Best Time to Fly DCA to SFO: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Ronald Reagan Washington National → San Francisco International
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
Over the last 12 months, 73.6% of Washington (DCA) to San Francisco (SFO) flights arrived on time (1,090 scheduled flights). That is 4.1 points below the national average of 77.6%.
United Airlines was the most punctual of the 2 airlines on the route at 76.5%, while Alaska Airlines trailed at 67.7%.
September has been the best month (85% on time) and Thursday the weakest day of the week (68%).
0.8% of flights were cancelled, versus 1.8% nationally.
DCA to SFO on-time performance by airline
Last 12 months. Airlines with fewer than 30 completed flights are marked “limited data”.
| Airline | On time | Avg delay when late | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 76.5% | 64 min | 0.7% | 727 |
| Alaska Airlines | 67.7% | 62 min | 1.1% | 363 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly DCA to SFO
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 1,984 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7am–8am | 90.5% | 0.4% | 531 |
| 5pm–6pm | 70.8% | 0.9% | 895 |
| 6pm–7pm | 69.7% | 1.1% | 548 |
| 7pm–8pm | Limited data | 10 | |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on DCA to SFO
On-time arrivals during holiday periods compared with all other days, last 24 months.
| Period | On time | vs other days | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving week (Tue before to Mon after) | 78.8% | +0.2 pts | 0.0% | 33 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 70.7% | -7.9 pts | 0.0% | 75 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 65.0% | -13.6 pts | 2.0% | 354 |
| All other days | 78.6% | — | 0.7% | 1,522 |
Monthly on-time trend
On-time arrival % each month, with the 12-month US average for reference.
What causes delays on this route
Share of reported delay minutes, last 12 months (BTS cause categories).