75% of flights from Seattle to Chicago 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 88% of the time; the 1 p.m. ones 58%. Most reliable airline: United 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 SEA → ORD: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 54% of the time. About 1 in 12 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 58 three hours or more; 1.2% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early75%
- 15–30 min late8.1%
- 30–60 min late6.6%
- 1–2 hours late4.6%
- 2–3 hours late1.7%
- 3+ hours late1.7%
- Diverted1.0%
- Cancelled1.2%
Share of all 5,538 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 1,775 | 72% | 1.1% | −3 min | 7.5% | +59 min | Alaska Airlines |
| United Airlines | 1,488 | 80% | 0.8% | −8 min | 7.3% | +88 min | United Airlines |
| American Airlines | 1,353 | 74% | 1.6% | −10 min | 8.9% | +102 min | American Airlines |
| Delta Air Lines | 922 | 73% | 1.3% | −3 min | 9.3% | +73 min | Delta Air Lines |
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 SEA). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Alaska Airlines | United Airlines | American Airlines | Delta Air Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 a.m. | 82% | — | 74% | — |
| 6 a.m. | 81% | — | 93% | — |
| 7 a.m. | — | 89% | — | 81% |
| 8 a.m. | 75% | — | — | — |
| 10 a.m. | 57% | 81% | 74% | 67% |
| 1 p.m. | 59% | 55% | 59% | — |
| 2 p.m. | — | 72% | 63% | — |
| 3 p.m. | — | — | 63% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 80% | 76% | — | 71% |
| 11 p.m. | — | 84% | 87% | — |
Last flight of the day
On SEA → ORD, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.1% of the time, against 1.2% for its earlier flights, about the same. It arrived 3+ hours late 1.3% of the time (earlier flights: 1.9%). 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 | 11:56 p.m. | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.5% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
| Alaska Airlines | 5:48 p.m. | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.3% | first flight 12:17 a.m. |
| Delta Air Lines | 5:40 p.m. | 1.1% | 2.3% | 1.3% | first flight 7:20 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 11:11 p.m. | 1.1% | 0.8% | 0.7% | 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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: February (85%). Worst: July (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 835 | 70% | 2.0% |
| Tuesday | 786 | 83% | 0.3% |
| Wednesday | 775 | 79% | 1.2% |
| Thursday | 809 | 72% | 1.1% |
| Friday | 812 | 73% | 1.2% |
| Saturday | 718 | 80% | 0.8% |
| Sunday | 803 | 68% | 1.5% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 34 · air traffic/airport 18 · airline 13
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS 328 | 12:17 a.m. | 232 | 82% | 0.9% | −7 min | Alaska Airlines |
| UA 2618 | 7:00 a.m. | 283 | 90% | 0.4% | −10 min | United Airlines |
| DL 2055 | 7:10 a.m. | 303 | 81% | 0.7% | −5 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AS 265 | 8:30 a.m. | 291 | 75% | 1.0% | 0 min | Alaska Airlines |
| AS 429 | 10:29 a.m. | 227 | 54% | 3.1% | +9 min | Alaska Airlines |
| DL 637 | 10:35 a.m. | 138 | 67% | 1.5% | +2 min | Delta Air Lines |
| AS 410 | 1:10 p.m. | 352 | 70% | 0.9% | −5 min | Alaska Airlines |
| AS 538 | 5:48 p.m. | 350 | 81% | 0.6% | −10 min | Alaska Airlines |
| DL 2108 | 5:55 p.m. | 363 | 71% | 1.4% | −4 min | Delta Air Lines |
| UA 747 | 11:59 p.m. | 363 | 87% | 0.3% | −15 min | United Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 30, 2025 | 14 | 7% | 3 |
| Mar 15, 2026 | 11 | 9% | 2 |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 15 | 13% | 2 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 14 | 14% | 2 |
| Jul 27, 2026 | 20 | 15% | 4 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Seattle or Chicago. SEA → MDW has been 7 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEA → ORD (this route) | 5,538 | 75% | 1.2% |
| SEA → MDW Seattle-Tacoma to Chicago Midway | 678 | 82% | 0.4% |
Questions
How often are flights from SEA to ORD on time?
75% of 5,538 scheduled flights from Seattle, WA to Chicago, IL 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 SEA to ORD?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (88% on time). The 1 p.m. departures were the least (58%).
Which airline is most on time from SEA to ORD?
United Airlines: 80% of its 1,488 flights on the route arrived on time. Alaska Airlines: 72%. American Airlines: 74%. Delta Air Lines: 73%.
What month has the most delays from SEA to ORD?
July (66% on time). The best month is February (85%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from SEA to ORD more likely to be cancelled?
Not much. Each airline's last SEA–ORD flight of the day was cancelled 1.1% 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
- ORD → SEA (return)
- Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) delays by hour
- Flights into Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Alaska Airlines on-time record
- United Airlines on-time record
- American Airlines on-time record
- Delta Air Lines 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.