$185 Find Cheap Flights from San José to California - Compare and Save

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Cheap Flights from San José to California

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Sort by: Cheapest
Ontario
7h 40m2 stops
from $347per person
Sacramento
9h 28m2 stops
from $349per person
Burbank
Burbank
9h 47m2 stops
from $435per person
San Diego
9h 09m2 stops
from $459per person
Fresno
Fresno
9h 57m2 stops
from $483per person
San Jose
9h 56m2 stops
from $486per person
Palm Springs
Palm Springs
10h 39m2 stops
from $535per person
Santa Ana
9h 20m2 stops
from $557per person
Los Angeles
6h 15mNonstop
from $571per person
San Francisco
6h 42mNonstop
from $681per person
Santa Rosa
9h 57m2 stops
from $683per person
Oakland
18h 20m4 stops
from $720per person
Explore the map
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for San José 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 San José to California recently?

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

• Ontario (ONT) from $347
• Sacramento Intl (SMF) from $349
• San Diego (SAN) from $459
• Santa Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty (SNA) from $557

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 San José are:

• San Diego (SAN) (avg. price $484)
• Los Angeles (LAX) (avg. price $533)
• Sacramento Intl (SMF) (avg. price $534)

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

Fares from San José to California are about 43% higher than they were in November last year, averaging $558 round-trip.

What's the cheapest month to fly from San José to California?

February is typically the cheapest month to fly from San José to California, with round-trip fares averaging $427. August and July are usually the most expensive, averaging $609 and $609, respectively.

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

On average, Thursday is the cheapest day to fly from San José to California and Sunday is the most expensive. Looking at the past 12 months of KAYAK data, it's 8% more expensive to fly on a Sunday compared to Thursday.

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

It's cheapest to fly to California in the afternoon with average prices of $504. The evening is the most expensive time to fly, with average prices of $628.

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

Book your flights 20 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data collected over the past 12 months shows that booking in this window can save you around 12% compared to booking at the last minute (within 2 weeks of departure).

Key details for San José to California flights

Low season

July

Cheapest flight

$185
Beat the crowds with an average 21% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 35% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from San José to San Jose

Your San José 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 San José to California?

    Yes. Fares from San José to California are low right now. As a rule of thumb, a round-trip under $431 (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 San José to California?

    Over the past 12 months, round-trip fares from San José to California have typically cost between $431 and $708.

  • What are the main airports serving California?

    There are 43 airports in California. 56% of KAYAK users choose Los Angeles (LAX) as their arrival airport, while 19% choose San Francisco (SFO).

  • Which airlines fly nonstop from San José to California?

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

    • United Airlines
    • Alaska Airlines
    • Delta

  • Which destinations in California can I fly nonstop from San José?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, you can fly nonstop from San José to 2 destinations in California: Los Angeles and San Francisco.

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

    Yes, nonstop flights from San José to California average $570 over the past 12 months, but flights with a layover can cost less. The most affordable connecting airports are:

    • Monterrey Gen Mariano Escobedo (MTY) (avg. price $392)
    • Orlando (MCO) (avg. price $412)
    • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) (avg. price $414)

  • How long is a flight from San José to California?

    Nonstop flights from San José to California take 6h 43m on average. The fastest scheduled flight takes 6h 14m, flying into Los Angeles (LAX).

  • Which cabin classes are available from San José to California?

    On flights from San José 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 San José to California?

    The earliest nonstop flight from San José to California departs at 1:23 am and the latest leaves at 9:40 am. Nonstop flights take about 6h 43m.

Your guide to booking San José 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 20 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data shows fares in this window are around 12% 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 February to save some money. It's typically the cheapest month on this route, while flights in July will cost you the most.
  • Fly out on a Thursday to get the cheapest fares. Avoid Sunday flights, which are about 8% more expensive.
  • If you're watching your budget, fly into San Diego (SAN) 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 San José to Los Angeles (LAX). If you're after the lowest fares, San Diego (SAN) is usually your best bet.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San José to California

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San José 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
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 13159 reviews
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
8.5Crew
7.8Comfort
7.0Entertainment
Airline reviews

Alaska airlines has gone from excellent to budget. Food only for purchase. Entertainment only on your devise, no headphones

8.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Jun 2026
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

Alaska airlines has gone from excellent to budget. Food only for purchase. Entertainment only on your devise, no headphones

I hate it when I was forced to check my carry on and there were over 12 spots for bags in the overhead compartments even after everyone was on. So idiotic. It would be so simple for the crew to report lack of space directly instead of an arbitrary number or whatever you smart upper level people make up.

No blanket on a 6 hours red eye flight on business class. SHAME!!! Very unfair and uncomfortable especially considering how cold the aircraft was with the ac

Good. They have great attitudes. I will say that the Liberia airport in Costa Rica is the best in the world.

my wait time between connecting flight LAX to PDX was very long and during hours when food services were closed. Other than that, i was very happy with Alaska over-all.

Flight crew was great! Kind, fast with service. It would be nice if airlines went back to servicing “free” meals, we pay enough for the tickets to include a meal and frankly the price of airport food is insane these days.

The flight was good, there were no problems at all. The only thing that was very disappointing was how filthy the bathroom was, it was discussing.

The leg room is way too small for my 6’ husband.

Alaska Airlines is horrible. They notified 30 minutes before boarding that they needed to reroute my flight, causing a 22 hour layover and 42 hour travel experience they could have been avoided if they adequately informed me when I did online checking, 24 hours in advance, that I would need to reroute. This would have avoided a horrible experience if they truly demonstrated customer care

besides flight cancellation due to over boarding - diverted flight and lost baggage - no customer support whatsoever and 2 months of traveling lost

We were made to check our carry-on luggage because it did not fit the measurements. That’s what we were told, but I saw plenty of carry-on luggage on the plane that was the same size as ours

Flight Crew Review The crew was absolutely amazing from start to finish! They were friendly, professional, attentive, and genuinely made the flight feel comfortable and enjoyable. Every interaction was pleasant, and they went above and beyond to make sure passengers were taken care of. You could really tell that they cared about providing great service. I truly appreciate their kindness and professionalism and would be happy to fly with this crew again!

Same as the previous flight as far as comfort and food. Entertainment didn’t have a watchable screen so everything would need to be watched on your own device in which they didn’t have a charging port that accommodated my iPhone. Seats were very uncomfortable. Staff was very friendly.

Had to go through security at the gate again. Had to take off shoes and go through the whole thing again even though we have global entry. They asked us to check in items bought at duty free during our layover and since we checked our luggage at the original departure airport, they forced us to check in a small backpack. None of this ever happened with other airlines. In addition, no vegetarian food option and no snacks during a 7 hr flight. Luggage limits are unusually small. This is unacceptable. Will NEVER fly Copa again and will tell friends and family to avoid this airline.

I upgraded myself to Business Class at the last minute so I had a DREAMS window seat. Seeing as I've never flown Business before everything was novel and fun for me and it made the 7 hour flight much more enjoyable for sure.

Copa stranded us ans then tried to charge us thousands to leave Panama.

Friendly flight team and seamless travel from one stop to next.

Horrible food. No wine or any other alcohol is served on the flight. Water is not served often and they refused when I asked for water in two cups. On the other hand, both going and coming back flights were on time.

it was great! Boarded on-time, reasonable leg room, pleasant staff, decent food. The only thing is we were directed to Terminal 2 when the gate was actually in Terminal 1. Smooth ride. Landed early. Got off plane easily and quickly.

Just a minor inconvinient with weather delay! but not Copa's fault

Terrible flight attendant. Rushing me as I ate my salad and appetizer. Served my dinner while I was still eating my salad. My dinner was dry and very salty. He asked me what I wanted to drink, I said flavored sparkling water. He said we don’t have that we have plain sparkling water. I’ve flown United many times and I know exactly what they have. 10 minutes later he asked me what flavor sparkling water I wanted. Did this with an attitude as if he was being bothered!

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

The plane was so old. I paid a ridiculous amount to fly business and there was no internet for six hours! This can't be happening in 2026 and especially in cross country flights where there are a high volume of business travelers.

The food could have been better and the entertainment could have better movies or streaming.

The flight to Houston the agents were not very helpful

It was good, although we could not get our preferred seats, we did enjoy the whole experience from Costa Rica. I still don't understand why our luggage is not the first to come out at the band.

Movie selection is good. Crew did not understand mileage program and were no help. Sick later. Food?

I love United was disappointed we had a two hour delay, however the Pilot did say safety first.

Since when do I have to pay for my checked bag? I have a United Explorer mileage plus silver card and I was charged for my checked bags. This also is an international flight. So I would like an explanation to be clear before I choose an airline please?

Boarding was terrible. My wife uses a wheel chair and she was in an incredibly hot closed metal cargo box for close to 20 minutes before getting on board

Friendly crew and pilot. And thank you to the pilot for his smooth landing technique where the wheels don't hit the ground hard - that should be table stakes but doesn't seem to be the case nowadays.

Check-in was easy, but getting luggage checked in wasn't so smooth, due to the machines not working correctly. Boarding went smooth and flight was relatively fast. Captain kept us well informed of our early arrival into LA, which really helped us coordinate with the person picking us up.

Seats are getting smaller and smaller. In flight movies are poor compared to other airlines. Food is mediocre.

Terrible experience flying with American Airlines. Too many delays and cancellations.

When I'm on a 5hr 22 minute flight I expect food to be purchased. Especially when American makes a very tight connection time where u have to run to make the long flight. Chips and nuts are unacceptable and being told you should be in first class to get a meal is also unacceptable. I didn't change the flight times American Airlines did.

Flight attendants on American Airlines are rude very harsh with their time of voice. Nearly identical experience as spirit airlines. However, from Spirit Airlines, you expect this level of mediocre service. You do not expect this from the big three..

The plane had maintenance issues and didn't leave after 72 hours

The staff were very nice! However when our first flight got delayed an hour, the second connection flight was not delayed and the layover was only 40 minutes. When we rushed and made it to our gate for the connection flight, the gate said it had moved to another section of the airport. We barley made it to the connection flight, and overall we were very stressed. We asked about taking a later time for the second connection flight, but the other option was much later and we would have to wait at the airport for 9+ hours. I just wish American Airlines could have moved the second connection flight to a later time too for its customers, and thank you for taking the time to read my review.

Flight was canceled and then rescheduled on another flight. Paid for first class but moved to the back of the plane. Then put up in the worst/dirtiest hotel I’ve ever stayed in. American Airlines should be ashamed of putting their passengers/customers in a place that filthy.

The flight was on time, boarding process good. Good value flight.

The employees at the gate were not communicating, they preferred to give the upgrade to pilots and not to the elite passengers Every flight I more disappointing, clients shooed be priority instead of other employees even if they are pilots, there was plenty room for pilots in economy

It was horrible. My experience with Avianca. I didn’t know it was Pakistan international Airlines but anyway, whatever it is it is bad horrible you guys need to upgrade everything in those planes. And you guys charge $130 for a carry-on did they wanna let me in with my carry-on that I travel everywhere with the luggage you guys are such a dog thank you

The incoming plane was late and no information was shared. They even announced we would board in 10 muntes 40 minutes prior to the plane arriving, and the website said until takeoff that we had taken off an hour earlier

The fees for baggage were outrageous. $130 for carry on and $150 for check in for an international flight. The seats did not recline. We were not even offered water. Had we known all of this, we would not have booked Avianca at all.

I was shocked flying to El Salvador that they only give you water. Everything else you have to pay for. There is no wifi or entertainment and it’s an international flight. At least back in the day they had tvs on the plane and everyone watched the same movie. Also seats do not recline, even comfort or plus.

I did not like anything, first time I use company and for sure it will be the last time, they charge for simple operations that any other average airline wouldn't charge.

The good thing is the flight was on time and the crew was really nice. They can work better the arriving with staff

The inflight entertainment did not work on a 6 hour flight The cel phone chargers did not work There was a 45 minute wait for the luggage to get off the plane.

They could offer free food and drink like other international flights.

Flight attendants to show up on time, offer drinks and food.

More options for your flight from San José to California

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