80% of flights from San Jose to Denver arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is about the typical U.S. route. The 8 a.m. departures ran on time 95% of the time; the 1 p.m. ones 56%. Most reliable airline: United Airlines (89%). 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 SJC → DEN: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 59% of the time. About 1 in 19 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 283 three hours or more; 0.4% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early80%
- 15–30 min late7.6%
- 30–60 min late6.3%
- 1–2 hours late3.7%
- 2–3 hours late1.3%
- 3+ hours late0.4%
- Diverted0.4%
- Cancelled0.4%
Share of all 2,546 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 | 1,520 | 74% | 0.5% | −2 min | 6.4% | +52 min | Southwest Airlines |
| United Airlines | 992 | 89% | 0.3% | −13 min | 3.8% | +68 min | United Airlines |
| Frontier Airlines | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 SJC). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | Southwest Airlines | United Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 94% | — |
| 8 a.m. | 93% | 96% |
| noon | 80% | 86% |
| 1 p.m. | 56% | — |
| 2 p.m. | 54% | 74% |
| 3 p.m. | — | 84% |
| 4 p.m. | — | 89% |
| 6 p.m. | — | 86% |
| 7 p.m. | 68% | — |
Last flight of the day
On SJC → DEN, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 0.0% of the time, against 0.6% for its earlier flights, so here the last flight is actually the safer one. It arrived 3+ hours late 0.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 6:37 p.m. | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.5% | first flight 8:45 a.m. |
| Southwest Airlines | 7:40 p.m. | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.6% | first flight 6:15 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 (91%). Worst: June (71%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 402 | 76% | 0.0% |
| Tuesday | 323 | 86% | 0.6% |
| Wednesday | 350 | 85% | 0.0% |
| Thursday | 381 | 75% | 0.3% |
| Friday | 397 | 75% | 0.8% |
| Saturday | 307 | 87% | 0.7% |
| Sunday | 386 | 79% | 0.5% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: airline 6 · weather 3 · air traffic/airport 1
Month by month
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 2026 | 8 | 13% | 0 |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 8 | 13% | 0 |
| Dec 11, 2025 | 7 | 14% | 0 |
| Feb 17, 2026 | 6 | 17% | 1 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | 8 | 25% | 0 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of San Jose or Denver. MRY → DEN has been 12 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| SJC → DEN (this route) | 2,546 | 80% | 0.4% |
| MRY → DEN Monterey to Denver | 729 | 92% | 0.3% |
| SFO → DEN San Francisco to Denver | 5,486 | 74% | 0.5% |
| OAK → DEN Oakland to Denver | 1,608 | 71% | 0.4% |
Questions
How often are flights from SJC to DEN on time?
80% of 2,546 scheduled flights from San Jose, CA to Denver, CO arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 0.4% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly SJC to DEN?
Flights scheduled to leave at 8 a.m. were the most reliable (95% on time). The 1 p.m. departures were the least (56%).
Which airline is most on time from SJC to DEN?
United Airlines: 89% of its 992 flights on the route arrived on time. Southwest Airlines: 74%.
What month has the most delays from SJC to DEN?
June (71% on time). The best month is November (91%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from SJC to DEN more likely to be cancelled?
No, the opposite. Each airline's last SJC–DEN flight of the day was cancelled 0.0% of the time over the past year, against 0.6% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- DEN → SJC (return)
- San Jose (SJC) delays by hour
- Flights into Denver (DEN)
- Southwest Airlines on-time record
- United 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.