Itineraries flown on 20+ days in the Jun 6 – Jul 31, 2026 schedule · each leg’s record Aug 2025 – Jul 2026

The nonstop is quickest: JetBlue SMF → JFK (5h 24m), on time 7 times in 10. Delta via Atlanta (9h 00m) is more reliable, 89%, but takes 3h 36m longer.

Nonstops (seasonal or thin)


JetBlue	SMF	JFK	5h 24m	72%	4.2%	165	Flying now

Best connections, one ticket

Most reliable Quickest (80%+ on time)

Ranked by chance you reach New York on time. Total trip = scheduled departure to arrival, layover included (New York is 3 h ahead of Sacramento). Layovers up to 4 hours. Pick a connection for the details.


Delta Details →	SMF 22:00 → ATL 05:32DL 878	2h 12m Atlanta	ATL 07:44 → JFK 10:00 +1DL 2420	9h 00m	100%	89%
American Details →	SMF 16:13 → PHX 18:16AA 6354 · flown by SkyWest	3h 34m Phoenix	PHX 21:50 → JFK 05:47 +1AA 1587	10h 34m	100%	85%
Delta Details →	SMF 18:55 → LAX 20:40DL 3712 · flown by SkyWest	3h 15m Los Angeles	LAX 23:55 → JFK 08:30 +1DL 915	10h 35m	100%	84%
Delta Details →	SMF 17:27 → SEA 19:39DL 4153 · flown by SkyWest	2h 41m Seattle	SEA 22:20 → JFK 06:34 +1DL 452	10h 07m	98%	82%
Delta Details →	SMF 05:30 → SLC 08:11DL 1526	1h 48m Salt Lake City	SLC 09:59 → JFK 16:49DL 1792	8h 19m	98%	81%
American Details →	SMF 06:00 → PHX 07:54AA 1867	1h 23m Phoenix	PHX 09:17 → JFK 17:29AA 2689	8h 30m	96%	80%
Delta Details →	SMF 19:20 → SLC 22:02DL 2585	1h 57m Salt Lake City	SLC 23:59 → JFK 06:23 +1DL 705	8h 03m	95%	79%
Delta Details →	SMF 11:26 → LAX 13:03DL 3755 · flown by SkyWest	2h 12m Los Angeles	LAX 15:15 → JFK 23:47DL 938	9h 21m	99%	77%
Tight connection: often missed
American Details →	SMF 12:56 → PHX 14:50AA 2630	1h 01m Phoenix	PHX 15:51 → JFK 23:58AA 832	8h 02m	73%	55%

Same layover, different day-part

How often the first flight arrives too late to connect (45 min minimum), for one-ticket layovers of 45–80 minutes.

Morning

SEA · 1h 13m · leaves 06:13 0%

MSP · 1h 13m · leaves 06:15 5%

LAX · 50m · leaves 06:00 7%

Afternoon and evening

LAX · 1h 04m · leaves 21:05 9%

SLC · 58m · leaves 13:30 12%

DFW · 1h 08m · leaves 11:02 22%

Delays build through the day, so an afternoon first leg eats the layover. A short connection is fine early in the morning and a gamble later on.

Mixing airlines

One ticketMiss it and the airline rebooks you; bags go through. 45 min is enough.

Separate ticketsMiss it and you buy a new ticket. Re-check bags, clear security again: we require 90 min.


Southwest WN 4116 SMF 17:50 → LAS American AA 2855 LAS 22:47 → JFK Connection details →	3h 27m	10h 10m	98%	93%
Southwest WN 670 SMF 17:40 → DEN Delta DL 758 DEN 23:59 → JFK Connection details →	2h 59m	9h 08m	96%	90%
Southwest WN 3231 SMF 16:40 → PHX Delta DL 548 PHX 22:35 → JFK Connection details →	4h 00m	10h 47m	100%	87%

Rank all connections, any airlines →

Regional partners count as the airline that sells them: SkyWest flying Delta Connection is one Delta ticket.

How these are worked out. Makes the connection: share of the last year’s flights where the first flight arrived with at least 45 minutes to spare (90 on separate tickets). Arrives on time: first flight not cancelled × connection made × second flight not cancelled and arriving within 15 minutes. Not yet counted: the second flight also leaving late (which helps), gate-to-gate distance at the hub, and rebooking after a missed connection.

About this data: US DOT on-time records, Aug 2025 – Jul 2026, all US airlines; regional flights count under the airline that sells them. Schedules (which flights and connections exist, and their times) are as of Jun 6 – Jul 31, 2026; seasonal flights outside that window aren’t ranked. Rebuilt monthly. JSON