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DSM - SAN

Find cheap flights from Des Moines to San Diego from $59

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Des Moines to San Diego departing on 5/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
0 bags
Sat 5/25
Sat 6/1

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San Diego

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Des Moines to San Diego.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Des Moines to San Diego.
In the last 7 days travelers have searched 45,119,101 times on KAYAK, and here is why:

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Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to San Diego (DSM-SAN)

Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Des Moines to San Diego that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates.
Choose your dates
3:25 pm - 8:03 amDSM-SAN
18h 38m1 stop
9:32 pm - 3:16 pmSAN-DSM
15h 44m2 stops
$202Frontier
Find Deal
Wed, May 8 - Sun, May 12
9:16 pm - 7:00 amDSM-SAN
11h 44m1 stop
7:22 pm - 3:22 pmSAN-DSM
18h 00m1 stop
$204Frontier
Find Deal
Mon, Jun 17 - Tue, Jun 18
2:44 pm - 4:21 pmDSM-SAN
3h 37mnonstop
5:11 pm - 10:36 pmSAN-DSM
3h 25mnonstop
$208Allegiant Air
Find Deal
Fri, Jun 28 - Mon, Jul 1
2:44 pm - 4:21 pmDSM-SAN
3h 37mnonstop
5:11 pm - 10:36 pmSAN-DSM
3h 25mnonstop
$216Allegiant Air
Find Deal
Fri, Jun 28 - Mon, Jul 1
6:40 am - 3:32 pmDSM-SAN
10h 52m1 stop
10:31 pm - 11:38 amSAN-DSM
11h 07m1 stop
$292American Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, May 21 - Sat, May 25
5:15 am - 8:59 amDSM-SAN
5h 44m1 stop
11:54 am - 9:40 pmSAN-DSM
7h 46m1 stop
$293American Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, May 28 - Sat, Jun 1
5:33 am - 11:25 amDSM-SAN
7h 52m1 stop
11:15 am - 10:40 pmSAN-DSM
9h 25m1 stop
$354Delta
Find Deal
Wed, May 8 - Sat, May 11
5:33 am - 11:25 amDSM-SAN
7h 52m1 stop
10:50 pm - 11:05 amSAN-DSM
10h 15m1 stop
$356Delta
Find Deal
Sun, May 19 - Sat, May 25
6:04 am - 10:59 amDSM-SAN
6h 55m1 stop
7:07 am - 4:09 pmSAN-DSM
7h 02m1 stop
$390United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, May 21 - Wed, May 22
6:04 am - 10:59 amDSM-SAN
6h 55m1 stop
6:40 am - 4:11 pmSAN-DSM
7h 31m1 stop
$465United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, May 21 - Thu, May 23

Flights from Des Moines to San Diego - Travel Insights & Trends

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Des Moines to San Diego to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Des Moines to San Diego?

The average price of all flights from Des Moines to San Diego clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.
For Des Moines to San Diego, Monday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Sunday is the most expensive. Flying from San Diego back to Des Moines, the best deals are generally found on Monday, with Sunday being the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to San Diego?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from Des Moines to San Diego, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights from Des Moines to San Diego is May, where tickets cost $189 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are March and January, where the average cost of tickets is $514 and $442 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Des Moines to San Diego?

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for flights from Des Moines to San Diego, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each month.
To get a below average price on the flight from Des Moines to San Diego, you should book around 3 days before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 29 days before departure.

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from Des Moines to San Diego?

The cheapest price for the route for each airline clicked by KAYAK users in the last 72 hours.
The best deals for a one-way ticket found by KAYAK users over the last 3 days were on Frontier ($59) and Allegiant Air ($95). The cheapest round-trip tickets were found on Frontier ($202) and Allegiant Air ($208).

Which cabin class options are there for flights between Des Moines and San Diego?

The average price of flights for each cabin class for the route found by users searching on KAYAK over the last 2 weeks.
There is only one cabin class option available for the route, which is Economy. Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

How long does a flight from Des Moines to San Diego take?

A direct flight to San Diego will take on average 3h 30m to travel the 1,425 miles flying distance from Des Moines.

What’s the earliest departure time from Des Moines to San Diego?

Early birds can take the earliest flight from Des Moines at 2:56 pm and will be landing in San Diego at 4:41 pm.

What’s the latest departure time from Des Moines to San Diego?

If you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from Des Moines to San Diego jets off at 2:56 pm and lands at 4:41 pm.

Good to know

Low season

September

High season

March

Cheapest flight

$59
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 5% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 33% increase in price.
Flight from Des Moines to San Diego

When to book flights from Des Moines to San Diego

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Des Moines to San Diego based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Des Moines to San Diego

  • Where can I park at DSM before my flight to San Diego?

    The Long-Term Premium and Long-Term Parking Lots are close enough that you can walk to the terminal. However, the more affordable options, the Blue Lot Economy 2, the Green Lot Economy 3, and the Gray Lot Economy 4, are not within walking distance. But you can take a free shuttle from the Economy Lots to the terminals. At DSM, you cannot reserve parking in advance, but the homepage on the DSM website keeps track of how much space is available in each lot and the Live Shuttle Tracker tells you when the next shuttle is coming.

  • Does DSM provide facilities for nursing moms?

    Yes. There is a Mamava lactation suite located just after the TSA checkpoint near the DSM police desk. Regardless of which concourse you're going to, everyone passes through the same security checkpoint in the main terminal. Each freestanding Mamava unit contains a fold-down table, bench seating on either side, a USB port, an electrical outlet, a coat hook, and a mirror.

  • Does SAN have a military lounge?

    Yes. The USO at SAN is in Terminal 2, landslide. If you are traveling soldier or a member of a military family who wants to relax, regroup, or refresh after your flight from Des Moines, you can visit the USO and enjoy its benefits and facilities free of charge. Amenities include showers, comfortable seating, refreshments, TV, unlimited domestic calls, and much more.

  • Where can I pick up my rental car at SAN?

    All car rental companies are located in a separate building outside the SAN airport. At the Arrivals curb, you can catch a free shuttle to whichever car rental agency you need to go to. Some car rental agencies at San Diego Airport include Avis, Enterprise, Budget, Alamo, Hertz, Firefly, National, and more.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Des Moines to San Diego?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Des Moines to San Diego was $59 for a one-way ticket and $202 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Des Moines and San Diego?

    A passport is not required to fly from Des Moines to San Diego.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Des Moines to San Diego?

    When flying out of Des Moines you will be using Des Moines. You will be landing at San Diego, also known as San Diego.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Des Moines to San Diego?

    The Airbus A320-100/200 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Des Moines to San Diego flight route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Des Moines to San Diego?

    You can catch a nonstop flight from Des Moines to San Diego on on Monday, and Friday.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Des Moines to San Diego, Delta or Alaska Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Des Moines to San Diego are Delta and Alaska Airlines. With an average price for the route of $452 and an overall rating of 8.0, Delta is the most popular choice. Alaska Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $373 and an overall rating of 8.0.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Des Moines to San Diego?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Des Moines to San Diego.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Des Moines to San Diego?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Diego from Des Moines is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Des Moines to San Diego?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to San Diego with an airline and back to Des Moines with another airline. Booking your flights between Des Moines and SAN can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Des Moines to San Diego?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to San Diego from Des Moines up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from DSM to San Diego

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $132 or less one-way and $213 or less round-trip.
  • Located virtually in the center of the state of Iowa, the Des Moines International Airport (DSM) serves as a focus city for Allegiant Air. The San Diego International Airport (SAN), located on the Pacific coast in California just north of the Mexican border, is a hub for Southwest, Alaska Airlines, and other smaller airlines.
  • Though is unlikely you will find a direct flight from Des Moines to San Diego, you can find one-stop flights on several airlines, such as United, often with a stop in Denver. Southwest, American, and Delta also have one-stop flights with layovers in cities such as Dallas, Phoenix, Minneapolis, in Atlanta. United, American, and Delta are among the airlines offering two-stop flights as well.
  • There is one animal relief area at DSM located outside the terminal. So, remember to make sure that your service animal or your pet goes to the bathroom before you enter the airport and go through security. This animal relief area is north of the Skywalk next to the parking garage.
  • A baggage claim at SAN, you can find the service Traveler’s Aid. Open every day from 8 am to 11 pm, Travelers Aid helps passengers who are stranded or distressed. For example, if your accommodation plans have fallen through, if your money has been lost or stolen, or if you need transportation assistance, Travelers Aid is there to help.
  • If you feel stiff and sore after your flight from Des Moines, consider getting a massage at one of the two Be Relax Spa locations at the San Diego Airport. There is one spa location at Gate 26 in Terminal 2 and another location atG ate 36 in Terminal 2. These spas are open daily from 7 am to 8 pm.
See more tips

Prefer to fly non-stop from Des Moines to San Diego?

Find which airlines fly direct from Des Moines to San Diego, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Nonstop departures

Des Moines to San Diego

Monday

Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air

Friday

Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air

See more direct flights

Nonstop returns

San Diego to Des Moines

Monday

Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air

Friday

Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top 5 airlines serving from Des Moines to San Diego

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Des Moines to San Diego. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Des Moines to San Diego? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
DeltaOverall score based on 10975 reviews
7.4food
7.9comfort
8.6crew
8.0entertainment
8.2boarding
Airline reviews

There was a loud squeaky sound the whole time we were flying.

6.0 GoodEliza, Apr 2024SAN - LAX
Read more about Delta reviews

There was a loud squeaky sound the whole time we were flying.

Had a broken tray in business class. Crew just shrugged it off.

I didn’t like that I could not select my seat and was assigned a seat when I checked in at LAX

Great experience overall. Check in at Austin was congested as they only have about 6 check in kiosks, one was broken, and there was a lot of Spring Break travelers.

Bag drop off was slow and annoying. Only 2 agents at the entire delta desk, and no one directing traffic for what line to be in, many confused people slowed down the process. Boarding was fine. Seats in Delta comfort plus were fine. Snacks were great! Definitely a bonus. The entertainment system was awful — old, slow, not responsive, and completely unable to play games due to some kind of error. But on the other hand, thank you to Delta for the free WiFi. That made it better.

Everything was very good other than I had selected a specific seat when I booked the flight and they changed it once I checked-in the day before my flight. I was still in first class but lost my aisle seat for a window seat. Being tall, the aisle offers more comfort so I always select an aisle seat.

Flight diverted in SD. Later take off in Seattle by 1.3hrs

Crew was not friendly when I went to request a seat change.

Really impressive staff at airport and on plane, especially given how busy it was

Was a great smooth flight from Detroit to San Diego.

The net issue I had was with the gate agent. We had added a carryon to our boarding pass when we checked bags. When I got to the boarding gate the agent was rude asking why I had a backpack - I said I added it - even had an orange tag on it. She ripped my tag off and swung her monitor around to show me how she was right- saying it isn’t wasn’t listed - only a checked bag. I explained again that I wasn’t sure what the issue was but I wouldn’t have an orange tag if I hadn’t added it. Then she finally checked my husband’s boarding pass and found that the agent at checkin had added my carryon to his boarding pass instead of mine. She sent me on my way without my orange tag. Was a bit embarrassing for me the tone she used with me assuming I was trying to get away with something.

Gate agent asked if I could switch seats so a family could sit together. Agent moved me to a seat in the front of the plane, no charge. It was easy. The agent did a great job.

Great seat space. However food and drink prices outrageous. Jabbing to pay for a carry on bag or stuck paying at the gate too much.

Every Allegiant Air flight I've ever taken has been delayed. This flight was delayed a full 2 hours. It was excuse after excuse after excuse. It was a flight from southern Florida. They made us board the plane on time, but made us wait for 2 hours on the tarmac. Because the engines were kept shut off, so was the air conditioning. One can only imagine how hot the air was in the cabin over those 2 hours on the tarmac, while in the hot Florida sun. Just terrible.

Actually, for the price, I'm willing to put up with a little discomfort (upright chairs) and at times inconveniences (like any airline), lack of entertainment (I can bring my own). My flight was non stop and smooth. I would fly this route again.

The flight was delayed 6 hours and we were only offered an $8 food credit. My husband stood in line to get the credit for 45 minutes and when he got close to the end of the line the computers went down.

Worst ever! Flight cancelled supposedly for weather even though we k ow of many others who flew into Bangor same time no problem. At the airport there was no customer service at all just refund and no possibility of rebook for 3-4 days. Aweful won’t fly with them again!!

It’s a budget airline so adjust expectations accordingly. Nothing is without a fee but such is necessary for tickets to remain so affordable.

No complaints. It’s a budget airline so can’t expect any frills.

My TSA number was missing from my ticket which shouldn’t have happened since it’s in my file. The on board flight attendant who was a male, did not want to help me put my luggage in the overhead bin and made a very rude comment and was very unpleasant. The good… the woman who fixed my ticket with the TSA number was excellent and I had extra legroom which was perfect.

So so. Terrible aircraft choice for that leg of the flight.

delay several times and wait extra long to board. no entertainment service because there are problem for some rows. always encounter some delays for the last flight of the day.

On time every leg of the journey and exceptional staff at counter, gate, and on board. I haven’t travelled in US for a long time and was genuinely surprised how pleasant this was.

This was a Lufthansa flight. Disappointing main meal. Very rough over Canada and arrival at FRA. IFE was almost unusable.

Too many fees (but that seems to apply to all airlines nowadays)

For a 22 minute flight all you expect is for it to be safe and comfortable

I was not able to buy food in the flight. They refer to include your Credit card in the APP, and if you are not from USA (i have a credit card form Canada) it is not possible

Over two hours wait to get wheelchair assistance from arrival to the departure gate for LA was unreasonable even though there appreared to be heavy demand.

Airline did not explain reasons why flight was delayed two hours. Explanations were badly needed and rarely provided. Problem seemed to clearly be the airline’s fault and not the fault of the weather or airport.

I was delighted that we were able to get on the 4:40 pm flight rather than our original booking at 6:55 pm!! Other than that, the flight was comfortable and landed early😊

Fight crew was not very attentive and the bastions were gross!

Our flight was great we left Kona earlier and got into LAX almost an 1hour earlier as well. LAX AA is in repair so to get out and found our bus to get pick up was a bit confusing.

Plane was good but was delayed. probably not AA fault but caused a 1 hour delay. Seating was cramped.

5 hour flight - full flight - not enough room to use my computer - slightly delayed - Admirals club was excellent quality food, drink made up for flight seating. No food offerred on flight, you ahd to prebook.

We experience delays on departure and connecting flights resulting in 14 hour to our next departure. We were accommodated with a night's stay but was only provided a 12 dollar meals accommodation. The airlines rules state.at least 50 dollars. In any case, it can not make up for the whole day missed on our vacation in Sydney Australia.

I can say I will not be taking this airline again any time soon. Seat were uncomfortable and too tight. Lack of chair screen and little overhead space.

Plane felt so crowded and tightly packed. The chair itself was not comfortable.

They attended to my needs as I couldn't walk and they provided a wheelchair for me.q

Poor availability of food. Cold cabin temperature. Extremely long waiting time for a flight attendant to respond to a call button signal.

2.5h delay due to unruly passenger in first class. Had to be removed from the flight. No food unless pre ordered. Didn't know we would need it because of delay.

I purchased a carry on bag online…was supposed to cost $72 but after a whole slew of bs charges, the total was over $175.00. Because of these hidden charges, I will not even consider flying Frontier ever again. It’s just not worth the hassle. I’m scratching this company off my list forever.

Flight was OK. Seats were good no cell phone charges on the plane no TVs or entertainment.

There were 3 leg for the trip and each leg was delayed by 90 minutes or more. The boarding process takes forever with people waiting on the jetway even though most folks do not have carry-on. The whole process is poorly managed.

Flight cancelled and was told by a rude gate agent that they don’t accommodate on other airlines. Had to wait 5 hours for a connecting flight that had a 7 hour layover. Would not allow bags to be checked early so we couldn’t go through security .Had to rent a car for the afternoon to store bags and get a meal. Also incurred a hotel fee. No apology or reason given for the cancellation- just rudeness.

They cancelled the flight then did nothing to help us rebook. It was awful - I won’t fly with them again

The process of buying the ticket and navigating all the hidden charges that Frontier throws at you was a terrible experience. The actual airport experience and flying was fine.

The truck that was refueling the plane drove away with the hose still connected to the plane and ripped part of the plane off with it

Not have to pay for every single item to take a flight. Seating and delays sucked.

Flight was cancelled and I had to spend the night in the airport lugging my suitcase around

If you don’t check in 24 hours in advance, they will charge you $110 to check your bag instead of the $30. I did not get an email with this information and did not check in. In addition, my flight home was cancelled at layover and I had to spend the night in the airport, and then have another layover at another airport before making it home. Will not fly frontier again.

Book cheap flights from Des Moines to San Diego

Recent one-way flight deals

 
Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from Des Moines to San Diego found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.
5/11Sat
1 stopFrontier
7h 02mDSM-SAN
$59
5/10Fri
1 stopFrontier
17h 15mDSM-SAN
$79
5/13Mon
1 stopFrontier
7h 09mDSM-SAN
$85
6/28Fri
nonstopAllegiant Air
3h 37mDSM-SAN
$95
5/31Fri
nonstopAllegiant Air
3h 45mDSM-SAN
$122
7/24Wed
1 stopAmerican Airlines
6h 19mDSM-SAN
$147
5/15Wed
2 stopsAmerican Airlines
8h 26mDSM-SAN
$168
5/13Mon
2 stopsAlaska Airlines
13h 48mDSM-SAN
$283
7/24Wed
2 stopsUnited Airlines
19h 55mDSM-SAN
$295
5/11Sat
3 stopsUnited Airlines
12h 10mDSM-SAN
$427

Search by stops

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Last minute flights from Des Moines to San Diego

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

 
These last-minute flight deals are the cheapest flights found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours for flights from Des Moines to San Diego that are departing in the next 10 days.
4/27Sat
multi-stopFrontier
18h 20mDSM-SAN
5/21Tue
multi-stopFrontier
26h 49mSAN-DSM
$164
4/29Mon
multi-stopFrontier
5h 30mDSM-SAN
5/3Fri
multi-stopFrontier
5h 09mSAN-DSM
$220
4/29Mon
multi-stop
5h 30mDSM-SAN
5/3Fri
multi-stop
14h 31mSAN-DSM
$517
4/29Mon
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
7h 58mDSM-SAN
5/6Mon
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
11h 07mSAN-DSM
$590
4/29Mon
multi-stopDelta
7h 34mDSM-SAN
5/1Wed
multi-stopDelta
8h 52mSAN-DSM
$593
4/29Mon
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
8h 26mDSM-SAN
5/6Mon
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
11h 07mSAN-DSM
$596
4/28Sun
multi-stopDelta
7h 34mDSM-SAN
5/1Wed
multi-stopDelta
8h 52mSAN-DSM
$640
4/29Mon
multi-stopUnited Airlines
6h 55mDSM-SAN
5/1Wed
multi-stopUnited Airlines
10h 04mSAN-DSM
$645
4/29Mon
multi-stopUnited Airlines
9h 05mDSM-SAN
5/1Wed
multi-stopUnited Airlines
12h 43mSAN-DSM
$729
4/29Mon
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
14h 03mDSM-SAN
5/3Fri
multi-stopAlaska Airlines
13h 45mSAN-DSM
$836

Search by stops

Search by airline

Search by price

Des Moines - San Diego Flights

Departure:

Des Moines (DSM)United States

Destination:

San Diego (SAN)United States

Return flight deals:

San Diego - Des Moines

Cabin classes:

$169