$87 Find Cheap Flights from Kansas City to California - Compare and Save

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Kansas City to California departing on 8/2. 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

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These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Kansas City to California.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Kansas City to California.
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Cheap Flights from Kansas City to California

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours
Los Angeles
Los Angeles1 stop$265
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$336
San Diego
San Diego1 stop$273
San Jose
San Jose1 stop$243
Palm Springs
Palm Springs1 stop$341
Fresno
Fresno1 stop$212
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo1 stop$329
Bakersfield
Bakersfield1 stop$318
Arcata
Arcata1 stop$586
Reno
Reno1 stop$234
Los Angeles
Los Angeles1 stop$265
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$336
San Diego
San Diego1 stop$273
San Jose
San Jose1 stop$243
Palm Springs
Palm Springs1 stop$341
Fresno
Fresno1 stop$212
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo1 stop$329
Bakersfield
Bakersfield1 stop$318
Arcata
Arcata1 stop$586
Reno
Reno1 stop$234

Book Cheap Kansas City to California Plane Tickets

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Kansas City to California 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 Kansas City to California

Sun, Jul 26 - Fri, Jul 31
Frontier Logo
4:32 pm - 5:40 pm
MCI
-
LAS
3h 08mnonstop
Frontier Logo
6:34 pm - 1:00 pm
LAS
-
MCI
16h 26m
1 stop
$191Frontier
Sun, Aug 9 - Sun, Aug 16
Frontier Logo
4:32 pm - 5:40 pm
MCI
-
LAS
3h 08mnonstop
Frontier Logo
10:52 am - 3:47 pm
LAS
-
MCI
2h 55mnonstop
$192Frontier
Mon, Jul 27 - Thu, Jul 30
Southwest Logo
5:20 pm - 9:15 pm
MCI
-
LAS
5h 55m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
4:00 pm - 8:45 pm
LAS
-
MCI
2h 45mnonstop
$199Southwest
Sat, Jul 18 - Sat, Jul 25
American Airlines Logo
6:19 pm - 10:37 pm
MCI
-
SAN
6h 18m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
4:23 pm - 12:13 am
SAN
-
MCI
5h 50m
1 stop
$276American Airlines
Wed, Jul 15 - Tue, Jul 21
Delta Logo
7:00 am - 12:39 pm
MCI
-
SAN
7h 39m
1 stop
Delta Logo
5:01 pm - 12:13 am
SAN
-
MCI
5h 12m
1 stop
$277Delta
Tue, Aug 11 - Tue, Aug 18
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 11:35 am
MCI
-
SAN
7h 35m
2 stops
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 4:11 pm
SAN
-
MCI
5h 26m
1 stop
$282United Airlines
Tue, Oct 13 - Sat, Oct 17
Delta Logo
3:30 pm - 8:23 pm
MCI
-
SMF
6h 53m
1 stop
Delta Logo
6:15 am - 4:54 pm
SMF
-
MCI
8h 39m
1 stop
$283Delta
Wed, Aug 12 - Sat, Aug 15
United Airlines Logo
1:43 pm - 7:47 pm
MCI
-
SMF
8h 04m
2 stops
United Airlines Logo
6:30 am - 2:33 pm
SMF
-
MCI
6h 03m
1 stop
$288United Airlines
Tue, Aug 25 - Wed, Aug 26
Southwest Logo
4:30 pm - 10:30 pm
MCI
-
OAK
8h 00m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
8:55 am - 7:25 pm
OAK
-
MCI
8h 30m
2 stops
$330Southwest
Tue, Aug 18 - Sun, Aug 23
American Airlines Logo
9:50 am - 2:54 pm
MCI
-
SFO
7h 04m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
5:33 am - 1:29 pm
SFO
-
MCI
5h 56m
1 stop
$337American Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Kansas City to California flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Kansas City to California to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a round-trip flight from Kansas City to California?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Kansas City to California departing in July.

What is the cheapest Kansas City to California flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest ticket to California from Kansas City found in the last 5 days was to Los Angeles, at $268 round-trip. The most popular route is from Kansas City (MCI) to Los Angeles (LAX), and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 5 days was $268.

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

The average price for all round-trip flights from Kansas City to California depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

The cheapest time of day to fly to California is generally in the evening, when round-trip flights cost $485 on average. Morning departures are around 5% more expensive than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to California is generally in the afternoon, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $867.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Kansas City to California?

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 $409, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Kansas City to California?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Kansas City to California, 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 Kansas City to California is January, when tickets cost $64 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are August and September, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $741 and $731 respectively.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Kansas City to California?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Kansas City to California clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

When flying from Kansas City to California, you should consider leaving on a Thursday and avoid Sundays if you are looking for the best rates. For your return to Kansas City, you’ll find the best rates on Wednesdays and the most expensive ones on Mondays.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Kansas City to California?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Kansas City to California, 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 Kansas City to California, you should book around 2 weeks before departure, which saves you about 39% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 24 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$87
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 2% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 4% increase in price.
Flight from Kansas City to San Diego

FAQs - booking California flights

  • What are some common layovers on the route from Kansas City to California?

    When flying from Kansas City International Airport (MCI) to various destinations in California, you might find direct flights to major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. However, for smaller California destinations or if you're seeking more economical options, common layover airports could include Denver International Airport (DEN), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). These layover points often depend on the airline and the specific destination in California.

  • If I want to visit Disneyland, which airport should I fly to?

    For a trip to Disneyland in California, the most convenient airport is John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County. Located just a short drive from Disneyland, it offers an easier and often less crowded alternative to the larger Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Another good option is Long Beach Airport (LGB), which is also relatively close and offers a more relaxed travel experience compared to Los Angeles Airport. Both airports provide access to Disneyland with various ground transportation options, including shuttles, taxis, and car rentals.

  • How can I make my flight from Kansas City to California more sustainable?

    To reduce the environmental impact of your flight, consider flying with airlines that prioritize sustainability. Airlines like Southwest, which operates routes from Kansas City to various California destinations, are known for their efficient fleet and environmental initiatives. Choosing direct flights when possible can help minimize carbon emissions, as the most fuel is consumed during takeoffs and landings.

  • On flights from Kansas City to California, which airlines offer onboard Wi-Fi, and are there charges for using it?

    For flights departing from Kansas City International Airport to California, airlines like Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines commonly provide Wi-Fi onboard. The approach to Wi-Fi services varies among these carriers. Southwest Airlines usually offers Wi-Fi at a nominal fee, while Delta Air Lines and American Airlines may have different pricing structures based on the length of the flight and the type of internet package.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Kansas City 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 Kansas City to California.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from Kansas City 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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City to California up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to California

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found tickets from Kansas City to the following destinations at these prices or less: Las Vegas $178 one-way - $280 round-trip; Los Angeles $208 one-way - $365 round-trip
  • Your journey from Kansas City to California begins at Kansas City International Airport (MCI). While this airport isn't a major hub for any specific airline, it is served by several carriers, including Southwest Airlines, which has a significant number of flights from this airport. You'll find both direct and connecting flight options to various destinations in California.
  • Select your arrival airport based on your California destination: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for Southern California, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) for the Bay Area, Sacramento International Airport (SMF) for the state's capital area, San Diego International Airport (SAN) for the San Diego area, or John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County for the Disneyland area and coastal attractions.
  • Southwest Airlines provides frequent direct flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco, making it a popular choice for travelers. For Northern California destinations like Sacramento, airlines such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines offer a variety of flight options, including some direct flights and others with layovers.
  • For families flying from Kansas City to California, Kansas City International Airport provides amenities like nursing rooms and family restrooms for convenience. Airlines like Southwest Airlines, serving this route, often include family pre-boarding and in-flight entertainment suitable for children.
  • For enhanced comfort on your flight, especially on longer routes, consider upgrading your seat. Airlines like Delta and United Airlines offer premium seating with added benefits such as extra legroom, priority boarding, and improved in-flight services. Look for upgrade options when booking or keep an eye out for promotional upgrade offers.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Kansas City to California

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Kansas City to California. 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 Kansas City 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
SouthwestOverall score based on 4242 reviews
8.6Crew
8.0Comfort
8.1Boarding
7.0Food
7.5Entertainment
Airline reviews

It was just okay, no frills, basic transportation with no luxury. No screens on the seats, no water or drinks on a short flight. Full flight but at least it was on time.

6.0 GoodSteven, Jun 2026
LAS - ONT
Read more Southwest reviews

It was just okay, no frills, basic transportation with no luxury. No screens on the seats, no water or drinks on a short flight. Full flight but at least it was on time.

Over a 3 hour flight. The turbulence was almost imperceptible except for 2 short periods which were not bad and over quickly. The attendants claimed "Safety first" and sat looking at their phones for 3 hours with no drink or snack service. This isn't the first time with Southwest. I thinkit may be there new plan of operation. Oh, and it was June 18, Southwest's Birthday which offered free drinks. NOT.

The first time I flew in the extra legroom section. It was difficult to notice a difference. I had bad luck with my neighbors. The crew was okay. Southwest has reduced the live TV options.

No gluten free snacks. Seats felt worn or bare bones even though it was a new 737 MAX 8.

Plane was clean and comfortable. Flight attendants and gate staff were professional, friendly and efficient. Boarding and deplaning were orderly and efficient. All in all, the typical excellent Southwest experience.

Not having a five hour delay with little notice! The crew was very kind, though, and just as tired as we passengers were. The flight didn't depart until nearly 1 am...and no reason was ever given.

This leg was much better, but we did have to have a 3 hour lay o er after coming from a very exhausting hiccup with our flight from BNA to Den

The flight was okay. The pilots did an amazing job and kept us updated on the flight. The flight attendants were okay. They found time to be chatty with each other rather than focus on the guests. One of the attendants was a little less warm when asking about my bag I had on my lap that I was using during latter part of the mid- flight. Mind you, it was not the departure descent. I’m respectful to each and every attendant, it was the tone in her voice reminding me to place my carryon bag on the floor. I hope to have a better experience next time.

The Air hostess were very rude on my flight from Houston to Austin . Their regular communication itself felt a they are shouting at people.

Boarding was easy. The seats are small and fairly uncomfortable

We sat on the runway for over an hour before departure. That was unwelcome.

Flight delayed four separate times. I’m now one hour hours late to landing.

worst flight ever from Delta, it got delayed and kept on delaying..

Everything went smoothly, although the usual gripes about airline travel were still present: the boarding process is inefficient, the snack selection is limited, and so on. Since there was extra space on the flight, the gate agent rearranged many people's seats to put people on the aisles and windows, leaving the middle seats empty, as much as possible, which was pretty great.

While they turned off most cabin lights to allow people to sleep, I was bothered by how bright the side lights still were. It was still quite bright for me in a window seat, when I wish I could have slept!

One of the flight attendants was a little cranky. I appreciated the free wifi and plug to charge my laptop

WiFi didn’t work most of the time. The usb chargers would work only occasionally for 5 mins and wouldn’t charge after that. Had to keep trying repeatedly at each of the seats in the row.

The crew bent over backwards to thank us for flying and make us comfortable. The food service was quick and efficient. The Captain communicated and said goodbye and thank you as we departed. They really stood out!

Generally on time departures and arrivals, clean planes, sky miles membership provides great benefits (complimentary upgrades, etc).

my mom urmila patel needed a wheelchair which was not available on the curbside. she needed to walk almost 50 meters inside (at the risk of falling) and then had to wait in line to get a wheelchair (this is not ok). Once obtained she had to seat in it for 30-45 minutes for someone to take her in thru the checkin process (which was fairly smooth and easy). the lady who helped her with her checkin process was very courteous and helpful

This was an overnight flight, and in the morning they did know coffee service. How you can throw passengers in a San Francisco airport at 5:40 a.m. in the morning and not giving them Coffee is a crime.

Our flight was delayed several Times due to mechanical issues. Although I understand this may happen at times, it was very inconvenient and we had to book a hotel for an overnight stay. We were traveling with my 3-yo grandson and waiting at the airport from noon until 6:30pm with no reassurance that our next rescheduled flight would depart, we had to decide what’s best for him. A day later, I found out that I may be able to demand compensation if my flight is delayed more than 4 hours. I will hav to read the fine print next time.

Service was professional and quick. Premium economy seat was comfortable given the class

Like: departed and arrived on time. Unlike: Food options for purchase allways bad, 1 of 2 of the crew members not very friendly at all. Seats and leg room aweful. At this point I am thinking on switching to AA.

The staff was extremely helpful and friendly at all times! They went above and beyond to get us into an earlier flight in San Diego to make our connection in SFO possible, because our original flight did actually not make it! I did so much appreciate the UA team and how they made this possible. We also didn’t have seats together on the long flight to Singapore, but they found us seats together last moment with no additional cost! Nobody sat next to us, so that we were able to sleep! Thanks to UA for improving their service and Underpricer for booking this trip! Please be careful: 1,5 hrs for transfer in San Francisco might not be enough time in the future

Packed flight, which makes it tough on crew and boarding staff (and the customers of course). But this was great boarding, clear instructions, etc. Traveling on the weekends are always fraught with danger as you have families and less frequent flyers thus more confusion. But this flight went as planned.

Destroyed my suitcase. Tired of talking about it. Cancelling my unite mileage plus account.

New plane was lovely. Crew customer service is always lax but expected. Kraft on time and arrived safely.

Seat pitch is horrible especially on the 15 hour flight. Gate crew at SFO was Outstanding. The flight crew was also great.

6 1/2 hours from Tampa to SFO on a Boeing 737. Cramped. No Service. No real food. One pass for coffee at the beginning and a second pass THREE hours later. And check-in in Tampa was nasty even by United standards. And I am at almost TWO million miles on United. It's a non-stop. But terrible service.

Flight cancelled. Twice. And no communication. No gate agent. Went past boarding time and had to go and see email from AA. Airport communication was bad

It was so much better than expected, Ohare is not such a pleasant experience but American Airlines with the new, clean aeroplane and free Wi-Fi was outstanding and the crew so pleasant and helpful.

Was put into a seat right behind the toilet that had no entertainment possible but did have plenty of leg room over noisy part of plane.

American delayed the flight for a crew rest period. The delay occurred late in the evening - the earliest i can find is 10:20 pm. With a 6 am flight anyone on the flight would have already have been asleep (unless you are insane, a vampire or on drugs) and at least for me i was already on the way to the airport at 445 am the next morning when i discovered they delayed the flight until 9 am. Given the incoming flight was in the air at 6 pm the evening before this should have been figured out a lot more timely that was there only crew to use. Just frustrating given there is no consideration for customer experience anymore in flying.

Flight: Started on time. Comfortable flight. Arrived on time. Crew: Very cordial and helpful. Drinks and snack was served with a smile. Overall enjoyed the trip. Regards, Hari Doss Chanchala Doss

To have arrived on time and not 3 hours late after having already spent $100 to change to an earlier flight, only to arrive back home close to the original flight time.

American Airlines is a miserable experience. It is predictably miserable, in the sense that every time I fly American, I brace myself for the certainty that it will be unpleasant and uncomfortable. But it is unpredictable in the sense that I never know if the flight will be on time or delayed nine hours (both happened to me this week). I never know if I will be able to sit in the seat that I selected when I purchased the ticket or if I will be told by Customer Service (!!!) that I must relocate from first class to a seat in the back of the aircraft with no explanation (both happened to me this week). Will the food be frozen and half defrosted, or scalding hot? Will the drinks be warm? Will the flight attendants be surly and mean? Will the toilets be cramped and foul? Will the seats be narrow and uncomfortable? Will there be a real electric outlet at the seat, or just an unreliable USB-2 port? Will there be enough seats in the boarding lounge or just a few? Will the boarding process be smooth and efficient, or will the gate agents mess it up and delay it needlessly for 30 or 40 minutes? Will the catering and cleaning crew be prompt or will they take an extra 30 minutes? Will the brakes on the aircraft work properly, or will the pilot delay takeoff for four hours while the ground crew attends to what can only be described as routine maintenance that should have been done the night before? I've eexperienced every one of these unpleasant things this year, 2026. The only thing I can reliably count on is that American will find a new way to make the experience of flying as miserable as they possibly can.

Wifi was spotty. Tray table was very dirty when I sat down.

The WiFi would not connect enough for me to do my actual work. It permaspooled, disconnected, said it was connected, then wouldn't open an email... it was frustrating. I am not a tall person, 5'4" - and I felt cramped with little room to reach into my bag under the seat in front of me. I feel sorry for anyone taller than me having to fly. the one positive thing I will add, is the overhead bins are roomy enough to manage more bags than other carriers.

Going non stop to lax like I paid for. Not stopping in MCI for gas. Too long of delays

Crew was kind of grumpy and there was no beverage service at all. Sodas were $4. Disappointing.

There weren't enough employees at check in took awhile to get bags checked. There wasn't a wheel chair for me, I was sent to someone who turns out to work for a different airline, if My flight hadn't been delayed I probably would have missed my flight as it was, by the time I arrived at my gate, they started boarding in about 15 minutes. I don't know who took me to my gate, definitely was not the normal people who take passengers to the gate. I'm guessing she may have been in a management position. I wish I knew her name, she went beyond to help me. With that said everyone was kind, and were doing the best they could. So, I choose to say it was an Adventure, stressful start, but good. In the end went well. The situation was not only difficult for passengers but the employee's.

The staff at the check in counter was so rude. Made you feel Incompetent

Frontier scheduled a 40 minute connection in DEN. What they failed to mention was that they “close the doors” 20 mins prior to departure, which means you only have 20 mins. Not enough time. Possibly against DOT regulations. Filing complaint.

Flight was scheduled at 9:40pm. Got delayed to 10 am, the next day. crazy

The bag check, flight check-in, and onboard experience convinced my wife and me that we will actively go out of our way to avoid flying Frontier Airlines in the future. At bag check, we were informed that check-in could only be completed via the Frontier mobile app. Unfortunately, the app was extremely frustrating—sending us through repetitive, confusing loops that repeatedly forced us to decline add-on services with nearly every click. While most airline apps upsell, this one felt intentionally exhausting. As the process dragged on, we became genuinely concerned that my phone battery would die before check-in could be completed. We approached the bag check staff—who were standing together talking—and explained both our frustration and our predicament. They laughed. Later, my wife described the interaction as “gaslighting,” which felt accurate. We were then informed it would cost $25 per person simply to have our boarding passes printed. From that point forward, the tone of the experience was consistently hostile. The bag check employees were condescending and combative, behaving more like bullies than customer service staff. Unfortunately, that same attitude continued onboard. One flight attendant argued with me when I attempted to stow my backpack in the overhead bin. I explained that we had each paid $75 to check our bags specifically so we would not need to use carry-on space and could have adequate legroom. She demanded to see my ticket, pointed out that it said “no carry-on”—which I acknowledged—and I reiterated that this was precisely why we paid to check our bags. Her response was, “I don’t make the rules.” She then walked away, but not before asking if I “truly wanted to fly back to Chicago today?”—an unnecessary and unmistakable threat. It is also worth noting that despite booking our tickets together in the same transaction, we were not seated together. Upon our return to Chicago—where we could once again sit together—we compared onboard experiences. We both remarked on how unhappy the flight attendants appeared and how each of us was separately asked whether we would like to purchase a beverage. We declined. At no point was water mentioned as an option, leaving us with the clear impression that even water came at a cost—or that complimentary water, if available at all, was deliberately left unmentioned. Overall, the experience was shocking and deeply disappointing, but it was also a profound learning experience—one we will not forget and will not repeat. -Steve

Plane was hot and miserable and the crew was rude!

12 hour delay required getting on and off plane 3 times - would have at least liked to have been offered a snack or drink

They didn’t offer a water, even after I asked

They switched our terminal 3 times and we were delayed for four plus hours!!!

Everything you need to know for your flight from Kansas City to California

Information on your arrival and departure airports