$126 Find Cheap Flights from Philadelphia to California - Compare and Save

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Cheap Flights from Philadelphia to California

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Los Angeles
Los Angeles1 stop$365
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$399
San Diego
San Diego2 stops$434
San Jose
San Jose1 stop$318
Palm Springs
Palm Springs1 stop$371
Fresno
Fresno1 stop$395
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo1 stop$419
Bakersfield
Bakersfield1 stop$408
Reno
Reno1 stop$378
Los Angeles
Los Angeles1 stop$365
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$399
San Diego
San Diego2 stops$434
San Jose
San Jose1 stop$318
Palm Springs
Palm Springs1 stop$371
Fresno
Fresno1 stop$395
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo1 stop$419
Bakersfield
Bakersfield1 stop$408
Reno
Reno1 stop$378
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Philadelphia to California flights

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

What are the cheapest fares from Philadelphia to California recently?

Here are the cheapest round-trip fares from Philadelphia to California on KAYAK in the last week:

• Ontario (ONT) from $265
• San Jose (SJC) from $353
• Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty (SNA) from $355
• Los Angeles (LAX) from $366

How do fares into airports in California compare?

According to KAYAK data from the last 12 months, the cheapest airports to fly into California from Philadelphia are:

• San Jose (SJC) (avg. price $370)
• Ontario (ONT) (avg. price $392)
• Sacramento Intl (SMF) (avg. price $397)

Are flights from Philadelphia to California cheaper or more expensive than last year?

Fares from Philadelphia to California are about 7% higher than they were in November last year, averaging $492 round-trip.

What's the cheapest month to fly from Philadelphia to California?

January is typically the cheapest month to fly from Philadelphia to California, with round-trip fares averaging $434. December and November are usually the most expensive, averaging $528 and $526, respectively.

How do fares from Philadelphia to California vary by day of the week?

On average, Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly from Philadelphia to California and Sunday is the most expensive. Looking at the past 12 months of KAYAK data, it's 18% more expensive to fly on a Sunday compared to Wednesday.

What's the best time of day to fly from Philadelphia to California?

It's cheapest to fly to California at night with average prices of $392. The afternoon is the most expensive time to fly, with average prices of $491.

What's the best time to book a flight from Philadelphia to California?

Book your flights 5 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data collected over the past 12 months shows that booking in this window can save you around 23% compared to booking at the last minute (within 2 weeks of departure).

Key details for Philadelphia to California flights

Low season

October

Cheapest flight

$126
Beat the crowds with an average 20% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 25% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Philadelphia to Ontario

Your Philadelphia to California flight questions, answered

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

  • Is now a good time to book a flight from Philadelphia to California?

    Yes. Fares from Philadelphia to California are low right now. As a rule of thumb, a round-trip under $374 (cheaper than most fares this year) is a good deal, so if you spot one at or below that, it's a good time to book.

  • How much should I budget for a flight from Philadelphia to California?

    Over the past 12 months, round-trip fares from Philadelphia to California have typically cost between $374 and $588.

  • What are the main airports serving California?

    There are 43 airports in California. 31% of KAYAK users choose San Francisco (SFO) as their arrival airport, while 29% choose Los Angeles (LAX).

  • Which airlines fly nonstop from Philadelphia to California?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, 2 airlines offer nonstop flights on this route:

    • American Airlines
    • United Airlines

  • Which destinations in California can I fly nonstop from Philadelphia?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, you can fly nonstop from Philadelphia to 3 destinations in California. The most popular among KAYAK travelers are San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

  • Is it cheaper to fly with a layover from Philadelphia to California?

    Yes, nonstop flights from Philadelphia to California average $504 over the past 12 months, but flights with a layover can cost less. The most affordable connecting airports are:

    • Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) (avg. price $304)
    • Fort Lauderdale (FLL) (avg. price $311)
    • Boston Logan Intl (BOS) (avg. price $335)

  • How long is a flight from Philadelphia to California?

    Nonstop flights from Philadelphia to California take 6h 18m on average. The fastest scheduled flight takes 5h 55m, flying into Los Angeles (LAX).

  • Which cabin classes are available from Philadelphia to California?

    On flights from Philadelphia to California you can book Economy Class, Premium Economy Class, Business Class or First Class.

  • What are some popular landmarks around California?

    California is home to many popular sights. KAYAK travelers' favorites include:

    • Universal Studios Hollywood
    • Gaslamp Quarter
    • Fisherman's Wharf
    • Venice Beach

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

    The earliest nonstop flight from Philadelphia to California departs at 6:00 am and the latest leaves at 8:19 pm. Nonstop flights take about 6h 18m.

  • Are there nonstop flights from Philadelphia to California?

    Nonstop flights from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to California are typically not offered. However, you can usually find flights that require one layover instead of two. For example, if you fly from PHL to Los Angeles International Airport or San Francisco International Airport, you will only have to change planes once.

  • What services does Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) provide for travellers with disabilities or limited mobility?

    Philadelphia International Airport is equipped with ramps and elevators that can be used by individuals in wheelchairs to go to the different floors. It is also possible to rent a wheelchair to use while in the airport. If you need any additional assistance with checking in, going through security, or boarding your flight, airport employees are there to help.

  • How can I travel from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the city center?

    It is usually easiest to go from Los Angeles International Airport to the city center by car, which normally takes around 20 to 25 minutes if there is no traffic. You can also grab the LAX FlyAway bus, which will bring you to downtown Los Angeles in around an hour.

  • What airport should I fly into if I will be visiting Yosemite National Park?

    If you plan on visiting Yosemite National Park, you will want to fly into Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT). From FAT, the park is located around a 2h 15min drive, depending on what traffic and weather conditions are like at the time.

Your guide to booking Philadelphia to California flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If you can plan ahead, the sweet spot for booking your flight is 5 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data shows fares in this window are around 23% lower than last-minute bookings (made within 2 weeks of departure). Not ready to commit? Set a Price Alert and we'll let you know when prices change.
  • Flexible with your dates? Fly in January to save some money. It's typically the cheapest month on this route, while flights in December will cost you the most.
  • Fly out on a Wednesday to get the cheapest fares. Avoid Sunday flights, which are about 18% more expensive.
  • If you're watching your budget, fly into San Jose (SJC) which has the lowest average airfare in the region. Just remember to budget for any onward travel by bus, car or domestic flight.
  • Start your trip in San Diego, the most popular destination in California. From there, it's easy to continue on to other popular spots such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Anaheim.
  • Time or money? If speed matters most, fly from Philadelphia to Los Angeles (LAX). If you're after the lowest fares, San Jose (SJC) is usually your best bet.
  • If you have an early flight departing from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), you may want to book a hotel room directly at this travel hub. The Minute Suites can be found directly inside of the Main Terminal, while the Philadelphia Airport Marriott is connected to Terminal B via a sky bridge.
  • When flying from Philadelphia to California, there are a few hubs that you can fly into that are known for having plenty of flights to choose from that are also affordable. If you will be exploring northern California, consider flying into San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Those that will be heading to southern California will find it convenient to fly to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
  • While waiting for your flight to begin boarding at Philadelphia International Airport, spend some time relaxing in one of the lounges that are available. The American Airlines Admirals Club can be found in Concourses A, B, C, and F, while the Delta Sky Club is in Terminal D.
  • Those that will be visiting the famous Disneyland Park will want to fly into John Wayne Airport (SNA), as it is the closest travel hub to this destination. Once your flight has landed at SNA, you can then drive to the park, which will normally take you around 15 to 20 minutes in total.
  • If you will be travelling with children, make sure to take them to the “Ready For Take-Off” children’s play area in Philadelphia International Airport. This aviation-themed play area has a variety of climbing toys and activities for kids of all ages to enjoy.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Philadelphia to California

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Philadelphia 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.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4222 reviews
7.5Entertainment
8.0Comfort
7.0Food
8.6Crew
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

Terrible, decided to delay our flight since another flight require a flight captain

2.0 MediocreChih Hsuan, Nov 2026
Read more Southwest reviews

Terrible, decided to delay our flight since another flight require a flight captain

staff and crew were great but the flight delays for the last few flights are insane. After a long day of work and you will get a notification of flights delay is not the message we want to see. And for some reason it keeps happening often this year.

Every single flight I take with southwest is delayed by at least one hour. Unbelievable

It’s too cold like fridge and they don’t offer a blanket with expensive price

A List preferred boarding was nice Asked for a mask and cheerfully received Denver bag check-in is tricky. Not near other checking desk. Have to navigate to east security and up to level six for bag checkin. TSA busy and 20 minutes process thru pre lines Denver train to gates quick but one more thing to plan time for and long concourse walk to gate

Not exactly Southwest’s problem, but the new Burbank airport is not great. No restaurants open and tons of work still to be completed. Can’t believe they opened the airport in that condition.

Just crazy with times being pushed and pushed and pushed and gate crew at Philly super rude and unprofessional with many under stress with delays.

My experience will Southwest was good. I wish there was more entertainment and the boarding process was slow at time but other than that my experience was great definitely will be flying with SouthWest again.

For my birthday trip this was my second time ever flying, this trip was the best.

We boarded the flight and set two and a half hours on the jetway. Would have been better if they had not boarded us at all. Plane was hot and it was limited ability to access the restrooms or get a drink of water. Very unpleasant experience

The bathroom is disgustingly dirty. It looks like the crew members didn’t clean it on a regular basis. Also, who made the bathroom so small?. I am not a big girl but I still feel very cramped inside. Def unpleasant experience to use the bathroom.

dropped my bags at Seattle Delta curbside. 1.5 hours before departure. one bag oversized made it. the other was left at curb and mishandled. poor communication from delta in sjc baggage claim. No internet on flight and food choices in business are horrible. You are forcing us to fly Alaska which is shockingly better than the Delta experience. that is a low bar.

attendents were rude and the boarding was disjointed and poor

There was an incredibly surly flight attendant that ruined the experience

After boarding the plane had to wait an hour at the for the copilot to show up before we could depart

The cabin and bathroom experience was poor as the cabin and bathroom were dirty and showed signs of an older plane that had not been updated for Customer’s, comfort and health. There was gum on my seat when I arrived and dirt spots around the fan and light controls. The flight was almost entirely full, so there was no way I could be moved from my seat. Th bathroom had the peeling paint.

This a short easy flight. No food or drink but that was not an issue since we were only in the air for 35 minutes.

Connection flights should be spaced out farther because too close I missed my connection.

The gate attendants and the crew were terrible. Because of high winds, they needed to carry more fuel, so they had to get volunteers to take the next flight at 6 am the next day. They did a terrible job of it - our flight ended up taking off just under 3 hours of the scheduled time. I hope to never fly Delta again.

My flight consistently said it was on time and the plane didn’t arrive until after 30 minutes after take off and nothing was announced to passengers

Starlink internet made the flight time shrink and I was able to work.

Stored my cloth purse under seat in front off me as instructed. When I retrieved it, half of it was soaked, along with everything inside it. I don’t really know how that could have been prevented because the area did not look wet, but I was not happy about it.

It was easy to board, and the staff was friendly and helpful. What could have been better is that I shouldn't have to pay extra for a seat that doesn't recline.

Like the fact that the boarding was expedited. But the delay and chaos around the onboarding was not appreciated.

The flight crew were very helpful. The seats were very close together. There was barely room to sit without touching the person next to you.

newer aircraft, ability to connect my headset via blue tooth for entertainment.

My husband and I recently had an unfortunate experience with Lufthansa. At the Philadelphia International airport, the ground staff refused to board us because we didn’t have a current visa stamped on our passports for Frankfurt. We completely understand that this was our mistake. we should have double-checked the visa requirements before our trip. However, the issue that upset us most was how the situation was handled by the staff. They told us they would mark it as “boarding denied due to visa issue”, but instead they recorded it as “no show”. Because of that incorrect entry, our return flight was automatically cancelled as well, which caused additional stress and expense. Mistakes can happen, but we expected more transparency and accuracy from a reputed airline like Lufthansa. It would have made a big difference if the staff had been more careful and considerate in documenting the situation correctly.

Everything was good, except the seats in economy were so close together, you could barely get out when the seat in front of your was reclined. If the airlines keep jamming in more and more seats, it will become intolerable. I will look for another airline that considers customer comfort and does not keep adding more rows of seats for more profit.

Flight attendant moved my bag without notifying me and was rude to me when I asked him about it. There was no reason to move it.

Flight was on time, crew were excellent. For some reason our originally selected seats were changed. We had to re-choose our seats when we checked in online and options were limited. One of our two checked bags we placed on the wrong carousel. It was only be shear luck that I saw it. That cost us 20 minutes of wasted time. So much for the “priority” tags. They are meaningless, and have been ever since they were implemented. I wish you would do the save some money and stop using them.

The boarding process was slow and we had a delay on the tarmac, not the fault of the airline. They had ZERO food options available for purchase which shouldn't happen.

They are always late and seats was also not having working charger

Everything about the flight was lovely. My only suggestion would be to offer a few more options of tv series from Apple TV or HBO.

Did not get the seat I selected and paid for.

Honestly, I haven’t flown American in years, probably due to the pandemic and my being unable to travel for certain periods in the last two years, but it was a good experience to dig out or obtain a new American Airlines account after many years of traveling for business with American in the past.

One bottle of water and a package of cookies for comfort plus. We had to literally beg a flight attendant for an extra bottle of water later in the flight due to feeling dehydrated.

For coast to coast travel the A321 and even the NEO, even in first class will never be excellent. That would take a B787 or 777 to accomplish.

I was unhappy with having the seat I chose changed at the last minute. I was moved to an aisle seat which did not recline and was next to the bathroom. The bathroom odors made the flight entirely unpleasant. Having carefully chosen my seat months before I was not pleased with my AA experience. In addition, they ran out of tea during flight service, really?

There were delays on both ends. It made it less than excellent. This plane was great though

Attendants were rude. Scowling. Seats were miserable and we paid extra.

Maximizing profits is one way to a healthy bottom line, the other is repeat business and referrals from satisfied customers. Frontier has clearly chosen the former. One of many examples: Family emergency required me to cut trip short. Headed to the airport to fly standby for the return trip I had already paid for (yes I understand prices vary with demand etc). Was told there is no standby and that I would need to pay for, despite what it's called by the company, what amounts to a new ticket. And surprise surprise, there turned out to be dozens of empty seats on that flight. To say nothing of the sleazy third and fourth party resellers, the flight/ticket insurance I elected and thought I had paid for that mysteriously wasn't there when I needed it before I left, and on and on with third world sleazy management decisions. The inflight coffee (that I had to pay for) was very good though.

Flight delayed and missed connection. Next available flight was a 10 hour delay.

Great flight, no problems. I wish they would increase the checked bag weight limit. Packing was very stressful.

I am writing to express my disappointment with my recent Frontier Airlines flight. I was charged $99 at the gate because my bag was said to be too large, yet once onboard there was no available overhead bin space, and I was required to place the bag under the seat in front of me anyway. This made the charge feel unnecessary and unfair. Additionally, before the flight even took off, I was asked to move from the seat I paid for into a middle seat so another passenger and her cat could have my seat to themselves. I was not offered compensation or an explanation for being moved from a paid seat. Between the unexpected bag fee and being forced to give up my seat, this experience fell well below acceptable customer service standards. I would appreciate a review of this situation and appropriate compensation.

Terrible. Flight cancelled with no reasoning and no flights to rebook. Employees were useless and did nothing to help. Did not even know where to retrieve luggage from the cancelled flight. Flyers beware.

sluggish boarding and arrival procedures, fake nice flight attendants, and lots of delays.

You get what you pay for nothing essentially but a hard uncomfortable seat that doesn’t recline and kids screaming all around you and chaotic boarding and limited check bag weight allowance when compared to other airlines

Not very good. Paid in excess of $400 for assigned seating for my family and that was not provided. I want that money back.

Check in at Philadelphia international was absolutely terrible! I fly 2 to 3 times a month and avoid frontier at all cost and will never fly Frontier again! The night before travel, I tried checking in however, the app was giving me an error, so I went to the desktop, which instructed you that you need to use the app. The next day I presented at the check-in gate after trying at least a half dozen times prior to getting into the airport and continuing to getting the error in the app. I actually had rebooted my phone numerous times and reinstall the app just in case. My phone is only one generation older than the current model. It has no problems completing a frontier flight purchase or any other app issues. There was only three frontier employees working at check-in and a huge line while I was in line I continued to try and check in via the app. As I approach the desk, I was dreading dealing with the agent. He was extremely unprofessional, anti-semantic & very ignorant, and mean to the people in front of me, as well as the people who ended up being behind me. He literally told people “Man I don’t care bout y’all” in his native dialect! Maintaining my composure I approached and explained the situation. To which he replied, you’re gonna have to pay then! I don’t understand. It’s an issue with their app not allowing me to check in! Not my issue! He told me if I pay cash it would be $15, $25 if I pay credit card. I don’t understand a $10 difference for paying with a credit card? I am completely cashless so I continued to try using the app to avoid the $25 fee, Which I still don’t believe that I should be responsible for since it was Frontier’s technical issue!!! I continued to check in via the app a couple more times after he verified I was doing everything right he proceeded to continue to belittle the people behind me. Yelling at them saying I don’t care about you people! I cannot believe that this is the way that businesses would treat its customers! Unfortunately, the black mail with dreadlocks did not have a name tag all he had was a frontier sweater on! For the $25 fee that I ended up getting charged on my credit card. I should’ve just booked originally with Spirit or any other carrier! I have no problem paying fees that I should be responsible for, but when it’s due to a technical failure of a company, the customer should not be responsible for it! I cannot believe that it’s not frontier going out of business!

terrible cascading delays and unhelpful customer service. uncomfortable plane. crew was great, however!

More options for your flight from Philadelphia to California

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