72% of flights from Baltimore to Los Angeles arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 8 a.m. departures ran on time 86% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 55%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (82%). 9% 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 BWI → LAX: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 64% of the time. About 1 in 14 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 98 three hours or more; 1.3% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early72%
- 15–30 min late12%
- 30–60 min late7.8%
- 1–2 hours late4.7%
- 2–3 hours late1.4%
- 3+ hours late1.0%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.3%
Share of all 1,670 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 | 1,046 | 65% | 1.5% | +4 min | 8.0% | +50 min | Southwest Airlines |
| United Airlines | 578 | 82% | 0.9% | −7 min | 6.1% | +77 min | United Airlines |
| Spirit Airlines | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | Spirit 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 BWI). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Southwest Airlines | United Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 82% | 88% |
| 7 a.m. | — | 88% |
| 8 a.m. | 87% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 57% | — |
| 6 p.m. | — | 77% |
| 7 p.m. | 52% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 55% | — |
Last flight of the day
On BWI → LAX, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.6% of the time, against 1.0% for its earlier flights (1.5× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.9% of the time (earlier flights: 0.6%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 7:21 p.m. | 0.0% | 1.4% | 0.9% | first flight 7:00 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 8:10 p.m. | 2.5% | 2.2% | 1.0% | first flight 7:10 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 LAX tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: November (84%). Worst: July (62%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 257 | 69% | 2.7% |
| Tuesday | 213 | 76% | 1.4% |
| Wednesday | 224 | 73% | 0.0% |
| Thursday | 250 | 74% | 1.2% |
| Friday | 253 | 69% | 0.4% |
| Saturday | 224 | 79% | 0.4% |
| Sunday | 249 | 65% | 2.8% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 14 · airline 8
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 10, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 0 |
| Jul 5, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 1 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 4 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 2 |
| Jan 23, 2026 | 3 | 0% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Baltimore or Los Angeles. IAD → LAX has been 12 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| BWI → LAX (this route) | 1,670 | 72% | 1.3% |
| IAD → LAX Washington Dulles to Los Angeles LAX | 2,460 | 83% | 0.7% |
| DCA → LAX Washington Reagan National to Los Angeles LAX | 1,454 | 74% | 1.7% |
Questions
How often are flights from BWI to LAX on time?
72% of 1,670 scheduled flights from Baltimore, MD to Los Angeles, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.3% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly BWI to LAX?
Flights scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. were the most reliable (86% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (55%).
Which airline is most on time from BWI to LAX?
United Airlines: 82% of its 578 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 65%.
What month has the most delays from BWI to LAX?
July (62% on time). The best month is November (84%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from BWI to LAX more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last BWI–LAX flight of the day was cancelled 1.6% of the time over the past year, against 1.0% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- LAX → BWI (return)
- Baltimore/Washington (BWI) delays by hour
- Flights into Los Angeles LAX (LAX)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- United Airlines on-time record
- Spirit 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.