DSM - SJO

$161 Find Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San José

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 José departing on 3/22. 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 José

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Des Moines to San José, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Des Moines to San José, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$387
Typical prices: $576-$790
Southwest
Wed 5/6Wed 5/13
DSM - SJO • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way
$161
Typical prices: $277-$295
Multiple Airlines
Sun 3/22
DSM - SJO • 1 stop
Top airlines
Southwest
Cheapest • from $387 (round-trip)
Delta
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Des Moines and San José. You'll need at least 1 connection.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Charlotte (CLT)
Cheapest • Avg $582 (round-trip)
Miami (MIA)
Shortest trip • 7h 07m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
January
Cheapest • 22% price drop
April
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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 José!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San José (DSM-SJO)

 
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 José 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 José

Wed, May 6 - Wed, May 13
Southwest Logo
6:55 am - 7:00 pm
DSM
-
SJO
13h 05m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
9:00 am - 10:10 pm
SJO
-
DSM
12h 10m
2 stops
$387Southwest
Mon, Apr 27 - Fri, May 1
Southwest Logo
5:25 am - 7:00 pm
DSM
-
SJO
14h 35m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
9:00 am - 11:05 pm
SJO
-
DSM
13h 05m
2 stops
$452Southwest
Tue, Apr 14 - Tue, Apr 21
Southwest Logo
6:30 pm - 12:10 pm
DSM
-
SJO
18h 40m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
9:00 am - 10:10 pm
SJO
-
DSM
12h 10m
2 stops
$494Southwest
Tue, Sep 1 - Tue, Sep 15
Southwest Logo
6:10 am - 6:40 pm
DSM
-
SJO
13h 30m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
9:00 am - 9:55 pm
SJO
-
DSM
11h 55m
2 stops
$511Southwest
Mon, Apr 13 - Fri, Apr 17
Southwest Logo
5:25 am - 7:00 pm
DSM
-
SJO
14h 35m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
9:00 am - 11:05 pm
SJO
-
DSM
13h 05m
2 stops
$512Southwest
Tue, Apr 14 - Tue, Apr 21
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 7:00 pm
DSM
-
SJO
14h 30m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
9:00 am - 10:10 pm
SJO
-
DSM
12h 10m
2 stops
$527Southwest
Mon, Apr 20 - Fri, Apr 24
Southwest Logo
5:25 am - 7:00 pm
DSM
-
SJO
14h 35m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
9:00 am - 11:05 pm
SJO
-
DSM
13h 05m
2 stops
$535Southwest
Sun, Mar 29 - Thu, Apr 2
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:30 am - 11:14 am
DSM
-
SJO
29h 44m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:19 pm - 10:51 pm
SJO
-
DSM
9h 32m
1 stop
$546Multiple Airlines
Fri, May 1 - Fri, May 8
Southwest Logo
6:50 am - 7:00 pm
DSM
-
SJO
13h 10m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
9:00 am - 11:05 pm
SJO
-
DSM
13h 05m
2 stops
$553Southwest
Mon, Apr 13 - Wed, Apr 22
Southwest Logo
5:25 am - 7:00 pm
DSM
-
SJO
14h 35m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
9:00 am - 10:10 pm
SJO
-
DSM
12h 10m
2 stops
$555Southwest
Booking Insights

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

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

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

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Des Moines to San José departing in May.

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

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 José, 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 José is January, where tickets cost $552 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are March and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $870 and $817 respectively.

Good to know

Low seasonOctober
Cheapest flight$161
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 8% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 13% lower on average.
Flight from Des Moines to San José

When to book flights from Des Moines to San José

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Des Moines to San José 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 José

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

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Des Moines to San José was $161 for a one-way ticket and $387 for a round-trip.

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

    Yes, you’ll need a passport to travel to San José from Des Moines.

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

    Des Moines and San José are both served by 1 main airport. You will leave Des Moines from Des Moines and will be arriving at San José Juan Santamaria Intl.

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

    We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

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

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

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Des Moines to San José are Delta and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $652 and an overall rating of 7.9, Delta is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $713 and an overall rating of 7.4.

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

    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 José.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San José 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 José?

    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 José with an airline and back to Des Moines with another airline. Booking your flights between Des Moines and SJO 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 José?

    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 José from Des Moines up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from Des Moines to San José

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Des Moines to San José. 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 José? 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
DeltaOverall score based on 8258 reviews
7.2Food
8.5Crew
7.8Entertainment
8.1Boarding
7.9Comfort
Airline reviews

Delayed. Hot. Passenger next to me was so large I couldn’t move.

2.0 MediocreJessica, Mar 2026
LGA - PIT
Read more Delta reviews

Delayed. Hot. Passenger next to me was so large I couldn’t move.

Same experience as the flight from Norfolk to Atlanta where people are boarded in zones that don't make sense. People behind you on the plane will get on before you and they take the luggage space on your row.

The boarding process doesn't make sense since some people that will sit behind your rows are boarded before you and then they take up the luggage space above your head. I then have to wait for people to get off the plane before I can go back to get my luggage.

Good flight. Connector flight was delayed so made a short turnaround in Atlanta which was stressful. Otherwise, great crew, Staff in ATL was very informative about the delay and ensured people their connections were fine. Notified the ones that were not. Great communication.

The flight went very well, but the flight attendants didn't serve and food or drinks other than 1st class due to rough air but to be honest it wasn't that bumpy and I felt that they could've at least offered water and coffee perhaps. Also serving 1st class only is a bad look. I've been in 1st class many times and I would've felt that if the turbulence was too rough for the main cabin, it would be too rough for 1st class too.

There was an unruly family behind us that made the short flight miserable!!! The cabin crew did nothing to contain it.

My seatback screen didn’t work so that sucked because that’s what I was going to do on the plane.

Left a few minutes early. Got in 15 minutes early. Very attentive service on board. Very organized boarding.

The whole experience was excellent. As it most often is with Delta

Cabin was not pressurized properly. Several passengers had respiratory difficulties.

Seats are uncomfortable. This has been a trend in the industry for decades. Trying to fit more seats on each plane to increase profits at the expense of the passenger.

The flight was delayed so we were dead tired, and after that the turbulence was horrible. I was very scared.

It’s always a great time flying with united airlines.

Good flight. Efficient boarding and competent flight crew. No problems until we arrived at our destination gate. We were early so there was an aircraft at the gate that had to move before we could pull in. Then, due to the type of aircraft we flew, the cabin door could not be opened until some luggage from the cargo bay was offloaded to preserve center of gravity characteristics. So, that further delayed deplaning. Despite being 20 minutes early on landing, we ended up being 5 to 10 minutes late after all the delays.

Everything went well except the turbulence what no one have a control of but pilot and crew handled very good!

There was no WiFi available, there were mechanical problems with the plane and we landed at C 124, then the gate was switched to A 26, then all the way back to C126! For a 75 yo woman traveling alone, this was a difficult journey, indeed!

This trip did not start off well. The inbound flight was delayed about 20 minutes. Then, after initial onboarding, the passengers had to deplane due to a mechanical problem. That took about 30 minutes to fix and be cleared. Then, reboarding was chaotic. It took a long time to sort passengers and two passengers on standby were ticketed but there was no seat. So, they had to deplane. One of the flight crew was trying to help passengers figure out a place to put their carry-on bags and that took more time. In the end, our scheduled 10:30 am departure did not actually take off until about 12:05 pm CST. The flight itself was long but we got to Houston. Some passengers missed their connecting flights and had to rebook. Not the best of flights I've had.

Staff were good. My seat was in need of repair, but for a short flight was not problematic. Usual basic snack and drink setup that you'll find on any US carrier. Over, a decent, basic flight.

Complimentary light meal would be appreciated. But great flight crew service on all legs

Terrible because it was cancelled due to volcanic ash clouds in Guatemala while all other airlines kept flying. Had to pay for a hotel to stay overnight in Houston and try to fly next day.

The baggage claim experience was poor. The plane crew and the AA app said that checked baggage in CLT would be at carousel 7 but the sign at Baggage Claim said carousel 1. The carousel 1 sign had the correct flight # listed above the belt. But the luggage never came. I went to an AA baggage claim office after about 1 hour and the clerk directed me to another AA room that was poorly marked, with a closed door and no obvious way to know what to do. Finally someone opened the door and my bag was inside. The clerk was totally unable to explain why.

They are rarely on time! Very hard to plan your travels when flights or connections keep getting delayed.

Flight delay for mechanical. Inbound arrived on time. No one said why mechanical delay.

Forced to check bags. Crew uninterested in collecting trash. Unclean seats.

why would I bother with this airline and pick seats when I am asked to move for a weight imbalance

Flight pulled out on time but sat on runway for 30 mins. It was extremely cold in the aircraft despite wearing a winter coat. Surprisingly they had a vegetarian meal but could have some better snack choices for a 8 hour flight.

We had a male flight attendant who was super attentive and wonderful! Very professional. I have both gluten and dairy intolerance, and was only able to get a gluten free part, and not the dairy free part of the meal. Easy to order ahead of time and I appreciate being able to do that.

Snow delayed boarding several times, which I understand happens. Issue I had was that after we did board, pilot told us we were going to roll out to be de-iced, then on our way. We were de-iced once, taxied to the tarmac and then stopped. Sat for another 30 minutes or so, the another de-icing. Then we rolled out to a parking spot, only to sit for another hour due to a traffic stop in DCA, which I'm confident they knew would happen before we boarded. Pilot gave no updates other than we had to hold, attendants did speak to the crew, but when asked, said the pilot would be updating us. We on the ground in the plane waiting for over 2 hours. They did communicate that bathrooms would be open, but no other news until we left. Would have been better to be up front about status.

Good crew and flight was on time. It’s a small plane with limited overhead luggage space. They said the overhead space was full and I had to check my bag. There was still space when I got on. Waiting for my checked luggage added 30 minutes to my trip. Not the end of the world but also not great.

My seat was assigned last row behind restrooms No legroom’s I’m very Pettit Still was not comfortable Food choice was excellent

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports