75% of flights from San Diego to Monterey arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The noon departures ran on time 75% of the time; the 10 p.m. ones 70%. 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 SAN → MRY: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 75% of the time. About 1 in 29 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 239 three hours or more; 4.0% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early75%
- 15–30 min late11%
- 30–60 min late6.0%
- 1–2 hours late2.9%
- 2–3 hours late0.1%
- 3+ hours late0.4%
- Diverted0.3%
- Cancelled4.0%
Share of all 718 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 | 718 | 75% | 4.0% | −5 min | 3.5% | +40 min | SkyWest 75%, Horizon Air 25% |
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 SAN). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
Last flight of the day
On SAN → MRY, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 7.3% of the time, against 0.9% for its earlier flights (8.6× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 0.3% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 10:26 p.m. | 7.3% | 0.3% | 0.9% | first flight 12:53 p.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 MRY tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: May (79%). Worst: December (61%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 106 | 72% | 2.8% |
| Tuesday | 101 | 84% | 3.0% |
| Wednesday | 99 | — | — |
| Thursday | 102 | 67% | 6.9% |
| Friday | 104 | 67% | 6.7% |
| Saturday | 102 | 84% | 1.0% |
| Sunday | 104 | 70% | 3.9% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: air traffic/airport 14 · weather 8 · airline 7
Month by month
Not enough months with data to draw a trend.
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 3346 | 12:53 p.m. | 290 | 76% | 0.7% | −7 min | SkyWest |
| AS 3005 | 10:26 p.m. | 246 | 71% | 8.9% | −3 min | SkyWest |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of San Diego or Monterey. None has been clearly more reliable than SAN → MRY.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAN → MRY (this route) | 718 | 75% | 4.0% |
| SAN → SJC San Diego to San Jose | 5,591 | 74% | 1.0% |
Questions
How often are flights from SAN to MRY on time?
75% of 718 scheduled flights from San Diego, CA to Monterey, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 4.0% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly SAN to MRY?
Flights scheduled to leave at noon were the most reliable (75% on time). The 10 p.m. departures were the least (70%).
What month has the most delays from SAN to MRY?
December (61% on time). The best month is May (79%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from SAN to MRY more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last SAN–MRY flight of the day was cancelled 7.3% of the time over the past year, against 0.9% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- MRY → SAN (return)
- San Diego (SAN) delays by hour
- Flights into Monterey (MRY)
- Alaska 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.