75% of flights from Detroit to Los Angeles arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 9 a.m. departures ran on time 84% of the time; the 9 p.m. ones 64%. Most reliable airline: Delta Air Lines (75%). 8% 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 DTW → LAX: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 60% of the time. About 1 in 14 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 139 three hours or more; 1.1% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early75%
- 15–30 min late10%
- 30–60 min late6.6%
- 1–2 hours late5.0%
- 2–3 hours late1.3%
- 3+ hours late0.7%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.1%
Share of all 2,361 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 1,954 | 75% | 0.9% | −3 min | 6.3% | +58 min | Delta Air Lines |
| Spirit Airlines | 405 | 74% | 1.7% | −10 min | 10.4% | +64 min | Spirit Airlines |
| American Airlines | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | American 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 DTW). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Delta Air Lines | Spirit Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. | 79% | — |
| 9 a.m. | — | 84% |
| noon | 80% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 77% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 77% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 77% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 64% | — |
Last flight of the day
On DTW → LAX, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.4% of the time, against 0.8% for its earlier flights (1.8× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 1.0% of the time (earlier flights: 0.5%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | 8:55 p.m. | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.8% | first flight 8:30 a.m. |
| Spirit Airlines | — | 1.5% | 0.0% | 0.6% | — |
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: September (90%). Worst: January (75%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 357 | 73% | 1.1% |
| Tuesday | 328 | 78% | 1.5% |
| Wednesday | 325 | 78% | 0.9% |
| Thursday | 341 | 76% | 0.6% |
| Friday | 351 | 74% | 1.7% |
| Saturday | 315 | 75% | 0.3% |
| Sunday | 344 | 70% | 1.2% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 22 · weather 3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL 523 | 8:30 a.m. | 215 | 72% | 1.9% | −2 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 634 | 12:30 p.m. | 349 | 81% | 0.3% | −5 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 883 | 3:50 p.m. | 364 | 76% | 0.5% | −3 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 908 | 4:36 p.m. | 213 | 75% | 0.5% | −6 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 852 | 6:20 p.m. | 256 | 79% | 1.2% | −3 min | Delta Air Lines |
| DL 694 | 8:30 p.m. | 364 | 63% | 1.1% | +2 min | Delta Air Lines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 29, 2025 | 8 | 0% | 1 |
| Nov 30, 2025 | 7 | 0% | 0 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 0 |
| Jan 1, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 0 |
| Jan 2, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 0 |
Questions
How often are flights from DTW to LAX on time?
75% of 2,361 scheduled flights from Detroit, MI to Los Angeles, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.1% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly DTW to LAX?
Flights scheduled to leave at 9 a.m. were the most reliable (84% on time). The 9 p.m. departures were the least (64%).
Which airline is most on time from DTW to LAX?
Delta Air Lines: 75% of its 1,954 flights on the route arrived on time. Spirit Airlines: 74%.
What month has the most delays from DTW to LAX?
January (75% on time). The best month is September (90%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from DTW to LAX more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last DTW–LAX flight of the day was cancelled 1.4% of the time over the past year, against 0.8% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- LAX → DTW (return)
- Detroit Metro (DTW) delays by hour
- Flights into Los Angeles LAX (LAX)
- Delta Air Lines on-time record
- Spirit Airlines on-time record
- American 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.