64% of flights from Santa Ana 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 88% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 36%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (66%). 15% 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 SNA → SFO: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 49% of the time. About 1 in 8 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 75 three hours or more; 1.7% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early64%
- 15–30 min late9.6%
- 30–60 min late12%
- 1–2 hours late8.3%
- 2–3 hours late2.3%
- 3+ hours late1.3%
- Diverted1.1%
- Cancelled1.7%
Share of all 4,772 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 | 2,454 | 62% | 2.3% | −3 min | 12.6% | +62 min | SkyWest 98%, Alaska Airlines 2%, Horizon Air 0% |
| United Airlines | 2,164 | 66% | 1.1% | 0 min | 10.9% | +68 min | SkyWest 53%, United Airlines 47% |
| Frontier Airlines | 154 | 58% | 1.3% | +3 min | 15.6% | +91 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 SNA). 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 | Frontier Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 88% | — | — |
| 7 a.m. | — | 77% | — |
| 9 a.m. | 54% | 56% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 51% | — | — |
| 11 a.m. | 53% | 69% | — |
| 1 p.m. | 74% | — | 65% |
| 2 p.m. | 52% | 45% | — |
| 3 p.m. | — | 80% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 70% | 74% | — |
| 5 p.m. | 75% | — | — |
| 6 p.m. | 51% | 59% | — |
| 7 p.m. | 68% | 58% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 38% | — | — |
Last flight of the day
On SNA → SFO, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 3.1% of the time, against 1.5% for its earlier flights (2.1× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 0.5% of the time (earlier flights: 1.4%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 8:25 p.m. | 3.8% | 0.0% | 2.1% | first flight 6:45 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 7:49 p.m. | 2.5% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 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: January (79%). Worst: April (57%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 733 | 58% | 2.3% |
| Tuesday | 645 | 73% | 1.2% |
| Wednesday | 656 | 64% | 1.1% |
| Thursday | 698 | 60% | 2.1% |
| Friday | 714 | 63% | 1.1% |
| Saturday | 637 | 73% | 2.0% |
| Sunday | 689 | 56% | 2.0% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 51 · weather 17 · airline 14
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 3251 | 6:45 a.m. | 287 | 83% | 4.5% | −10 min | SkyWest |
| AS 3440 | 9:12 a.m. | 173 | 50% | 1.7% | +9 min | SkyWest |
| F9 3581 | 1:16 p.m. | 147 | 57% | 1.4% | +7 min | Frontier Airlines |
| UA 5351 | 4:12 p.m. | 175 | 66% | 1.7% | +2 min | SkyWest |
| AS 3248 | 6:03 p.m. | 227 | 59% | 3.1% | 0 min | SkyWest |
| UA 2657 | 6:20 p.m. | 135 | 37% | 3.7% | +24 min | United Airlines |
| UA 5339 | 7:49 p.m. | 201 | 52% | 2.5% | +11 min | SkyWest |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2026 | 14 | 0% | 0 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 13 | 0% | 0 |
| May 28, 2026 | 14 | 7% | 4 |
| Dec 21, 2025 | 13 | 8% | 5 |
| May 6, 2026 | 12 | 8% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Santa Ana or San Francisco. LGB → OAK has been 24 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNA → SFO (this route) | 4,772 | 64% | 1.7% |
| LGB → OAK Long Beach to Oakland | 1,568 | 88% | 0.4% |
| ONT → SJC Ontario to San Jose | 1,320 | 86% | 0.1% |
| LGB → SJC Long Beach to San Jose | 1,251 | 86% | 0.2% |
| ONT → OAK Ontario to Oakland | 1,450 | 86% | 0.5% |
| SNA → SJC Orange County John Wayne to San Jose | 2,677 | 85% | 0.8% |
| BUR → SJC Hollywood Burbank to San Jose | 2,133 | 85% | 1.2% |
Questions
How often are flights from SNA to SFO on time?
64% of 4,772 scheduled flights from Santa Ana, CA to San Francisco, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.7% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly SNA to SFO?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (88% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (36%).
Which airline is most on time from SNA to SFO?
United Airlines: 66% of its 2,164 flights on the route arrived on time. Alaska Airlines: 62%. Frontier Airlines: 58%.
What month has the most delays from SNA to SFO?
April (57% on time). The best month is January (79%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from SNA to SFO more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last SNA–SFO flight of the day was cancelled 3.1% of the time over the past year, against 1.5% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SFO → SNA (return)
- Orange County John Wayne (SNA) delays by hour
- Flights into San Francisco (SFO)
- Alaska Airlines on-time record
- United 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.