71% of flights from San Diego to Phoenix 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 89% of the time; the 9 p.m. ones 57%. Most reliable airline: American Airlines (80%). 10% 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 SAN → PHX: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 57% of the time. About 1 in 13 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 86 three hours or more; 1.8% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early71%
- 15–30 min late9.9%
- 30–60 min late9.2%
- 1–2 hours late5.2%
- 2–3 hours late1.4%
- 3+ hours late1.2%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.8%
Share of all 6,591 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Airlines | 3,210 | 71% | 1.4% | −2 min | 7.0% | +50 min | Southwest Airlines |
| American Airlines | 1,663 | 80% | 0.8% | −8 min | 7.8% | +124 min | American Airlines |
| Alaska Airlines | 1,343 | 62% | 4.3% | +4 min | 9.5% | +52 min | SkyWest 44%, Horizon Air 42%, Alaska Airlines 13% |
| Frontier Airlines | 375 | 70% | 0.8% | −7 min | 8.8% | +70 min | Frontier 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 SAN). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Southwest Airlines | American Airlines | Alaska Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 93% | 89% | — |
| 7 a.m. | 82% | — | — |
| 8 a.m. | 89% | — | — |
| 9 a.m. | 81% | 88% | 70% |
| 10 a.m. | 79% | 87% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 81% | — | — |
| noon | — | 74% | — |
| 1 p.m. | 60% | 87% | 53% |
| 2 p.m. | 64% | — | — |
| 3 p.m. | 68% | — | — |
| 4 p.m. | 59% | 70% | 55% |
| 5 p.m. | 46% | — | 72% |
| 6 p.m. | 58% | — | — |
| 7 p.m. | 63% | 71% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 60% | — | — |
| 9 p.m. | 64% | — | 46% |
Last flight of the day
On SAN → PHX, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 3.2% of the time, against 1.6% for its earlier flights (2.0× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.7% of the time (earlier flights: 1.1%). 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 | 7:15 p.m. | 0.8% | 4.4% | 0.8% | first flight 6:25 a.m. |
| Alaska Airlines | 9:19 p.m. | 7.7% | 0.5% | 3.1% | first flight 10:52 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 9:00 p.m. | 1.4% | 0.0% | 1.4% | first flight 6:40 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 PHX tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: February (82%). Worst: July (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 1,007 | 69% | 1.0% |
| Tuesday | 900 | 80% | 0.6% |
| Wednesday | 907 | 79% | 1.4% |
| Thursday | 994 | 63% | 2.9% |
| Friday | 1,003 | 62% | 3.3% |
| Saturday | 784 | 82% | 1.1% |
| Sunday | 996 | 67% | 2.1% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 47 · air traffic/airport 40 · airline 33
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 625 | 6:25 a.m. | 203 | 88% | 0.5% | −11 min | American Airlines |
| AA 2122 | 1:06 p.m. | 133 | 80% | 0.0% | −2 min | American Airlines |
| F9 4578 | 4:12 p.m. | 205 | 66% | 0.5% | −4 min | Frontier Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2025 | 20 | 10% | 0 |
| Nov 9, 2025 | 20 | 10% | 10 |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 19 | 11% | 4 |
| Jan 1, 2026 | 15 | 20% | 5 |
| Oct 12, 2025 | 19 | 21% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of San Diego or Phoenix. CLD → PHX has been 14 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAN → PHX (this route) | 6,591 | 71% | 1.8% |
| CLD → PHX McClellan-Palomar to Phoenix Sky Harbor | 908 | 85% | 1.2% |
Questions
How often are flights from SAN to PHX on time?
71% of 6,591 scheduled flights from San Diego, CA to Phoenix, AZ arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.8% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly SAN to PHX?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (89% on time). The 9 p.m. departures were the least (57%).
Which airline is most on time from SAN to PHX?
American Airlines: 80% of its 1,663 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 71%. Alaska Airlines: 62%. Frontier Airlines: 70%.
What month has the most delays from SAN to PHX?
July (66% on time). The best month is February (82%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from SAN to PHX more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last SAN–PHX flight of the day was cancelled 3.2% of the time over the past year, against 1.6% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- PHX → SAN (return)
- San Diego (SAN) delays by hour
- Flights into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- American Airlines on-time record
- Alaska Airlines on-time record
- Frontier 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.