SAN - DSM

$105 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to Des Moines

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Diego to Des Moines departing on 5/20. 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 Des Moines

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Diego to Des Moines.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Diego to Des Moines.
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$235
Overall average: $426
Frontier
Fri 4/10Mon 4/13
SAN - DSM • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$105
Typical prices: $179-$352
Frontier
Wed 5/20
SAN - DSM • 1 stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $235 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $382 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 5h 24m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 35% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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We hope you love your trip to Des Moines!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Diego to Des Moines (SAN-DSM)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San Diego to Des Moines 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 San Diego to Des Moines

Fri, Apr 10 - Mon, Apr 13
Frontier Logo
6:25 am - 7:14 pm
SAN
-
DSM
10h 49m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
8:14 pm - 8:04 pm
DSM
-
SAN
25h 50m
1 stop
$235Frontier
Wed, Apr 8 - Mon, Apr 13
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:00 pm - 8:13 pm
SAN
-
DSM
30h 13m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:14 pm - 11:06 pm
DSM
-
SAN
28h 52m
1 stop
$239Multiple Airlines
Thu, May 21 - Wed, Jun 3
Frontier Logo
9:37 am - 1:31 pm
SAN
-
DSM
25h 54m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
2:16 pm - 11:50 pm
DSM
-
SAN
11h 34m
1 stop
$273Frontier
Fri, Apr 10 - Mon, Apr 13
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:25 am - 7:14 pm
SAN
-
DSM
10h 49m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:32 pm - 11:34 am
DSM
-
SAN
22h 02m
2 stops
$276Multiple Airlines
Fri, Apr 10 - Sun, Apr 12
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:25 am - 7:14 pm
SAN
-
DSM
10h 49m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:51 pm - 12:02 am
DSM
-
SAN
35h 11m
2 stops
$285Multiple Airlines
Wed, Jul 22 - Fri, Jul 31
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:25 am - 7:26 pm
SAN
-
DSM
11h 01m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:01 pm - 6:37 pm
DSM
-
SAN
22h 36m
1 stop
$288Multiple Airlines
Thu, Jun 25 - Mon, Jun 29
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:59 pm - 9:06 pm
SAN
-
DSM
21h 07m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:56 pm - 5:08 pm
DSM
-
SAN
21h 12m
1 stop
$292Multiple Airlines
Thu, May 21 - Wed, Jun 3
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:07 pm - 8:52 pm
SAN
-
DSM
20h 45m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:16 pm - 12:43 pm
DSM
-
SAN
24h 27m
2 stops
$293Multiple Airlines
Wed, Jul 22 - Mon, Aug 3
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:25 am - 7:26 pm
SAN
-
DSM
11h 01m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:01 pm - 5:08 pm
DSM
-
SAN
21h 07m
1 stop
$295Multiple Airlines
Thu, Jun 25 - Mon, Jun 29
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:59 pm - 10:32 pm
SAN
-
DSM
22h 33m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:56 pm - 5:08 pm
DSM
-
SAN
21h 12m
1 stop
$298Multiple Airlines
Booking Insights

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

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San Diego to Des Moines 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 San Diego to Des Moines?

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

If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to Des Moines on a Sunday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Monday is the most expensive day to fly from San Diego to Des Moines. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Monday and avoiding Tuesdays for the best deals.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Diego to Des Moines, 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 San Diego to Des Moines is November, where tickets cost $253 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $593 and $466 respectively.

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

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 $286, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$105
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 52% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 16% lower on average.
Flight from San Diego to Des Moines

When to book flights from San Diego to Des Moines

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

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

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Diego to Des Moines was $105 for a one-way ticket and $235 for a round-trip.

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

    A passport is not required to fly from San Diego to Des Moines.

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

    The Airbus A320-100/200 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Diego to Des Moines flight route.

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

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

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Diego to Des Moines are Southwest and Delta. With an average price for the route of $549 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 $329 and an overall rating of 7.9.

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

    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 San Diego to Des Moines.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Des Moines from San Diego 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 San Diego to Des Moines?

    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 Des Moines with an airline and back to San Diego with another airline. Booking your flights between San Diego and DSM 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 San Diego to Des Moines?

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

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San Diego to Des Moines

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Diego to Des Moines. 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 San Diego to Des Moines? 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 4318 reviews
8.0Comfort
7.5Entertainment
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
8.6Crew
Airline reviews

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

8.0 ExcellentTobin, Mar 2026
SJC - BUR
Read more Southwest reviews

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

Good but I prefer choose your own seat. With the new assigned seats they should board from the back I see no advantage to this new boarding. Just like every other airline

Flight boarded late after announcing on time boarding. Flight arrived only a little late despite late departure. Had trouble connecting to WiFi

The Southwest experience has definitely taken a dive from its early days. You can no longer deferentiate from other airlines. Air travel is too expensive. Southwest is no longer budget friendly. They have lost me as a loyal customer.

The charges were ridiculous for an hour flight and the turbulence was very scary.

The seats are now more narrow. I paid for front row the seats in the front are even more narrow than before.

The wifi on the plane is great. The only issue that I have is that I prefer an aisle seat and on my trips this week, I was either in the middle or window. If we can work to secure aisle seating, I will be thrilled. Nice trip.

Great flight but super high price. Glad it was a business trip and not personal

3 hour delay. Had to change plans and was still delayed.

We got exit row seats both flights. Everything was running on time

I was in first class and literally the men behind me were so aggressively loud I moved myself to economy. This has become so common on Delta - people using audio without headphones, and men on 12am / late night flights drinking and yelling to talk to each other which prevents anyone around them from resting. Pretty crazy to have to move from first to economy (poorer service, less comfort...). Wild wild. Looking into other airlines.

Flight was delayed by 3-hours and their fix was… complimentary pretzels.

The crew, and fellow passengers, were super gracious and kind. There seemed to be plenty of bin space even though the plane was full. It’s nice to get a glass of wine with dinner in Premiere seating, and there was a lot of food.

Everything I mentioned earlier - the airbus was more comfortable indeed and the experience was further enhanced.

The plane was an older model, so it wasn’t as comfortable as others. The flight attendants were not helpful during onboarding. It was a full flight so there was chaos finding space for baggage.

Awesome! On time flight, early arrival, and a complimentary upgrade!

Delta One is extraordinary. I fly business when somebody hires me. I just wonder why there is such a chasm between business class and the insanely inhumane and nonsensical coach. The seats are not large enough to fit even my tiny wife. We fly 10% of what we did because we don’t want to pay 5-10 k but for $400 it’s unbearable. It seems like the accountants took over and made stupid decisions. Screw in 20 extra seats and make it so unbearable that people fly 90% less. Just put the damn price up and put some proper chairs in. But business, yay.

Delta’s staff is unmatched. From the gate agents, to the pilots, to the flight attendants… all top of the industry.

The flight was delayed for about 2 hrs. Other than it, it was good.

I am extremely disappointed that delta internal pilot manuals now refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “gulf of America”. You can bow down to the Orange turd on your own. I will never fly delta again

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.

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

Flight delayed for more than 16 hrs and no effort was spent to provide an alternate

Women boarding passengers at the gate was absolutely rude and disrespectful of passengers. The flight attendant was absolutely delightful! Smiling and connected with the passengers. So happy. The seats are cramped and uncomfortable but I guess that’s just the way it is Communication regarding flight was excellent

it was a very short flight so my expectations were low.

Very disappointing given gate agent behavior. Filed a formal complaint with United.

Crew was great (professional, attentive, prompt). Snacks for 4 hrs flight is deplorable.

Flight delayed. WiFi connectivity very poor if not existant. Last minute arrival forced me to run to catch my connection.

Terrible. No customer service, no food, no drinks on a 6 hour premier economy booking.

Delay after delay with little communication then AA lost my luggage and at airport would not assist just said scan this QR code to track your luggage and submit a claim. However QR code provided did not work so have to go back to airport

Dloght delayed by 2.5 hrs . Common theme in my last four american floghts

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

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

The chicken wrap was tiny ($13 for what looked like a 1/3 of a normal wrap?) and disgusting.

Mediocre would be best description. Food bland. Seat biz class uncomfortable to sleep. Crew never dimmed lights completely in an overnight flight to Europe. Would avoid AA if possible.

Small plane, poor meal choices for first class, bad terminal and boarding experience at LAX

Massimo, flight attendant was very authentic, attentive - wonderful. Food/wrap was just okay.

Experience was great. The best part is the free Wi-Fi connection which helps me to work on the flight

The flight was fine. It's the satellite terminal that supports American eagle flights is what sucks. There is only one food option and everything there is way overpriced. I mean I know it's airport pricing, but it's even crazier than that. I bought a sandwich in a plastic container for $18.

My flight was originally from SAT to MCO connecting from MCO to ORD. We got diverted to ATL and than Frontier staff there was sooo un helpful first they said they couldn’t give us any accommodation since our flight first got delayed that cancelled and now it’s 221am and I am still in ATL since they said they need to create a new flight my final destination is ORD and I have been delayed twice and cancelled. With no real help the frontier app didn’t work no email updates over all such a horrible experience

There's no seats that lean back with little leg space i wad uncomfortable the entire flight. Your charges for extra baggage is despicable and costly!!

Remind customers of the need to have passport or new ID for boarding.

Flight was canceled. Most upsetting was message from Kayak, stating that the flight was canceled and click with Kayak for details regarding rebook, refund details. THERE'S NO INFORMATION PROVIDED BY KAYAK EXCEPT THAT FLIGHT IS CANCELED. AND NOW THIS SURVEY TO FIND OUT HOW WAS THE FLIGHT !!!!!!!

The flight never took off and we spent 7 hours at the airport

Gate not determined until I got to the airport - hard to plan the trip to the airport.

Our flight was canceled. I will never use Kayak nor Frontier for travel again. The entire experience was a headache.

It was ok. It was expensive to check 2 bags ($75.00 per bag), and then it took a long time to wait for shuttle to take us from one terminal to the terminal where the plane was taking off at LAX. And all of this for a flight where we had to pay for any food or drink that was not water.

When I wanted to check in 3 hours prior to boarding time, the employees mentioned “a little over an hour delay” so I waited for an hour then I went to go look for food in the terminal and most people from that flight were in the same area looking for food. Finally I decided after food to check to see if it’s anytime closer and now it’s 2 mins until boarding closes?! What are you kidding me? I didn’t receive anything via sms about boarding now nor via email or on the intercom. I luckily made it through, barely, and then there’s no room for my carry on mind you I’m in the very first row so I had to place my purse in one further row back and my carry on sections down. Not sure who pays for better seats to get your stuff placed all over the plane but that was the worst experience I’ve ever had flying with anyone.

This airline sucks. They offer low rates then charge you for everything, the app does not work well, the seats are the most uncomfortable. Maintenance issues on the flight, and you still have to sit through their credit card commercials. People are nice enough but does not make up for overall poor experience.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports