SJO - SAN

$251 Find Cheap Flights from San José to San Diego - Compare and Save

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 José to San Diego departing on 12/6. 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
$435
Typical prices: $332-$472
Copa Airlines
Wed 9/2Wed 9/16
SJO - SAN • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$251
Typical prices: $192-$270
Multiple Airlines
Sun 12/6
SJO - SAN • 1 stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $435 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.6 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between San José and San Diego. You'll need at least 1 connection.
Insights
Insights
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Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $305 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 9h 20m (one-way)
Insights
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Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 5 weeks in advance save around 10% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 26% 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 San Diego!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San José to San Diego (SJO-SAN)

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

Wed, Sep 2 - Wed, Sep 16
Copa Airlines Logo
4:08 am - 6:29 pm
SJO
-
SAN
15h 21m
1 stop
Copa Airlines Logo
10:00 pm - 9:04 am
SAN
-
SJO
10h 04m
1 stop
$435Copa Airlines
Tue, Sep 1 - Fri, Sep 4
Copa Airlines Logo
6:17 pm - 6:29 pm
SJO
-
SAN
25h 12m
1 stop
Copa Airlines Logo
10:00 pm - 6:24 pm
SAN
-
SJO
19h 24m
1 stop
$435Copa Airlines
Sun, Sep 13 - Sun, Sep 20
Copa Airlines Logo
6:17 pm - 6:29 pm
SJO
-
SAN
25h 12m
1 stop
Copa Airlines Logo
10:00 pm - 4:49 pm
SAN
-
SJO
17h 49m
1 stop
$435Copa Airlines
Fri, Sep 25 - Mon, Sep 28
United Airlines Logo
7:55 am - 10:27 pm
SJO
-
SAN
15h 32m
2 stops
United Airlines Logo
3:56 pm - 12:21 pm
SAN
-
SJO
19h 25m
3 stops
$438United Airlines
Fri, Sep 25 - Mon, Sep 28
United Airlines Logo
7:55 am - 10:27 pm
SJO
-
SAN
15h 32m
2 stops
United Airlines Logo
3:56 pm - 12:21 pm
SAN
-
SJO
19h 25m
2 stops
$438United Airlines
Fri, Oct 23 - Wed, Oct 28
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:35 pm - 9:17 am
SJO
-
SAN
17h 42m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:47 am - 9:35 am
SAN
-
SJO
21h 48m
2 stops
$438Multiple Airlines
Fri, Oct 23 - Wed, Oct 28
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:35 pm - 9:17 am
SJO
-
SAN
17h 42m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:22 pm - 9:35 am
SAN
-
SJO
18h 13m
2 stops
$438Multiple Airlines
Mon, Sep 21 - Mon, Sep 28
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 8:45 pm
SJO
-
SAN
13h 00m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
7:30 am - 12:21 pm
SAN
-
SJO
27h 51m
2 stops
$438United Airlines
Sat, Sep 19 - Sat, Sep 26
American Airlines Logo
1:00 pm - 8:18 am
SJO
-
SAN
20h 18m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
1:50 pm - 1:57 pm
SAN
-
SJO
23h 07m
1 stop
$447American Airlines
Sat, Sep 19 - Sat, Sep 26
American Airlines Logo
1:00 pm - 8:18 am
SJO
-
SAN
20h 18m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
1:50 pm - 1:57 pm
SAN
-
SJO
23h 07m
1 stop
$448American Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San José to San Diego flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San José to San Diego to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a round-trip flight from San José to San Diego?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from San José to San Diego departing in August.

Flight prices are typical for this route right now.

Flights to San Diego from San José usually cost between $345 and $461 in August.
The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $435 on Copa Airlines (Aug 24-Aug 31).

What is the cheapest month to fly from San José to San Diego?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San José to San Diego, 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 José to San Diego is January, where tickets cost $308 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $541 and $530 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San José to San Diego?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San José to San Diego, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from San José to San Diego, you should book around 5 weeks before departure, which saves you about 10% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 23 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low season

August

Cheapest flight

$251
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 2% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 3% lower on average.
Flight from San José to San Diego

When to book flights from San José to San Diego

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

  • What is the cheapest flight from San José to San Diego?

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from San José to San Diego was $276 for a one-way ticket and $435 for a round-trip.

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

    Yes

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San José to San Diego?

    On your way to San Diego, you’ll fly out from San José Juan Santamaria Intl. You’ll be landing at San Diego.

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

    We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San José to San Diego?

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

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San José to San Diego, Copa Airlines or United Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San José to San Diego are Copa Airlines and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $364 and an overall rating of 7.6, Copa Airlines is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $454 and an overall rating of 7.4.

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

    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 José to San Diego.

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

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

    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 San Diego with an airline and back to San José with another airline. Booking your flights between San José and SAN 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 José to San Diego?

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

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from San José to San Diego

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San José to San Diego. 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 José to San Diego? 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.
7.6
Copa AirlinesOverall score based on 1564 reviews
6.9Food
7.8Boarding
8.1Crew
6.8Entertainment
7.4Comfort
Airline reviews

stood in line to check in luggage for nearly an hour. very poor service and not excusable

4.0 OkayAnonymous, Jun 2026
PTY - AUS
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

stood in line to check in luggage for nearly an hour. very poor service and not excusable

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.

Do not book it’s a scam! They stole $1200 from me

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

Delayed 2 hours while stuck on the aircraft. If the luggage was properly loaded the first time we probably wouldn’t have been delayed at all

UA594 was delayed multiple times. I ended up getting picked up so I can make it in time for work 6AM on Monday, 7/6/2026

The flight to Houston the agents were not very helpful

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

Horrific. They missed my connecting flight to San Diego. I didn’t get there until Monday at 9am when I had a mandatory court settlement conference scheduled at 6am since we had parties on the east coast. This caused many issues. All because United apparently forgot to hold the doors open until my flight landed that only had a 10 minute delay. This was the last flight to Southern California. So I couldn’t even rent a car to finish the trip. United cannot be trusted when traveling on specific days and times since weather didn’t have anything to do with the delays.

Was a pain having to leave the plane and reboard but glad the plane was fixed

Connecting flights were poor,especially in Naples.our Lufthansa air bus was a joke.way too small for that long of a flight.no room at all.couldn’t even get out of the seats to move around or go to the bathrooms.we thought we were getting an actual air bus,double decker.i will never fly that long in a plane like that again.kind of misleading to call it an air bus.we actually had more room on our buses that we used.

For a 22 minute flight all you expect is for it to be safe and comfortable

Lost connnection had to stayON in Chicago Was a mess

Booked economy through United - air canada treated it as standby and was almost refused boarding.

The seat when "flat" was not flat and pad was too thin to cover it.

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

We are too tired and frustrated to comment politely at this point

My flight was delayed for several hours. Sitting at gate 16 for several hours, I got a text from Kayak the gate changed to 9 before it was announced. Very bad communication at each gate from American Airlines employees. I received 10 notifications of delay from Kayak. My vacation started off horrible! I will write to American Airlines corporate office also.

The service and food needs to improve to catch up with other international flights

The flight crew was fantastic! Which the seats had a small TV.

also wi-fi never worked attendant said satellite coverage is spotty over water ..... but we were over land!

They attended to my needs as I couldn't walk and they provided a wheelchair for me.q

This time my flight was smooth and uneventful. They started boarding even earlier than it was scheduled. I was pleasantly surprised. Thank you!

Boarding was a mess - the agent basically called every group in rapid succession, so there was no organization at all. The economy seats are a joke, and main cabin extra seats were sold out when I purchased my flight. As such, I was locked in the same position for four hours. Being 6’6”, it was impossible to get my bag out from under the seat in front of me, and I couldn’t have used my laptop even if my bag were accessible due to the minuscule seat pitch. Also the wifi was broken. American is a joke - can’t wait until they merge with Spirit.

Everything you need to know for your flight from San José to San Diego

Information on your arrival and departure airports