76% of flights from Chicago to Sarasota arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 8 a.m. departures ran on time 79% of the time; the 4 p.m. ones 77%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (78%). 11% 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 ORD → SRQ: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 44% of the time. About 1 in 10 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 62 three hours or more; 1.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early76%
- 15–30 min late6.7%
- 30–60 min late5.9%
- 1–2 hours late6.0%
- 2–3 hours late2.2%
- 3+ hours late1.6%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.2%
Share of all 998 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 619 | 78% | 0.7% | −8 min | 8.6% | +73 min | United Airlines |
| American Airlines | 379 | 73% | 2.1% | −7 min | 11.9% | +75 min | American Airlines 57%, Envoy 32%, Republic Airways 11% |
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 ORD). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | United Airlines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | — | 80% |
| 11 a.m. | 78% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 77% | — |
Last flight of the day
On ORD → SRQ, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.0% of the time, against 1.2% for its earlier flights (1.7× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.3% of the time (earlier flights: 1.2%). 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 | 2:53 p.m. | 3.5% | 2.8% | 1.8% | first flight 2:53 p.m. |
| United Airlines | 11:10 a.m. | 1.0% | 1.9% | 0.8% | first flight 11:10 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 SRQ tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: June (90%). Worst: March (70%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 142 | 74% | 2.8% |
| Tuesday | 138 | 87% | 0.7% |
| Wednesday | 135 | 78% | 1.5% |
| Thursday | 135 | 81% | 1.5% |
| Friday | 137 | 71% | 0.7% |
| Saturday | 172 | 76% | 0.6% |
| Sunday | 139 | 68% | 0.7% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 10 · air traffic/airport 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA 2287 | 11:10 a.m. | 159 | 81% | 0.6% | −9 min | United Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 2025 | 6 | 0% | 0 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 1 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 3 |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Dec 7, 2025 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Chicago or Sarasota. None has been clearly more reliable than ORD → SRQ.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD → SRQ (this route) | 998 | 76% | 1.2% |
| MDW → TPA Chicago Midway to Tampa | 1,569 | 75% | 1.3% |
| MDW → SRQ Chicago Midway to Sarasota Bradenton | 519 | 72% | 1.4% |
| ORD → TPA Chicago O'Hare to Tampa | 3,174 | 72% | 1.5% |
Questions
How often are flights from ORD to SRQ on time?
76% of 998 scheduled flights from Chicago, IL to Sarasota/Bradenton, FL arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.2% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly ORD to SRQ?
Flights scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. were the most reliable (79% on time). The 4 p.m. departures were the least (77%).
Which airline is most on time from ORD to SRQ?
United Airlines: 78% of its 619 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 73%.
What month has the most delays from ORD to SRQ?
March (70% on time). The best month is June (90%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from ORD to SRQ more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last ORD–SRQ flight of the day was cancelled 2.0% of the time over the past year, against 1.2% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SRQ → ORD (return)
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) delays by hour
- Flights into Sarasota Bradenton (SRQ)
- United Airlines on-time record
- American 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.