PHL - DSM

$49 Find Cheap Flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$93
Typical prices: $149-$453
Allegiant Air
Mon 10/29Thu 11/1
PHL - DSM • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$55
Typical prices: $99-$286
Allegiant Air
Thu 11/1
PHL - DSM • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
1 day a week
You can fly direct with American Airlines and Allegiant Air. Average duration is 3h 03m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
When to book
25 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 25 weeks in advance save around 80% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
July
Cheapest • 57% price drop
July
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Nashville Intl (BNA)
Cheapest • Avg $199 (round-trip)
Lambert-St Louis (STL)
Shortest trip • 4h 27m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to Des Moines!

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

 

Cheap flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines with top airlines, updated regularly. Compare round-trip, one-way, direct and last-minute deals.

Thu, Oct 29 - Sun, Nov 1
Allegiant Air Logo
12:55 pm - 2:42 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
2h 47mnonstop
Allegiant Air Logo
8:00 am - 11:22 amDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
2h 22mnonstop
$103Allegiant Air
Sun, Oct 25 - Thu, Oct 29
Allegiant Air Logo
12:12 pm - 1:59 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
2h 47mnonstop
Allegiant Air Logo
8:43 am - 12:05 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
2h 22mnonstop
$149Allegiant Air
Thu, Oct 29 - Sun, Nov 1
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:55 pm - 2:42 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
2h 47mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:49 pm - 8:20 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
28h 31m1 stop Nashville Intl
$278Multiple Airlines
Sun, Oct 25 - Thu, Oct 29
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:12 pm - 1:59 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
2h 47mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:52 pm - 6:19 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
47h 27m2 stops Fort Lauderdale Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
$289Multiple Airlines
Thu, Oct 29 - Sat, Oct 31
American Airlines Logo
3:51 pm - 10:45 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
7h 54m1 stop Washington, D.C. Reagan-National
American Airlines Logo
1:15 pm - 4:50 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
2h 35mnonstop
$349American Airlines
Thu, Dec 3 - Tue, Dec 8
Southwest Logo
7:30 am - 11:25 amPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
4h 55m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
6:00 am - 11:05 amDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
4h 05m1 stop Chicago Midway
$353Southwest
Wed, Nov 11 - Wed, Nov 18
Southwest Logo
7:30 am - 11:25 amPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
4h 55m1 stop Chicago Midway
Southwest Logo
6:00 am - 11:05 amDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
4h 05m1 stop Chicago Midway
$353Southwest
Thu, Oct 29 - Sat, Oct 31
American Airlines Logo
5:39 pm - 12:14 amPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
7h 35m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
American Airlines Logo
2:01 pm - 9:07 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
6h 06m1 stop Chicago O'Hare Intl
$359American Airlines
Wed, Dec 2 - Tue, Dec 8
Delta Logo
12:22 pm - 4:49 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
5h 27m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
Delta Logo
6:09 am - 11:37 amDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
4h 28m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
$375Delta
Sat, Dec 5 - Wed, Dec 9
Delta Logo
5:28 pm - 8:39 pmPHL  Philadelphia-DSM Des Moines
4h 11m1 stop Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
Delta Logo
11:01 am - 6:19 pmDSM  Des Moines-PHL Philadelphia
6h 18m1 stop Minneapolis St Paul
$375Delta

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

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

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

Round-trip flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines typically range from $149 to $453. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $93, on Allegiant Air.

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

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Thursday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Philadelphia to Des Moines. It’s 53% cheaper than the average day, while Monday is the most expensive, with prices 56% higher.

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

•July is the cheapest month to fly from Philadelphia to Des Moines at $146 round-trip.
•February ($476) and April ($432) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 226% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines the cheapest?

Flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines are cheapest 25 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 80% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

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Key details for Philadelphia to Des Moines flights

Low season

March

Cheapest flight

$55
Beat the crowds with an average 56% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 68% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Philadelphia to Des Moines

When to book flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines

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

Your Philadelphia to Des Moines flight questions, answered

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

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

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

    • Earliest: departs at 10:33 am and lands at 1:36 pm
    • Latest: departs at 8:45 pm and lands at 11:48 pm.

    The flight takes about 3h 03m.

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

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

    • Economy Class
    • Business Class
    • First Class

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

    A nonstop flight from Philadelphia to Des Moines takes 3h 03m, covering 969 miles.

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

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

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

    Round-trip flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines range from $149 to $453, with an average of $343 over the past 12 months. Anything below $149 counts as a good deal.

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

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 23% above the $343 route average. Book 25 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

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

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $199 round-trip via Nashville Intl (BNA), compared to $237 for nonstop.

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

    There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $39–$100 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

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

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

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

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

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

    One-way fares from Philadelphia to Des Moines are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $196, which is 12% above the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at Des Moines Airport (DSM)?

    Des Moines Airport (DSM) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $32 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • Hertz
    • Payless
    • Budget
    • Alamo
    • Avis

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

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

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

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

    • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) - 50% of one-stop connections
    • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) - 17% of one-stop connections
    • Chicago Midway (MDW) - 17% of one-stop connections
    • Lambert-St Louis (STL) - 6% of one-stop connections

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

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 70% on flights from Philadelphia to Des Moines. Thursday is the cheapest departure day at $163 round-trip on average, while Monday is the most expensive at $537, a difference of $374.

    KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • What airlines fly from Philadelphia to Des Moines?

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

    • American Airlines
    • Allegiant Air

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

    Flying via Lambert-St Louis (STL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 4h 27m, compared with 4h 38m via Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) and 4h 52m via Chicago Midway (MDW).

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

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

  • What popular places can I visit in Des Moines?

    Some of the most popular sights in Des Moines are UnityPoint Health - Des Moines, Science Center of Iowa and Hy Vee Hall. These are among the most viewed places in Des Moines on KAYAK.

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

    Among airlines operating Philadelphia to Des Moines flights:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your guide to booking Philadelphia to Des Moines flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Thursday departure and avoid flying on Monday. On this route, Thursday flights average $163, about $374 less than Monday fares (70% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 25 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 80% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Philadelphia to Des Moines trip for July. Fares historically average $146 round-trip in that month - typically $330 less than the most expensive month, which is February (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Nashville Intl Airport (BNA) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $199 round-trip on this route - about $38 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Des Moines Airport.

    • Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Des Moines Airport
    • Holiday Inn Des Moines-Airport/Conf Center By IHG
    • Homewood Suites by Hilton - Des Moines Airport

More options for your flight from Philadelphia to Des Moines

Complete your trip to Des Moines with a hotel stay or car rental

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Hotels in Des Moines
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