DSM - PHL

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$266
Typical prices: $174-$433
Southwest
Sat 2/3Sat 2/10
DSM - PHL • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$127
Typical prices: $109-$318
Multiple Airlines
Wed 1/24
DSM - PHL • 2 stops
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Des Moines and Philadelphia. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to book
9 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 9 weeks in advance save around 61% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
August
Cheapest • 61% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Denver Intl (DEN)
Cheapest • Avg $151 (round-trip)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
Shortest trip • 4h 35m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia (DSM-PHL)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Des Moines to Philadelphia

Wed, Feb 3 - Wed, Feb 10
Southwest Logo
3:10 pm - 8:30 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
4h 20m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
5:20 pm - 9:35 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
5h 15m1 stop Chicago Midway
$266Southwest
Wed, Feb 3 - Wed, Feb 10
Southwest Logo
3:10 pm - 8:30 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
4h 20m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
1:15 pm - 9:35 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
9h 20m2 stops Lambert-St Louis Chicago Midway
$271Southwest
Sun, Nov 22 - Wed, Nov 25
Frontier Logo
8:28 pm - 5:25 amDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
7h 57m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
8:38 pm - 7:33 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
23h 55m1 stop Denver Intl
$310Frontier
Sun, Nov 22 - Wed, Nov 25
Frontier Logo
8:28 pm - 5:25 amDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
7h 57m1 stop Denver Intl
Frontier Logo
8:38 pm - 7:33 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
23h 55m1 stop Denver Intl
$310Frontier
Tue, Feb 16 - Fri, Feb 19
American Airlines Logo
7:14 am - 6:28 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
10h 14m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
5:35 am - 1:34 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
8h 59m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$377American Airlines
Fri, Nov 13 - Sun, Nov 15
American Airlines Logo
1:58 pm - 12:19 amDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
9h 21m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
9:57 pm - 8:46 amPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
11h 49m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$386American Airlines
Wed, Mar 24 - Tue, Mar 30
Delta Logo
11:04 am - 6:19 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
6h 15m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Delta Logo
10:21 am - 4:27 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
7h 06m1 stop Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$395Delta
Sat, Mar 20 - Tue, Mar 30
Delta Logo
10:55 am - 7:05 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
7h 10m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
Delta Logo
1:00 pm - 4:50 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
4h 50m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
$395Delta
Tue, Nov 24 - Tue, Dec 1
United Airlines Logo
3:24 pm - 11:09 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
6h 45m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
United Airlines Logo
1:17 pm - 5:14 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
4h 57m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$395United Airlines
Wed, Dec 16 - Wed, Dec 30
United Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 2:12 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
6h 57m2 stops Chicago O'Hare Intl Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl
United Airlines Logo
6:51 pm - 11:17 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
5h 26m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$400United Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Des Moines to Philadelphia flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

How much is a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

Round-trip flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia typically range from $174 to $433. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $266, on Southwest.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Sunday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Des Moines to Philadelphia. It’s 59% cheaper than the average day, while Monday is the most expensive, with prices 37% higher.

What’s the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

•August is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to Philadelphia at $124 round-trip.
•March ($453) and January ($433) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 265% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia the cheapest?

Flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia are cheapest 9 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 61% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Find deals

Key details for Des Moines to Philadelphia flights

Low season

March

Cheapest flight

$127
Beat the crowds with an average 38% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 68% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Des Moines to Philadelphia

When to book flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Des Moines to Philadelphia based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your Des Moines to Philadelphia flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Des Moines to Philadelphia:

    • Earliest: departs at 6:00 am and lands at 8:35 am
    • Latest: departs at 1:15 pm and lands at 3:50 pm.

    The flight takes about 2h 35m.

  • What cabin classes can I book on flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia:

    • Economy Class
    • First Class

  • How long is a flight from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    A nonstop flight from Des Moines to Philadelphia takes 2h 35m, covering 969 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need a real ID-compliant driver's license, a state ID or another TSA-accepted form of identification.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Des Moines to Philadelphia flight?

    Round-trip flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia range from $174 to $433, with an average of $318 over the past 12 months. Anything below $174 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Des Moines to Philadelphia flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 31% above the $318 route average. Book 9 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How much can I save by taking a layover when flying from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $151 round-trip via Denver Intl (DEN), compared to $187 for nonstop.

  • What is the standard checked-bag allowance on flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $25–$100 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    The Airbus A320-100/200 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Allegiant Air. Other aircraft seen on the route include Canadair (Bombardier) Regional Jet 900 variants.

  • Have flight prices from Des Moines to Philadelphia changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $266 to $1,445. That means the highest observed fare was about 5x higher than the lowest one.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi on Des Moines to Philadelphia flights?

    American Airlines is the only airline on the Des Moines to Philadelphia route offering in-flight Wi-Fi. Pricing depends on fare class.

  • How are flight prices from Des Moines to Philadelphia looking right now?

    One-way fares from Des Moines to Philadelphia are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $205, which is 7% above the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at Philadelphia Airport (PHL)?

    Philadelphia Airport (PHL) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $28 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Payless
    • Dollar
    • Hertz
    • Thrifty
    • Alamo

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    Flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia usually depart from Des Moines (DSM) and arrive at Philadelphia (PHL).

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia pass through?

    One-stop flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia most commonly connect through:

    • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 66% of one-stop connections
    • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) - 14% of one-stop connections
    • Chicago Midway (MDW) - 7% of one-stop connections
    • Lambert-St Louis (STL) - 6% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 71% on flights from Des Moines to Philadelphia. Sunday is the cheapest departure day at $131 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $438, a difference of $307.

    Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

  • What airlines fly from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    2 airlines operate flights between Des Moines and Philadelphia. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

    • American Airlines
    • Allegiant Air

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from Des Moines to Philadelphia?

    Flying via Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 35m, compared with 4h 36m via Lambert-St Louis (STL) and 4h 55m via Chicago Midway (MDW).

  • What is the time difference between Des Moines and Philadelphia?

    Philadelphia is 1 hour ahead of Des Moines (Eastern Time vs Central Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What popular places can I visit in Philadelphia?

    Some of the most popular sights in Philadelphia are Philadelphia Convention Center, Rittenhouse Square and Philadelphia Stadium. These are among the most viewed places in Philadelphia on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Des Moines to Philadelphia flights?

    Among airlines operating Des Moines to Philadelphia flights:

    • American Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

    Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Des Moines to Philadelphia flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • American Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
    • Allegiant Air: a checked bag in Economy Class class

    Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

Your guide to booking Des Moines to Philadelphia flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Sunday departure and avoid flying on Monday. On this route, Sunday flights average $131, about $307 less than Monday fares (70% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 9 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 61% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Des Moines to Philadelphia trip for August. Fares historically average $124 round-trip in that month - typically $329 less than the most expensive month, which is March (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Denver Intl Airport (DEN) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $151 round-trip on this route - about $36 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Philadelphia Airport.

    • Embassy Suites by Hilton Philadelphia Airport
    • Sonesta Select Philadelphia Airport
    • Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Philadelphia Airport

More options for your flight from Des Moines to Philadelphia

Complete your trip to Philadelphia with a hotel stay or car rental

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