Best Time to Fly SEA to DTW: On-Time Stats by Hour & Airline
Seattle/Tacoma International → Detroit Metro Wayne County
Data through July 2026 · Last updated October 18, 2026
2,060 flights were scheduled from Seattle (SEA) to Detroit (DTW) in the last 12 months, and 85.5% of those that flew arrived on time, 7.8 points above the US average of 77.6%.
Among 2 airlines, Delta Air Lines led with 86.0% on time and Alaska Airlines was last with 84.0%.
Over 24 months, Tuesday was the most reliable day (90% on time) and August the worst month (76%).
The cancellation rate was 0.8% (US average 1.8%).
SEA to DTW 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 86.0% | 66 min | 1.0% | 1,517 |
| Alaska Airlines | 84.0% | 50 min | 0.2% | 543 |
80%+ good 70–79.9% fair <70% poor
Best time of day to fly SEA to DTW
On-time arrival % by scheduled departure hour (local time), 4,112 flights over 24 months.
Show the numbers
| Departure hour | On time | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5am–6am | 88.3% | 2.8% | 142 |
| 6am–7am | 94.2% | 0.2% | 588 |
| 7am–8am | Limited data | 7 | |
| 8am–9am | 85.5% | 0.2% | 480 |
| 9am–10am | 85.5% | 0.6% | 530 |
| 10am–11am | 70.0% | 0.0% | 61 |
| 11am–12pm | 81.4% | 0.6% | 509 |
| 12pm–1pm | 71.4% | 0.0% | 35 |
| 1pm–2pm | 82.8% | 0.9% | 212 |
| 2pm–3pm | 83.9% | 0.0% | 56 |
| 3pm–4pm | 87.4% | 0.3% | 374 |
| 4pm–5pm | Limited data | 17 | |
| 9pm–10pm | 73.7% | 0.4% | 276 |
| 10pm–11pm | 84.6% | 0.4% | 251 |
| 11pm–12am | 87.8% | 1.1% | 574 |
Best day of the week
24 months, by day of departure.
Best month to fly
24 months, by calendar month.
Holiday travel on SEA to DTW
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) | 81.2% | -6.6 pts | 0.0% | 69 |
| Christmas & New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 3) | 86.2% | -1.6 pts | 1.2% | 161 |
| Summer peak (Jun 15 - Aug 15) | 78.0% | -9.8 pts | 1.1% | 897 |
| All other days | 87.8% | — | 0.4% | 2,985 |
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).