When is the San Antonio to Philadelphia route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

SAT to PHL Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Antonio to Philadelphia flight turbulent?

The SAT–PHL route typically experiences smooth turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SAT to PHL?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A320 · Boeing 737, that's rows 10–20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from SAT to PHL?

The SAT to PHL flight takes approximately 3h 25m, covering 1,494 miles at 35,000 feet.

Is the San Antonio to Philadelphia flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

SAT

→

PHL

San Antonio · Philadelphia · 3h 25m

12.8

Turb Score

3h 25m

Duration

1,298 nm

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

⚠️ Smooth turbulence today

Get exact timing, altitude & best seat — free

Download free on the App Store Get it on Google Play

★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android

Scan to get the full forecast ★★★★★ 4.8 · Free · iOS & Android · No sign-up

Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SAT–PHL

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h3h 25m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SAT–PHL route

The San Antonio to Philadelphia domestic route is generally one of the smoother flights in the US network, covering 1,494 miles at around 35,000 feet. Turbulence is most common when weather systems cross the Midwest or when the flight path skirts the Rocky Mountains. Short duration means any rough patches pass quickly.

The route is served by United, American Airlines, Delta on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 1,494 miles (1,298 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source.

San Antonio to Philadelphia Flight Time

How long is the flight from SAT to PHL?

3h 25m

Flight Time

1,494 mi

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The San Antonio (SAT) to Philadelphia (PHL) flight takes approximately 3h 25m, covering 1,494 miles (1,298 nautical miles) at 35,000 feet. The route is operated by United, American Airlines, Delta. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on SAT–PHL

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

Best time to fly SAT–PHL

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SAT–PHL

Airbus A320

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10–20

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 21+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

PHL → SAT

Philadelphia → San Antonio

Smooth

SAT → ATL

San Antonio → Atlanta

Smooth

SAT → LAX

San Antonio → Los Angeles

Smooth

SAT → ORD

San Antonio → Chicago

Smooth

See all us domestic flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

→

Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

→

When Does Turbulence Happen?

Phases of flight explained

→

Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

→

Passenger Reports

Totally smooth January flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly on descent but nothing actually happened. Great trip.

Leisure traveler · January

Did San Antonio to Philadelphia last August and it was genuinely one of the smoothest long-haul flights I've had. Barely any movement the whole way.

Frequent flyer · August

I always expect the worst on longer flights but this one surprised me. Very little turbulence, only a few small bumps on descent. Manageable even for me.

Nervous flyer · January

All SAT routes→ All PHL routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Antonio to Philadelphia flight turbulent?

The SAT–PHL route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 12.8/100.

When is turbulence worst on SAT to PHL?

Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on SAT to PHL?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from SAT to PHL?

The SAT to PHL flight takes approximately 3h 25m, covering 1,494 miles (1,298 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SAT to PHL?

The main airlines operating this route are United, American Airlines, Delta, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data