68% of flights from Phoenix to San Diego arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 87% of the time; the 7 p.m. ones 53%. Most reliable airline: Frontier Airlines (74%). 10% 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 PHX → SAN: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 60% of the time. About 1 in 13 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 110 three hours or more; 1.6% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early68%
- 15–30 min late11%
- 30–60 min late11%
- 1–2 hours late5.7%
- 2–3 hours late1.3%
- 3+ hours late0.9%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled1.6%
Share of all 6,620 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 | 3,236 | 67% | 1.0% | +2 min | 7.0% | +48 min | Southwest Airlines |
| American Airlines | 1,664 | 71% | 0.8% | −3 min | 9.1% | +65 min | American Airlines |
| Alaska Airlines | 1,344 | 66% | 4.2% | +2 min | 8.2% | +50 min | SkyWest 44%, Horizon Air 42%, Alaska Airlines 14% |
| Frontier Airlines | 376 | 74% | 0.5% | −7 min | 8.8% | +80 min | Frontier 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 PHX). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Southwest Airlines | American Airlines | Alaska Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 91% | — | 82% |
| 7 a.m. | 88% | 86% | 77% |
| 8 a.m. | 87% | 88% | — |
| 9 a.m. | 76% | — | — |
| 10 a.m. | 69% | 74% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 63% | 75% | 76% |
| noon | 59% | — | — |
| 1 p.m. | 72% | — | — |
| 2 p.m. | 59% | 66% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 67% | — | 60% |
| 4 p.m. | 55% | — | 59% |
| 5 p.m. | 64% | 60% | — |
| 6 p.m. | 52% | 70% | 45% |
| 7 p.m. | 43% | — | — |
| 8 p.m. | 58% | 60% | — |
| 9 p.m. | 52% | — | — |
Last flight of the day
On PHX → SAN, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 2.8% of the time, against 1.4% for its earlier flights (2.1× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 0.9% of the time (earlier flights: 0.9%). 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 | 8:20 p.m. | 1.4% | 0.8% | 0.6% | first flight 7:34 a.m. |
| Alaska Airlines | 6:53 p.m. | 5.2% | 0.3% | 3.9% | first flight 7:11 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 9:30 p.m. | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.8% | first flight 7:00 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 SAN tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: February (81%). Worst: July (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 1,016 | 63% | 0.9% |
| Tuesday | 900 | 79% | 0.9% |
| Wednesday | 907 | 76% | 1.1% |
| Thursday | 1,004 | 60% | 2.0% |
| Friday | 1,011 | 60% | 2.7% |
| Saturday | 783 | 78% | 1.4% |
| Sunday | 999 | 64% | 1.8% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 38 · weather 37 · airline 28
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F9 1571 | 2:16 p.m. | 275 | 75% | 0.7% | −7 min | Frontier Airlines |
| AS 3060 | 6:53 p.m. | 138 | 62% | 6.5% | 0 min | SkyWest |
| AA 559 | 8:20 p.m. | 142 | 57% | 0.0% | +8 min | American Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2025 | 20 | 5% | 8 |
| Jan 1, 2026 | 15 | 7% | 5 |
| Sep 18, 2025 | 20 | 10% | 0 |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 19 | 16% | 1 |
| May 22, 2026 | 20 | 20% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Phoenix or San Diego. PHX → CLD has been 13 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHX → SAN (this route) | 6,620 | 68% | 1.6% |
| PHX → CLD Phoenix Sky Harbor to McClellan-Palomar | 908 | 81% | 1.2% |
Questions
How often are flights from PHX to SAN on time?
68% of 6,620 scheduled flights from Phoenix, AZ to San Diego, 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 PHX to SAN?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (87% on time). The 7 p.m. departures were the least (53%).
Which airline is most on time from PHX to SAN?
Frontier Airlines: 74% of its 376 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 67%. American Airlines: 71%. Alaska Airlines: 66%.
What month has the most delays from PHX to SAN?
July (66% on time). The best month is February (81%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from PHX to SAN more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last PHX–SAN flight of the day was cancelled 2.8% of the time over the past year, against 1.4% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SAN → PHX (return)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) delays by hour
- Flights into San Diego (SAN)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- American Airlines on-time record
- Alaska Airlines on-time record
- Frontier 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.