77% of flights from Oakland to Seattle arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 6 a.m. departures ran on time 92% of the time; the 7 p.m. ones 53%. Most reliable airline: Alaska Airlines (79%). 6% 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 OAK → SEA: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 68% of the time. About 1 in 22 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 384 three hours or more; 1.0% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early77%
- 15–30 min late10%
- 30–60 min late7.3%
- 1–2 hours late3.5%
- 2–3 hours late0.9%
- 3+ hours late0.3%
- Diverted0.0%
- Cancelled1.0%
Share of all 2,304 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 1,214 | 79% | 1.7% | −5 min | 3.3% | +45 min | Alaska Airlines 65%, Horizon Air 34%, SkyWest 2% |
| Southwest Airlines | 1,090 | 74% | 0.3% | −2 min | 6.1% | +48 min | Southwest 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 OAK). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Alaska Airlines | Southwest Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 90% | 95% |
| 9 a.m. | 85% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 80% | — |
| 11 a.m. | 87% | — |
| 2 p.m. | 71% | — |
| 6 p.m. | — | 66% |
| 9 p.m. | — | 58% |
Last flight of the day
On OAK → SEA, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.7% of the time, against 1.1% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 0.0% of the time (earlier flights: 0.4%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 2:55 p.m. | 1.4% | 0.0% | 1.8% | first flight 6:22 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 9:10 p.m. | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% | first flight 6:00 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.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: November (88%). Worst: June (66%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 352 | 77% | 0.9% |
| Tuesday | 319 | 81% | 1.6% |
| Wednesday | 321 | 77% | 0.6% |
| Thursday | 345 | 73% | 0.3% |
| Friday | 342 | 71% | 2.1% |
| Saturday | 278 | 87% | 0.7% |
| Sunday | 347 | 73% | 0.9% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 12 · air traffic/airport 9 · weather 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS 705 | 7:00 a.m. | 266 | 85% | 2.3% | −8 min | Alaska Airlines |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 2026 | 8 | 0% | 0 |
| May 17, 2026 | 6 | 0% | 0 |
| Aug 14, 2026 | 7 | 14% | 0 |
| Mar 13, 2026 | 5 | 20% | 3 |
| Sep 11, 2025 | 9 | 22% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Oakland or Seattle. SJC → SEA has been 5 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAK → SEA (this route) | 2,304 | 77% | 1.0% |
| SJC → SEA San Jose to Seattle-Tacoma | 4,461 | 82% | 0.6% |
| SFO → SEA San Francisco to Seattle-Tacoma | 6,824 | 71% | 1.1% |
| SFO → PAE San Francisco to Seattle Paine | 621 | 54% | 2.7% |
Questions
How often are flights from OAK to SEA on time?
77% of 2,304 scheduled flights from Oakland, CA to Seattle, WA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 1.0% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly OAK to SEA?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (92% on time). The 7 p.m. departures were the least (53%).
Which airline is most on time from OAK to SEA?
Alaska Airlines: 79% of its 1,214 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 74%.
What month has the most delays from OAK to SEA?
June (66% on time). The best month is November (88%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from OAK to SEA more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last OAK–SEA flight of the day was cancelled 0.7% of the time over the past year, against 1.1% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- SEA → OAK (return)
- Oakland (OAK) delays by hour
- Flights into Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)
- Alaska Airlines on-time record
- Southwest 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.