66% of flights from Chicago to Sacramento 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 82% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 54%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (68%). 13% 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 ORD → SMF: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 52% of the time. About 1 in 9 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 64 three hours or more; 1.6% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early66%
- 15–30 min late11%
- 30–60 min late9.6%
- 1–2 hours late7.3%
- 2–3 hours late2.5%
- 3+ hours late1.6%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.6%
Share of all 1,347 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 991 | 68% | 1.4% | −1 min | 10.5% | +65 min | United Airlines |
| American Airlines | 356 | 60% | 2.3% | +4 min | 13.8% | +62 min | 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 ORD). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | United Airlines | American Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. | 82% | — |
| 11 a.m. | — | 64% |
| 4 p.m. | 63% | — |
| 7 p.m. | 60% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 58% | — |
Last flight of the day
On ORD → SMF, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.9% of the time, against 0.8% for its earlier flights (3.6× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 2.1% of the time (earlier flights: 1.6%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | 4:54 p.m. | 4.2% | 1.7% | 0.9% | first flight 11:56 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 7:58 p.m. | 2.5% | 2.2% | 0.8% | first flight 9:04 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 SMF 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 (83%). Worst: June (63%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 203 | 69% | 3.0% |
| Tuesday | 186 | 72% | 1.1% |
| Wednesday | 184 | 68% | 0.5% |
| Thursday | 195 | 63% | 2.6% |
| Friday | 196 | 62% | 1.0% |
| Saturday | 183 | 63% | 2.2% |
| Sunday | 200 | 66% | 1.0% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 21 · air traffic/airport 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA 2145 | 9:04 a.m. | 289 | 80% | 0.0% | −6 min | United Airlines |
| UA 1920 | 4:05 p.m. | 279 | 62% | 1.4% | +2 min | United Airlines |
| UA 1828 | 8:04 p.m. | 245 | 58% | 3.7% | +7 min | United Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 2 |
| Jul 27, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 3 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | 5 | 0% | 2 |
| Mar 13, 2026 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
| Nov 30, 2025 | 4 | 0% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Chicago or Sacramento. None has been clearly more reliable than ORD → SMF.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORD → SMF (this route) | 1,347 | 66% | 1.6% |
| MDW → SMF Chicago Midway to Sacramento | 672 | 67% | 0.9% |
Questions
How often are flights from ORD to SMF on time?
66% of 1,347 scheduled flights from Chicago, IL to Sacramento, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.6% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly ORD to SMF?
Flights scheduled to leave at 9 a.m. were the most reliable (82% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (54%).
Which airline is most on time from ORD to SMF?
United Airlines: 68% of its 991 flights on the route arrived on time. American Airlines: 60%.
What month has the most delays from ORD to SMF?
June (63% on time). The best month is September (83%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from ORD to SMF more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last ORD–SMF flight of the day was cancelled 2.9% 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
- SMF → ORD (return)
- Chicago O'Hare (ORD) delays by hour
- Flights into Sacramento (SMF)
- United 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.