DSM - SAN

$122 Find Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San Diego

This is the cheapest round-trip 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 12/8. 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
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches 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.
Travelers love KAYAK
41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

Save 23% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Bundle and saveSave money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights 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 for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Des Moines to San Diego

Mon, Dec 8 - Fri, Dec 12
Frontier Logo
7:58 pm - 11:59 pmDSM-SAN
6h 01m1 stop
Frontier Logo
6:34 am - 7:03 pmSAN-DSM
10h 29m1 stop
$122Frontier
Find Deal
Mon, Dec 8 - Fri, Dec 12
Frontier Logo
7:58 pm - 11:59 pmDSM-SAN
6h 01m1 stop
Frontier Logo
6:34 am - 7:03 pmSAN-DSM
10h 29m1 stop
$124Frontier
Find Deal
Mon, Dec 15 - Tue, Dec 23
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:58 pm - 11:59 pmDSM-SAN
6h 01m1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:06 pm - 2:10 pmSAN-DSM
23h 04m1 stop
$172Multiple Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, Dec 19 - Tue, Dec 23
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:29 pm - 7:15 pmDSM-SAN
24h 46m1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:06 pm - 2:10 pmSAN-DSM
23h 04m1 stop
$203Multiple Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, Jan 20 - Sat, Jan 24
American Airlines Logo
5:51 pm - 10:50 pmDSM-SAN
6h 59m1 stop
American Airlines Logo
7:10 am - 5:06 pmSAN-DSM
7h 56m1 stop
$290American Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, Dec 2 - Sat, Dec 13
American Airlines Logo
5:10 am - 8:47 amDSM-SAN
5h 37m1 stop
American Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 4:55 pmSAN-DSM
8h 40m1 stop
$297American Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, Dec 16 - Thu, Dec 25
Delta Logo
6:50 am - 1:09 pmDSM-SAN
8h 19m1 stop
Delta Logo
11:52 am - 8:02 pmSAN-DSM
6h 10m1 stop
$300Delta
Find Deal
Thu, Dec 4 - Sat, Dec 13
Delta Logo
4:59 pm - 11:44 pmDSM-SAN
8h 45m1 stop
Delta Logo
10:00 pm - 9:40 amSAN-DSM
9h 40m1 stop
$301Delta
Find Deal
Wed, Feb 4 - Sat, Feb 7
United Airlines Logo
1:35 pm - 7:54 pmDSM-SAN
8h 19m2 stops
United Airlines Logo
11:08 am - 8:34 pmSAN-DSM
7h 26m2 stops
$307United Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, Dec 24 - Wed, Dec 31
United Airlines Logo
3:00 pm - 9:56 pmDSM-SAN
8h 56m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
4:10 pm - 11:58 pmSAN-DSM
5h 48m1 stop
$314United Airlines
Find Deal

Everything you should know

Top airlines
Frontier
Cheapest • from $122 (round-trip)
Southwest
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 40% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
June
Cheapest • 33% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Cheapest round-trip
$122
Overall average: $476
Frontier
Mon 12/8Fri 12/12
DSM - SAN • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$135
Typical prices: $208-$307
Frontier
Sat 12/20
DSM - SAN • 1 stop
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to San Diego!
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Des Moines to San Diego flights

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 round-trip flights from Des Moines to San Diego clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to San Diego on a Monday and more expensive on a Sunday. On your return trip to Des Moines, you should consider flying back on a Sunday, and avoid Wednesdays for better deals.

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 round-trip 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 June, where tickets cost $248 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are March and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $496 and $476 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Des Moines to San Diego?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

No, with an average price for the route of $366, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip 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 week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Des Moines to San Diego, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 40% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 23 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonSeptember
Cheapest flight$122
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 22% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 22% lower on average.
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 $135 for a one-way ticket and $122 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.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Des Moines to San Diego?

    SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and oneworld are the airline alliances operating flights between Des Moines and San Diego, with SkyTeam being the most commonly used for this route.

  • What is the most popular layover when flying to San Diego from Des Moines?

    Denver is the most popular layover city among KAYAK users traveling from Des Moines to San Diego.

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Des Moines to San Diego are Southwest and Delta. With an average price for the route of $485 and an overall rating of 8.0, Southwest is the most popular choice. Delta is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $361 and an overall rating of 7.9.

  • 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.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Des Moines to San Diego

  • 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.

Reviews of the 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
SouthwestOverall score based on 4242 reviews
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
8.0Comfort
7.5Entertainment
8.6Crew
Airline reviews

Ever since Southwest starting charging for bags, passengers don't want to pay to check their bags, so the gate agents have to beg people to check their roller bags now because there's "not enough space". This was a terrible business move by Southwest.

8.0 ExcellentGreg, Oct 2025OAK - BUR
Read more Southwest reviews

Ever since Southwest starting charging for bags, passengers don't want to pay to check their bags, so the gate agents have to beg people to check their roller bags now because there's "not enough space". This was a terrible business move by Southwest.

Delays delays delays. Late taking off, late landing, wait for a gate, etc.

Connecting flight is on time and boarding was a breeze!

Very smooth checking in our luggage with a super pleasant SW agent. I enjoyed a fun entertaining movie.

First time traveling on Southwest since bag fees were implemented. Usual good service. Just more expensive now.

It was a perfect flight in all aspects! Both legs!

Boarding process, crew were good. But the seats were so uncomfortable that was all I could focus on. I literally had to sit forward so that all 3 of us could fit in row. I will try to avoid Southwest in the future for any flights over 60 minutes.

Great flight, 47 passengers on a 180 seat plane. Stewardess was pleasant and cheerful.

Great experience flying Southwest. The crew was really kind and helpful, and very friendly with our toddler.

Plane late from DC to Austin 30 minutes. Crew made up much of the time enroute to San Diego.

Flight was timely, relatively comfortable, with decent entertainment and food served. Only problem encountered was with the free messaging which I highly appreciate, but it did not work from iphone to non-iphones.

The internet service I paid for didn’t work at all and the flight crew was not very friendly.

Subject: Formal Complaint: Discriminatory and Unprofessional Conduct – Request for Immediate Action & Compensation Dear [Airline Customer Relations Team], I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding my recent travel experience with [Airline], which was by far the worst I have ever encountered. What occurred was not only unprofessional, but in several instances discriminatory, unsafe, and unacceptable. On the first leg of my trip, I arrived only four minutes past check-in. Instead of making any attempt to resolve the matter, your representative flatly denied me boarding and made me wait while she attended to passengers who arrived after me. By the time a manager intervened, it was too late to board, costing me time, money, and unnecessary frustration. The second leg of my trip (Chicago–San Francisco) raised even more serious concerns. From the outset, it was apparent that the staff—particularly two attendants—prioritized Caucasian passengers while dismissing African American and minority passengers. • When a Caucasian passenger in the exit row refused to comply with federal safety requirements, I, as a first responder, immediately offered to switch seats and assume the responsibility. My offer was blatantly ignored, and instead, a Caucasian passenger seated further up was chosen. This was discriminatory and deeply insulting, especially as I was actively de-escalating the situation that could have delayed the flight further. • During a lengthy tarmac delay of over 90 minutes, passengers were given conflicting and unreasonable instructions that created unnecessary distress and tension. • Throughout the flight, a visibly intoxicated passenger directly in front of me was disruptive, rude to others, failed to comply with seatbelt and electronic device rules, and yet faced no enforcement from the crew. In stark contrast, I was singled out for repeated compliance checks even though I was following every rule. This unequal treatment was so obvious that multiple passengers around me spoke up in my defense. This pattern of behavior demonstrated a clear lack of professionalism, disregard for passenger safety, and discriminatory treatment. I expect far better from an airline of your stature. As a paying customer subjected to this unacceptable treatment, I am formally requesting: 1. A full investigation into the conduct of the staff on both flights. 2. A written apology acknowledging the discriminatory and unprofessional behavior I endured. 3. Appropriate compensation for the distress, inconvenience, and mishandling of my travel. If this matter is not addressed promptly and thoroughly, I will have no choice but to escalate my complaint further, including filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation and sharing my experience through other channels. I trust [Airline] will take this complaint seriously and provide a timely resolution.

Check in was quick and easy during early hours. Flight was on time, and customer services was a plus.

The flight was comfortable with the exit row and great service

Plane was crowded and even when we hit altitude, the plane was hot, not enough air flow.

1. when we went to check in, our 2 first class seats had been CANCELED and the flight was sold out. This was done without our prior knowledge. It was all we could do to restore one first class seat for my wife and I flew economy. 2, Our flight home was scheduled to leave at 10:30 pm. Due to tsunami warnings, the roads were closed and our flight status was uncertain as to whether it would leave as scheduled. It was announced that it would now leave at 11:20 pm and the roads were now open since the tsunami had come and gone. We made a mad dash to the airport and checked in. Delays were announced at 12:30 pm, 1:30 am, 2:30 am and at 3:30 am it was canceled. Since this was a flight due to natural (tsunami) causes, there was no compensation. We were told to return at 1:00 pm the next day and our baggage would be kept on the plane since the same plane was going to leave at 1:00 pm. We had to return to our hotel for the rest of the night. The same plane did not leave at 1:00 pm and our baggage was gone! All in all, it was a miserable performance by UA. Information was hard to obtain and no one knew what was going on and what was going to happen. Hundreds of passengers slept on the floor, chairs, etc. No food and no water was made available to the passengers. It was a situation where UA could care less what was going on. As a one million mile flyer, I had not experienced anything like this before and it was hugely disappointing!

Boarded plane and then delayed 1.5 hours while on the plane

Horrific. They missed my connecting flight to San Diego. I didn’t get there until Monday at 9am when I had a mandatory court settlement conference scheduled at 6am since we had parties on the east coast. This caused many issues. All because United apparently forgot to hold the doors open until my flight landed that only had a 10 minute delay. This was the last flight to Southern California. So I couldn’t even rent a car to finish the trip. United cannot be trusted when traveling on specific days and times since weather didn’t have anything to do with the delays.

My flight was delayed a very short period of time but they did not hold my connecting flight to San Diego, also through United. So they closed the doors before we got off our plane. They would only have to help the door open for another five to ten minutes. So I missed a court deadline for a manditory mediation settlement conference for my client. I had to get an associate to be there in person and be on the phone with him relaying what he needs to do the entire time. The court was very upset with me and so was my client. United cannot be trusted.

Wish some foods provided rather than just biscuit/cookie for flight more than 2 hours

We are too tired and frustrated to comment politely at this point

The flight crew was rude. We were in first class and no one even offered water until an hour after we were in the air. Horrible experience

Great. Quick and quiet and east. The breakfast choices were a welcome surprise!

The stewardess hit me with the food kart twice on the head and didn't say I'm sorry once. The same stewardess gave me a warm Apple Juice with No ice. The Flight was delayed for Departure 6 times, starting from 2:36pm, finally taking off 7:50pm. I was late picking up my child from the sitter by 3 hours.

Did not get the seat I selected and paid for.

My flight was delayed for several hours. Sitting at gate 16 for several hours, I got a text from Kayak the gate changed to 9 before it was announced. Very bad communication at each gate from American Airlines employees. I received 10 notifications of delay from Kayak. My vacation started off horrible! I will write to American Airlines corporate office also.

Delayed flight that lead to a missed connection and a 5-hour trip became a 12-hour flight 🙄

There is no room, no gluten free options, or any free internet/entertainment. You have to bring your own tablet or smartphone because there are no screens.

Amazing food, great staff, with one noticable detail missing ...but no seat entertainment in any of aircraft ...I am not a fan

I liked how when I got on board how fast we ended up taking off but what I truly disliked was how uncomfortable the seats were. There was truly never a time that I could ever get comfortable during both of my flights. The seats could get away during shorter flights but flights 3 hour plus makes it hard to enjoy.

The crew was great and the flight was very smooth. Can’t really judge food since I did not get any because it costs money. The seat was comfortable for what we bought. Thanks!

Crew was great. No entertainment and food and beverage was for purchase only, even water

It was canceled. The flight wasn’t rescheduled, everyone had to figure out their own new arrangements. They said we would get refunded our original fare and receive an additional $150. We received links for $100 only and they expired before we could activate them.

The plane had originated in Las Vegas at 6:30 in the morning and flew to Moline where we boarded. The flight left around 12:30 PM and there were no boxed snacks available and many of the alcoholic beverages were unavailable. I would find it hard to believe that that many of the passengers coming from Las Vegas at 6:30 in the morning, drank and ate that much of the items. I can only come to the conclusion that someone failed to stock the plane for the round-trip. This is a huge revenue failure for the airline and disappointment for the passengers. The flight crew did not seem happy to be there and did not engage with passengers. Allegiant you can do better.

They did not let my husband on the plane with our service animal at the last minute. Do NOT fly this airline with a service animal!

Tight! Seats are not designed for those of us who wear extra-large clothes.

The non-stop flight from Grand Rapids was excellent. I neither expected or needed a budget flight and Allegiant made the trip easy and for an affordable price, Arriving at the Mesa Airport (AZA) is a delight compared to the international airport. For our return flight, we were able to arrive 75 minutes before the flight, return the rental car, check our bag and make it to the gate in plenty of time. That would never happen at most airports.

Easiest flights I’ve ever taken. Plane was comfortable without overly crowded seating.

Terrible. Still have not received the refund from them. They sent it to some account that I don't even know. Spoke with costumer service and they are unable to help.

Terrible. The canceled my entire flight when I requested a refund for a trip frontier canceled trip one way.

Boarding was on time and plane departed as scheduled. There are obviously no amenities (food, drink, entertainment) on Frontier, but there also didn't seem to be any issues with luggage space either.

Inbound plane was on time and flight departed on time with no issues while boarding.

I knew going into this that Frontier, being a low cost carrier, would be pretty bare bones and charge for most extras but this was made up for by the fact that the airplane was a reasonably new Airbus, every employee was great and best of all, Everett Washington is an amazing airport - thanks Frontier for flying there!!!

i was unable to check in the flight. refund requested

It was well done. It was my first time flying with them and I was nervous b/c I have heard of many cancelled and/or delray flights. Everything went smoothly.

Just know that everything, and I mean everything is “ala cart”. 60$ just to put something in the overhead bin. I will never fly Frontier again nor do I recommend them to anyone else.

The single worst check in experience I could imagine. I’ll never do any business with Frontier or any affiliated company

Too many extra fees, uncomfortable, little leg room. Will not recommend this airline.

Everyone seemed to be in zone 1 for boarding. Maybe break it up a little. Otherwise, smooth flight.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Des Moines to San Diego

Information on your arrival and departure airports

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels, flights, car rentals and package deals with KAYAK.