74% of flights from San Diego to San Jose 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 96% of the time; the 4 p.m. ones 59%. Most reliable airline: Alaska Airlines (78%). 7% 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 → SJC: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 61% of the time. About 1 in 16 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 215 three hours or more; 1.0% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early74%
- 15–30 min late9.6%
- 30–60 min late9.3%
- 1–2 hours late4.9%
- 2–3 hours late0.9%
- 3+ hours late0.5%
- Diverted0.1%
- Cancelled1.0%
Share of all 5,591 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 | 3,752 | 72% | 0.8% | −4 min | 6.5% | +49 min | Southwest Airlines |
| Alaska Airlines | 1,839 | 78% | 1.4% | −6 min | 5.9% | +53 min | SkyWest 60%, Horizon Air 34%, Alaska Airlines 6% |
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.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Southwest Airlines | Alaska Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 96% | — |
| 7 a.m. | 95% | — |
| 8 a.m. | 95% | 89% |
| 9 a.m. | 86% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 75% | 85% |
| 11 a.m. | 85% | — |
| noon | 67% | 74% |
| 1 p.m. | 60% | — |
| 2 p.m. | 66% | — |
| 3 p.m. | 64% | — |
| 4 p.m. | 55% | 64% |
| 5 p.m. | 62% | 76% |
| 6 p.m. | 66% | — |
| 7 p.m. | 61% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 67% | 78% |
| 9 p.m. | 46% | 81% |
Last flight of the day
On SAN → SJC, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 1.5% of the time, against 0.9% for its earlier flights (1.7× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 0.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 10:24 p.m. | 1.9% | 0.3% | 1.2% | first flight 7:48 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 8:55 p.m. | 1.1% | 0.0% | 0.7% | first flight 6:35 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 SJC tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: January (84%). Worst: July (70%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 904 | 70% | 0.8% |
| Tuesday | 748 | 83% | 0.7% |
| Wednesday | 734 | 83% | 1.4% |
| Thursday | 876 | 70% | 1.7% |
| Friday | 879 | 67% | 0.7% |
| Saturday | 603 | 83% | 0.5% |
| Sunday | 847 | 67% | 0.9% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 24 · airline 20 · air traffic/airport 10
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 3359 | 8:01 a.m. | 290 | 90% | 0.3% | −13 min | SkyWest |
| AS 3429 | 12:59 p.m. | 175 | 73% | 2.3% | −7 min | SkyWest |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2025 | 16 | 13% | 0 |
| Nov 21, 2025 | 18 | 22% | 0 |
| Jan 2, 2026 | 16 | 25% | 0 |
| Dec 19, 2025 | 16 | 25% | 1 |
| Aug 24, 2026 | 18 | 28% | 1 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of San Diego or San Jose. None has been clearly more reliable than SAN → SJC.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAN → SJC (this route) | 5,591 | 74% | 1.0% |
| SAN → MRY San Diego to Monterey | 718 | 75% | 4.0% |
| SAN → OAK San Diego to Oakland | 3,476 | 71% | 1.3% |
| SAN → SFO San Diego to San Francisco | 7,383 | 58% | 1.6% |
Questions
How often are flights from SAN to SJC on time?
74% of 5,591 scheduled flights from San Diego, CA to San Jose, CA 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 SAN to SJC?
Flights scheduled to leave at 6 a.m. were the most reliable (96% on time). The 4 p.m. departures were the least (59%).
Which airline is most on time from SAN to SJC?
Alaska Airlines: 78% of its 1,839 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 72%.
What month has the most delays from SAN to SJC?
July (70% on time). The best month is January (84%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from SAN to SJC more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last SAN–SJC flight of the day was cancelled 1.5% 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
- SJC → SAN (return)
- San Diego (SAN) delays by hour
- Flights into San Jose (SJC)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- 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.