$109 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Palm Desert

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 Francisco to Palm Desert departing on 5/31. 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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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$184
Typical prices: $321-$137
Alaska Airlines
Sat 10/17Tue 10/20
SFO - PSP • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$109
Typical prices: $123-$290
Alaska Airlines
Sun 5/31
SFO - PSP • Non-stop
Arrival airport
You can't fly directly to Palm Desert. It is served by Palm Springs (PSP), located 10.4 miles from Palm Desert.
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Flight Deals
Useful Info
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Palm Desert (SFO-PSP)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Palm Desert 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 Francisco to Palm Desert

Sat, Oct 17 - Tue, Oct 20
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:35 am - 12:18 pm
SFO
-
PSP
1h 43mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
12:58 pm - 2:38 pm
PSP
-
SFO
1h 40mnonstop
$184Alaska Airlines
Sat, Jun 6 - Tue, Jun 9
United Airlines Logo
8:10 am - 9:56 am
SFO
-
PSP
1h 46mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
7:17 am - 12:30 pm
PSP
-
SFO
5h 13m
1 stop
$187United Airlines
Sat, Oct 3 - Thu, Oct 8
Alaska Airlines Logo
8:41 am - 10:20 am
SFO
-
PSP
1h 39mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
8:55 am - 10:37 am
PSP
-
SFO
1h 42mnonstop
$191Alaska Airlines
Wed, Jun 3 - Wed, Jun 10
United Airlines Logo
3:56 pm - 5:46 pm
SFO
-
PSP
1h 50mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
4:07 pm - 5:50 pm
PSP
-
SFO
1h 43mnonstop
$193United Airlines
Mon, Jun 8 - Wed, Jun 10
United Airlines Logo
6:38 pm - 8:26 pm
SFO
-
PSP
1h 48mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
7:17 am - 10:45 am
PSP
-
SFO
3h 28m
1 stop
$194United Airlines
Wed, Jun 3 - Wed, Jun 10
Delta Logo
4:55 pm - 9:25 pm
SFO
-
PSP
4h 30m
1 stop
Delta Logo
5:10 pm - 10:05 pm
PSP
-
SFO
4h 55m
1 stop
$197Delta
Wed, Jun 3 - Sat, Jun 6
American Airlines Logo
5:40 am - 11:55 am
SFO
-
PSP
6h 15m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
4:56 pm - 10:23 pm
PSP
-
SFO
5h 27m
1 stop
$198American Airlines
Mon, Sep 21 - Thu, Sep 24
United Airlines Logo
5:41 pm - 9:55 pm
SFO
-
PSP
4h 14m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
1:13 pm - 2:51 pm
PSP
-
SFO
1h 38mnonstop
$201United Airlines
Mon, Jun 8 - Wed, Jun 10
United Airlines Logo
6:45 pm - 10:30 pm
SFO
-
PSP
3h 45m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
2:37 pm - 4:18 pm
PSP
-
SFO
1h 41mnonstop
$202United Airlines
Wed, Jun 3 - Wed, Jun 10
United Airlines Logo
3:56 pm - 5:46 pm
SFO
-
PSP
1h 50mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
7:17 am - 10:45 am
PSP
-
SFO
3h 28m
1 stop
$203United Airlines
Useful Info

Good to know

Low seasonAugust
Cheapest flight$109
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 12% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 9% increase in price.
Flight from San Francisco to Palm Springs

When to book flights from San Francisco to Palm Desert

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

Flights from San Francisco to Palm Desert: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from San Francisco to Palm Desert 
Verified travelerFlew with Alaska Airlines
SFO
-
PSP
Jun 2024
SFO ~ most convenient People should prepare themselves for cold temperature inside the cabin, bring coat/jacket and food in case flight is delayed.
KateFlew with Alaska Airlines
SFO
-
PSP
Apr 2024
Fly in the morning when it’s not windy.

FAQs for booking flights from San Francisco to Palm Desert

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San Francisco to Palm Desert?

    When flying out of San Francisco you’ll be using San Francisco. Palm Desert does not have its own airport so you’ll be flying into nearby Palm Springs airport, which is 10.4 mi away.

  • How long does a flight from San Francisco to Palm Desert take?

    Direct flights cover the 420 miles separating San Francisco and Palm Desert in about 1h 37m.

  • How many flights are there between San Francisco and Palm Desert?

    25 direct flights run between San Francisco and Palm Desert on a daily basis. On average, there are about 177 departures each week.

  • What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly between San Francisco and Palm Desert?

    Consider leaving on a Saturday and avoid Thursdays if you are looking for the best rates. For your return to San Francisco, you’ll find the best rates on Thursdays and the most expensive ones on Sundays.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Francisco to Palm Desert?

    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 Francisco to Palm Desert.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from San Francisco to Palm Desert?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Palm Desert from San Francisco 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 Francisco to Palm Desert?

    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 Palm Desert with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from San Francisco to Palm Desert?

    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 Palm Desert from San Francisco up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Palm Desert?

    In the last 72 hours, the cheapest one-way ticket between San Francisco and Palm Desert found on KAYAK was with Frontier for $29. Frontier offered a round-trip connection from $52 and Hawaiian Airlines from $73.

Top tips for finding cheap flights from San Francisco to Palm Desert

  • There is no airport in Palm Desert. Instead, you’ll be flying into Palm Springs Airport when flying between San Francisco and Palm Desert.
  • The cheapest flight from San Francisco to Palm Desert was found 80 days before departure, on average.
  • Book at least 2 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price.
  • High season is considered to be March, April and May. The cheapest month to fly is September.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving San Francisco to Palm Desert

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San Francisco to Palm Desert? 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
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 12361 reviews
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
7.8Comfort
7.0Entertainment
8.5Crew
Airline reviews

The flight would have been very good , if not dor the constantly screaming baby in the row behind me. Is there a way to isolate people traveling with infants? This is not the first time this has happened to me.

6.0 GoodAnonymous, Apr 2026
SFO - PDX
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

The flight would have been very good , if not dor the constantly screaming baby in the row behind me. Is there a way to isolate people traveling with infants? This is not the first time this has happened to me.

They treat me well because of my one world status. Crew is attentive and professional. One of the best airlines out there.

Crew were bad Didn’t help with luggage When asked for a glass of wine, I was told that they will serve later , which they didn’t to Me and didn’t serve anyone else in First class . Didn’t offer any snacks , Chips or Nuts to anyone . Flight was not crowded either. Worst Service/ or No Service !

Alaska drastically changed our flight from a direct flight to a flight with connection and a long layover. So we canceled the Alaska flight and we learned a valuable lesson that we will never book through kayak again because the third party travel agent tried to withhold our money.

Four hour delay. Missed our event. And they offered me $75. Absolutely shameful.

I have been flying commercial for decades. I was in one of the ladder boarding groups, had my bag tagged because they thought there was not going to be enough space for it in the overhead bins. I politely asked one of the attendance if I could try to find a space- she said I could and I did. I then took the bag tag off and gave it to one of the other attendants as I was told to do by the first one. He, in a curt, anal, and disrespectful manner, told me that I needed to take my bag down from the overhead bin and check it. This was a situation I’ve never encountered before. The attendant’s attitude was confrontational and belittling in front of other onlooking passengers as if daring me to challenge him. I am a physician who takes care of patients day in and day out. Not wanting to make a scene, I calmly told him, “do what you need to do.” he took my bag down from the overhead bin, put the back tag back on it, and checked it only to make room for another bag that was also supposed to be technically checked by a following passenger. The same male attendant later came up to me and said “you shouldn’t have showed me the bag tag,” as if conveying that he was just following protocol was a justification for treating me like a kid out of line. I cared about this because it took 15 minutes from my life to then retrieve the bag at baggage claim and it also felt like really poor customer service. I understand the need for protocols. This is also a service industry, and we the passengers are the clients. We should be made to feel welcome and respected and our life in transit made as easy as it can be within reason. This attendant clearly needs to be reminded of that. Of note, an older female fellow passenger sitting next to me agreed with this assessment.

Nice crew, healthy snacks and drinks available. Flight to Seattle was short and comfortable.

had to be rerouted due to a medical emergency onboard. Alaska crew treated the patient with utmost respect and continued to keep the passengers updated the entire way through, which I appreciate. But it took 4 hours from landing until we were able to be airborne again, causing us to not get into SFO until ~2 am. I understand it was a tough situation for everyone, but that was an indecent wait.

I love Alaska! We arrived on the later side without seat assignments only to find the had oversold the flight by 1. The attendants worked extra hard to find a way for our party of 7 to stay together and we made it on the flight! Loved the free WiFi also!

Delay for switching planes. Then delay after delay (mechanical) after boarding so that we were almost 3 hrs late, getting in at 230am. Crew was good.

Flight delayed two hours , missed connection flight then connection cancelled- horrible experience with hotel

The checking was disaster, the crew wasn't behave well. It took us two hours to check in, after that thr line at the TSA was long, we barely make the flight. Bad airline

No charging outlets worked. Other than collecting trash attendants didn’t come around. No one could hear flight attendants announcements during the flight. Seat pads were horrible. Sitting on a board for 5 hours. What happened to Hawaiian airlines comfort, hospitality, and extras? Our pilots did an excellent job trying to minimize turbulence and incredible job in landing in windy conditions.

I like that if they asked you to checked in a bag at the gate they give you priority to board

I liked the Starlink WiFi but didn't like how they said they were the only airline to offer a free meal and it turns out to be just a standalone sandwich and then charge for snacks to go with it. Rather have the free snacks like Southwest, but have the option to purchase a decent meal for a 5+ hour flight.

I like Hawaiian, it was great that they had good internet connection across the Pacific Ocean, thanks to Star Link satellites. The seating was comfortable, ( I was in economy ). Maybe I missed it, but I only got offered a beverage once. It was a nonstop flight KOA to SMF. I would take it again next time I go that way.

Previously flown Hawaiian Airlines on similar routes, I found Alaska Airlines to be noticeably more comfortable. The seats on Alaska Airlines provided better support and cushioning, which made a significant difference on the long flight to the islands. When you’re spending 5-6 hours in the air, seat comfort really matters, and Alaska Airlines delivered where it counts. After comparing both carriers, I’ve decided to book with Alaska Airlines for all my future Hawaii trips. The superior seat comfort alone makes it worth choosing Alaska over Hawaiian Airlines. If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii and prioritizing comfort, I’d recommend giving Alaska Airlines a try. You won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended for Hawaii travel!

I received several emails about my 3:10 flight. When I showed up to the airport at 12:30 to check my bags I was told the flight was actually at 1 pm. They grudgingly rebooked me for a flight at 5:22 to Vegas to get a connecting to LAX. I did find the gate for my original 3:10 flight but they were booked. I proceeded to receive status updates and gate change information for the 3:10 flight, even though I was apparently never supposed to be on that flight

The food options were limited and very specific. Some type of entertainment option for a 4.5 hour flight would have been nice.

The crew was EXTREMELY helpful And sweet and the flight was smooth!

No screens or meal options. Freezing cold. Dirty seats. Left late.

Outstanding service, efficient & friendly crew, flight was safe, comfortable & on time

It was a red-eye, but the flight felt surprisingly quick. The seats were very comfortable, and that made resting much easier. I also want to thank the gentleman seated next to me, who graciously moved so my mom could sit beside me. We slept almost the entire way. The cabin crew was respectful in not disturbing us, while also being courteous and professional throughout. Thank you, United.

Boarding was again a "free for all". We were boarding group 4, and almost the entire plane was able to board before us. It's a shame that someone who follows the rules, gets the short end of the stick. Not fair.

It was perfect! I've never flown with United before, but I definitely will in the future

They delayed the flight from 9:00 to 11:55 At 11:45 they canceled the flight. I paid a premium price for the tickets with poor service

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.

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

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

Premium Economy Good crew, good service, excellent food. Seat back screen just not bright enough.

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.

The SFO Lounge crew were amazing. The bartender Faris was great. Thanks!

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

Delayed for mechanical and no updates on what was happening and how long the delay might be.

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

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

The flight never took off and we spent 7 hours at 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.

Terrible. The canceled my entire flight when I requested a refund for a trip frontier canceled trip one way.

i was unable to check in the flight. refund requested

I think Frontier was very good at communication. Their app worked very well. Loading was great and the flight was nice and easy.

Great for the price. No wifi or entertainment, but gate agents and crew were fantastic and we boarded quickly and left on time.

Decent clean onboard experience. Okay discount airline experience. Unfortunately, any customer service interactions are difficult and unhelpful. There is no service. Also, a premium seat only gets you premium boarding if you line up first. Once they start general boarding you must go to the back of the line. Not very premium

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Francisco to Palm Desert

Complete your trip to Palm Desert with a hotel stay or car rental