednesday | 952 | 74% | 0.7% |
| Thursday | 1,008 | 64% | 1.8% |
| Friday | 1,019 | 71% | 1.5% |
| Saturday | 801 | 71% | 2.4% |
| Sunday | 1,021 | 66% | 4.2% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 115 · airline 32 · air traffic/airport 28
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA 76 | 6:00 a.m. | 336 | 86% | 2.7% | −11 min | American Airlines |
| B6 115 | 6:00 a.m. | 347 | 79% | 2.0% | −8 min | JetBlue |
| DL 668 | 7:00 a.m. | 359 | 70% | 1.9% | −5 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AA 179 | 7:30 a.m. | 365 | 78% | 2.2% | −9 min | American Airlines |
| B6 15 | 8:00 a.m. | 258 | 81% | 3.1% | −8 min | JetBlue |
| DL 669 | 9:05 a.m. | 201 | 71% | 3.0% | +1 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AS 227 | 9:30 a.m. | 344 | 78% | 2.6% | −9 min | Alaska Airlines |
| B6 215 | 10:30 a.m. | 165 | 70% | 2.4% | −8 min | JetBlue |
| AS 41 | 11:30 a.m. | 302 | 62% | 3.0% | +3 min | Alaska Airlines |
| DL 363 | 11:30 a.m. | 262 | 68% | 0.8% | 0 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 679 | 2:55 p.m. | 346 | 72% | 1.2% | −5 min | Delta Air Lines |
| B6 415 | 3:45 p.m. | 158 | 60% | 3.2% | 0 min | JetBlue |
| AA 15 | 5:00 p.m. | 350 | 71% | 2.9% | −7 min | American Airlines |
| DL 365 | 5:00 p.m. | 211 | 62% | 1.9% | +3 min | Delta Air Lines |
| B6 615 | 6:30 p.m. | 346 | 64% | 3.2% | 0 min | JetBlue |
| DL 667 | 7:25 p.m. | 358 | 54% | 3.6% | +9 min | Delta Air Lines |
| B6 515 | 8:59 p.m. | 154 | 56% | 4.5% | +4 min | JetBlue |
| AA 177 | 9:00 p.m. | 362 | 58% | 3.9% | +4 min | American Airlines |
| DL 1732 | 9:15 p.m. | 136 | 54% | 3.7% | +7 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 23, 2026 | 18 | 0% | 18 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 18 | 0% | 15 |
| Feb 24, 2026 | 15 | 0% | 10 |
| Dec 14, 2025 | 19 | 11% | 4 |
| Dec 21, 2025 | 17 | 12% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of New York or San Francisco. None has been clearly more reliable than JFK → SFO.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK → SFO (this route) | 6,800 | 69% | 2.6% |
| EWR → SFO Newark to San Francisco | 4,349 | 66% | 2.3% |
Questions
How often are flights from JFK to SFO on time?
69% of 6,800 scheduled flights from New York, NY to San Francisco, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.6% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly JFK to SFO?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (86% on time). The 6 p.m. departures were the least (43%).
Which airline is most on time from JFK to SFO?
American Airlines: 72% of its 1,501 flights on the route arrived on time. Delta Air Lines: 66%. JetBlue: 71%. Alaska Airlines: 70%.
What month has the most delays from JFK to SFO?
June (67% on time). The best month is September (84%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from JFK to SFO more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last JFK–SFO flight of the day was cancelled 3.6% of the time over the past year, against 2.3% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SFO → JFK (return)
- New York JFK (JFK) delays by hour
- Flights into San Francisco (SFO)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- JetBlue on-time record
- American Airlines on-time record
- Alaska Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.