$166 Find Cheap Flights from Central America to California - Compare and Save

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Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$166
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 17% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 5% lower on average.
Flight from San José to Las Vegas

Flights from Central America to California: the best tips from KAYAK users

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from Central America to California 
Verified travelerFlew with United Airlines-Apr 2026
If you have a connecting flight in SFO you have to grab your bag and recheck it
AFlew with Copa Airlines-Jan 2026
Bring your own food and your own screen because you won’t have any for the next couple of hours.
LisaFlew with Copa Airlines-Mar 2025
You have to go through an additional security clearance at the actual gate, and there was a long line so I'd get to the gate right when it opens to avoid the additional long line.
RicardoFlew with Alaska Airlines-Mar 2025
BRING YOUR OWN SNAKS NOT MUCH HERE TO CHOOSE NONE OF THEM HEALTHY OPTIONS
RajFlew with Copa Airlines-Jan 2025
Pack your lunch or dinner with you either from airport restaurant.
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines-Nov 2024
The airport is expensive. I would not buy things there. You don’t need to take off your shoes for security. Have your passport ready for boarding
Verified travelerFlew with Avianca-May 2024
Bring something to drink or eat, at least sweets especially if traveling with children or are elderly.
Verified travelerFlew with Avianca-Mar 2024
Bring a pillow Bring phones charged Bring your own entertainment Be patient for luggage to get off plane.
JulioFlew with Avianca-May 2024
Check carry on status before. Check in online to avoid lines.
MayumiFlew with Avianca-Jan 2024
Eat well before boarding and bring your own entertainment.

FAQs for booking flights from Central America to California

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Central America to California?

    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 Central America to California.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Central America to California?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from Central America to California 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 Central America to California?

    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 from Central America to California with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Central America to California?

    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 from Central America to California up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • Which airlines fly most frequently to California?

    Central America and California are connected by different airlines. The airlines that fly that route the most regularly are Avianca (69 flights per week), United Airlines (48 flights per week), and Copa Airlines (42 flights per week).

  • How many airports are there in California?

    There are 29 airports in California. The busiest airport is Los Angeles Airport (LAX), with 38% of all flights arriving there.

  • Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in California?

    Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in California is Los Angeles Airport (LAX), with an average flight price of $397.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to California?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to California is Tuesday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as $445. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Monday, where round-trip prices are $524 on average.

  • What is the cheapest time of day to fly to California?

    The cheapest time of day to fly to California is generally in the afternoon, when round-trip flights cost $347 on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to California is generally at night, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $524.

  • What is the cheapest flight to California?

    The cheapest ticket to California from Central America found in the last 5 days was to Oakland, at $239 round-trip. The most popular route is Belize City Philip S.W.Goldson Airport (BZE) to Los Angeles (LAX) and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 5 days was $253.

  • What is the cheapest month to fly from Central America to California?

    The cheapest month for flights from Central America to California is December, when tickets cost $219 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are August and January, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $352 and $343 respectively.

  • How far in advance should I book a flight from Central America to California?

    To get a below average price on the flight from Central America to California, you should book around 8 weeks before departure, which saves you about 26% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 26 weeks before departure.

  • How many cities have direct flights to California?

    From Central America, there are direct flights to California from 6 cities. The city with the most direct flights is San Salvador, with 126 direct flights each week.

  • How many direct flights to California are there each day?

    There are around 49 direct flights from within Central America to California every day. Most flights (50%) depart in the morning.

  • How many direct flights to California are there each week?

    Each week there are around 338 direct flights from within Central America to California. The most common day for departures is Sunday, with 20% of flights taking off on this day.

  • How long is the flight to California?

    An average nonstop flight from Central America to California takes 9h 06m, covering a distance of 2585 miles. The shortest route is Guatemala City (GUA) to Los Angeles (LAX) with an average flight time of 5h 04m.

  • How many long-haul flights are there to California each week?

    Each week, there are 21 long-haul flights (6-12 hour flight duration) and 317 medium-haul flights (3-6 hour flight duration) to California. There aren't any short-haul flights (up to 3 hour flight duration).

  • What are the most popular destinations in California?

    Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is Los Angeles (79% of total searches to California). The next most popular destinations are San Francisco (16%) and San Jose (3%). Searches for flights to Burbank (1%) are also popular.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Central America to California

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Central America to California? 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.
7.9
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 12818 reviews
7.0Food
7.8Comfort
8.5Crew
7.0Entertainment
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

The staff's friendliness and helpfulness make a good impression.

8.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Aug 2026
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

The staff's friendliness and helpfulness make a good impression.

I am truely disappointed in the delays. I have been flying Alaska Airlines for years and years and have always had the most amazing experiences. Not what has happened with being on time. Flying from SAN to PDX delayed. Then .PRX to SAN delayed,

Was very easy to board but when you get to the confirmation board it was too high for me to see even with my glasses so I just hoped that I was lead to the right gate and waited for boarding.

Flight cancelled originally with no email informing me of the change. Rebooked for the next day and that flight was delayed with no update on the app.

The crew at the airport and in flight were excellent, the seats were a bit cramped but I am tall so maybe someone shorter wouldn’t care. Not many food options unless you know to pre-order. I would definitely fly them again but would pay for emergency row and bring food. Flight was perfect, arrived a little early.

Pretty good flight. Airport lounge was dirty, crowded, and noisy.

A refund because I never got on any you guys never canceled it in the first place

They removed the cover off my checked bag and threw it away.

Your seats do not recline more than 2”. That’s a shame on a 5+ hours flight especially overnight flight. Garbage airline

It was delayed seven hours and we did not take it

Smooth flight. Easy boarding. Come early. Check in line is long

Quick boarding and check in.. but premium seats don’t recline.. very hard to relax. But overall, it was a Great a satisfying experience.. Thank You

If they listen to you especially when there’s a problem with a passport now I lost my tickets and also my seat money

The worst airline I have ever experienced. Terrible customer service. Absolutely disgraceful

Checking bags at the airport, very confusing they make lines for different flights but they don’t have any signs, so if you are on the wrong line be aware they will send you to the end of the correct line. No priority for check in even if you pay and no priority to disabled persons and elderly persons.

Despite all the negative reviews, I took Volaris with a family of 4 (including a toddler and infant in arms). The only compliant was they charged me $70 to gate check our wagon (which we use as a stroller) and then it was not available for pickup at the gate (which is the entire point), so we had to get through customs and the airport with our luggage and no way to push our kids :(

Après avoir manqué l’avion aucune aide de la part des agents à l’aéroport pour trouver un autre vol

Más comida no cobrar tanto por los asientos y comida food

Worst airline ever!! Delays in all my flights!!! Do not flight with Volaris!

The departures screens in the airport showed the flight as canceled for some weird reason, but when I got to the gate just to double check, it showed it as on time, and not canceled. This was confusing, but ultimately I was able to get to where I needed to go.

This airline always trick us so we end up paying again for the luggage’s. This airline is worthless and take advantage of travelers .

Now days most airlines flying to Central America have a really poor service, but if you buy first class they will treat you better. I miss those days when flying was fun.

Friendly staff at all very easy check in and organize process

Horrible airline, upgraded to sit on seats made of stone. Staff were rude and on top of it they charge an arm and a leg for luggage 🧳 never again

The seats are the worst I upgraded to premium big mistake and it seems like no one likes there job very unpleasant

they don’t have TV Seat to Type in space

The flight was excellent. Their was no service as we boarded, the flight attendants spent about 30 minutes just taking and not really caring that the cabin was about 80 degrees and did not offered any beverage to first class passengers or any passenger. The flight from DEN to ONT is not long but not under an hour, we received one drink and bag of chips if you were lucky. I was in first class…. I did leave my hat on the plane and it only took less than five minutes for a United rep to locate and bring it to me.

The app logs you out right when you are boarding requiring all passwords and reservation number for the flight. Super annoying

The pre-order only approach for fresh food is really challenging

the seat has a problem. the back had a hole.

Old 757 with poor entertainment system. United no longer partners with United for free text and email. O'Hara an absolute disaster! Limited gates clauses two hour delay. Unfortunately this appears to be the norm.

The entire experience convinced my wife, Cathy, and me that traveling Polaris on United is the only way we’ll fly in the future. From check-in and baggage drop to the end of the 12-hour flight, the customer service was exceptional, with numerous staff members exemplifying the very best in care. On board, Andre, our primary crew chief, was sincerely friendly, a consummate professional, and, along with Freddy, one of his team members, truly among the best of the best. The captain even came through the cabin to chat with passengers—a wonderful personal touch, especially on such a long journey.

The SFO lounge closes at 12 midnight. My flight took off at 2AM

Delayed 2 hours while stuck on the aircraft. If the luggage was properly loaded the first time we probably wouldn’t have been delayed at all

Flight be on time would be a good start. Then train your flight attendants to be attentive and friendly. This time they completely forgot my row for the measly snack! United, do better!

We boarded the plane and were about to take off when we were notified that the tires had to be checked. Upon inspection, they were found to need replacement, so the entire plane had to be deboarded. After we exited the plane, United staff forced us to stay in the gate area by posting "Do Not Exit" signs on the doors connecting the gate area to the terminal. Many of us had already rebooked our flights and had no checked bags, but they told us we could not leave. This seemed inappropriate to hold people under false pretenses. When the agent told us we could leave, I asked them to please take down the "Do Not Exit" signs, as they were misleading. The agent refused, and I told them that it didn't feel right to hold people like that.

Better seats, allow us to upgrade, terrible website, poor telephone service, better equipment

Horrible experience with Avianca, they delayed their flight and when we arrived to NYC, AVIANCA took 1 hr y 30 mins to park the airplane and all passenger get off the plane, it made me lost all my trains to get back home and I came back to my place at 3 am instead of 12 am. On the top of that their plane seat are so uncomfortable and is not enough space and killed my legs and knees, Avianca used to be good when it was a Colombian company, now after Brasilian company bought them, their service quality is bad and their flights are delayed and oversold.

It was horrible. My experience with Avianca. I didn’t know it was Pakistan international Airlines but anyway, whatever it is it is bad horrible you guys need to upgrade everything in those planes. And you guys charge $130 for a carry-on did they wanna let me in with my carry-on that I travel everywhere with the luggage you guys are such a dog thank you

The fees for baggage were outrageous. $130 for carry on and $150 for check in for an international flight. The seats did not recline. We were not even offered water. Had we known all of this, we would not have booked Avianca at all.

I was shocked flying to El Salvador that they only give you water. Everything else you have to pay for. There is no wifi or entertainment and it’s an international flight. At least back in the day they had tvs on the plane and everyone watched the same movie. Also seats do not recline, even comfort or plus.

I did not like anything, first time I use company and for sure it will be the last time, they charge for simple operations that any other average airline wouldn't charge.

The good thing is the flight was on time and the crew was really nice. They can work better the arriving with staff

The inflight entertainment did not work on a 6 hour flight The cel phone chargers did not work There was a 45 minute wait for the luggage to get off the plane.

They could offer free food and drink like other international flights.

Flight attendants to show up on time, offer drinks and food.

Everything you need to know for your flight to California

Cabin class types available on flights to Central America