SJO - WAS

$139 Find Cheap Flights from San José to Washington, D.C.

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 Washington, D.C. departing on 3/25. 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 Washington, D.C.

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San José to Washington, D.C..
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San José to Washington, D.C..
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$221
Typical prices: $274-$480
Avianca
Wed 3/4Tue 3/17
SJO - IAD • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$279
Typical prices: $345-$972
Avianca
Thu 3/5Tue 3/10
SJO - IAD • Non-stop
Our travelers' advice
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
Avianca's Classic fare includes a checked bag and seat.
United's Economy Plus offers extra legroom for comfort.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Avianca
Cheapest • from $221 (round-trip)
Copa Airlines
Best reviews • 7.5 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
SJO
-
IAD
Cheapest • 31% average savings
SJO
-
IAD
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
October
Cheapest • 11% price drop
December
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Nonstop flights
2 days a week
There are direct flights from San José to Washington, D.C. 2 days a week: Sat, Sun.
Direct flights
Direct flights
Direct flights
Direct flights
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Washington, D.C.!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San José to Washington, D.C. (SJO-WAS)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San José to Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C.

Wed, Mar 4 - Tue, Mar 17
Avianca Logo
7:50 pm - 3:10 am
SJO
-
IAD
6h 20m
1 stop
Avianca Logo
2:30 am - 7:45 am
IAD
-
SJO
7h 15m
1 stop
$221Avianca
Tue, Mar 17 - Mon, Mar 23
Avianca Logo
3:05 pm - 2:40 am
SJO
-
IAD
9h 35m
1 stop
Avianca Logo
2:30 am - 7:45 am
IAD
-
SJO
7h 15m
1 stop
$222Avianca
Wed, Mar 4 - Wed, Jun 3
Avianca Logo
4:30 pm - 1:40 am
SJO
-
IAD
8h 10m
1 stop
Avianca Logo
4:10 am - 11:30 am
IAD
-
SJO
9h 20m
1 stop
$223Avianca
Wed, Mar 4 - Tue, Mar 17
Volaris El Salvador Logo
2:42 pm - 11:27 am
SJO
-
IAD
19h 45m
1 stop
Volaris El Salvador Logo
2:35 am - 2:03 pm
IAD
-
SJO
13h 28m
1 stop
$230Volaris El Salvador
Mon, Mar 16 - Mon, Mar 23
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:17 pm - 12:45 am
SJO
-
IAD
6h 28m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:35 am - 8:25 pm
IAD
-
SJO
19h 50m
1 stop
$235Multiple Airlines
Thu, May 21 - Wed, May 27
United Airlines Logo
7:55 am - 11:59 pm
SJO
-
DCA
14h 04m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
2:55 pm - 10:39 pm
DCA
-
SJO
9h 44m
1 stop
$246United Airlines
Thu, Mar 5 - Wed, Mar 18
American Airlines Logo
1:46 pm - 11:58 pm
SJO
-
BWI
9h 12m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 7:33 pm
BWI
-
SJO
16h 33m
2 stops
$252American Airlines
Thu, Mar 5 - Wed, Mar 18
American Airlines Logo
1:46 pm - 11:58 pm
SJO
-
BWI
9h 12m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 7:33 pm
BWI
-
SJO
16h 33m
2 stops
$253American Airlines
Fri, Mar 6 - Tue, Mar 10
United Airlines Logo
2:05 pm - 11:59 pm
SJO
-
DCA
8h 54m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 11:42 am
DCA
-
SJO
7h 42m
1 stop
$259United Airlines
Thu, Apr 30 - Wed, May 13
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:55 am - 10:15 pm
SJO
-
DCA
12h 20m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:05 am - 7:37 pm
DCA
-
SJO
10h 32m
1 stop
$272Multiple Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San José to Washington, D.C. flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San José to Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C.?

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 Washington, D.C. departing in March.

What is the cheapest San José to Washington, D.C. flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest return flight from San José to Washington, D.C. costs $308 on the route between San José (SJO) and Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport (IAD). Over the past month, this route was, on average, 31% cheaper than other San José-Washington, D.C. routes. It is also the most popular route.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from San José to Washington, D.C.?

The average price of all round-trip flights from San José to Washington, D.C. clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If you are looking for a flight deal from San José to Washington, D.C., look for departures on Fridays and avoid leaving on a Sunday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from Washington, D.C., Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly and Saturday is the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San José to Washington, D.C.?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San José to Washington, D.C., 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 Washington, D.C. is October, where tickets cost $250 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are April and March, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $321 and $317 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from San José to Washington, D.C.?

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 $255, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San José to Washington, D.C.?

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 Washington, D.C., 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 Washington, D.C., you should book around 1 week before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 19 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from San José to Washington, D.C.

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines and IAD

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Expert on Avianca and SJO

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer and public speaker with more than 30 years of experience. The 2019 winner of the NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award, Mark is the author of the book “Prepare for Departure” and has covered air travel for multiple top consumer and trade media outlets.

Good to know

Low seasonAugust
Cheapest flight$139
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 3% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 3% increase in price.
Flight from San José to Washington Dulles Airport

When to book flights from San José to Washington, D.C.

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San José to Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San José to Washington, D.C.?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San José to Washington, D.C. was $139 for a one-way ticket and $221 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between San José and Washington, D.C.?

    A passport is required to fly from San José to Washington, D.C..

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San José to Washington, D.C.?

    On your way to Washington, D.C., you’ll fly out from San José Juan Santamaria Intl. You’ll be landing in one of Washington, D.C.’s 2 airports: Washington, D.C. Reagan-National or Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from San José to Washington, D.C.?

    Iberia, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and American Airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the San José to Washington, D.C. flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from San José to Washington, D.C.?

    The Airbus A320neo is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San José to Washington, D.C. flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San José to Washington, D.C.?

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

  • On which days can I fly direct from San José to Washington, D.C.?

    You can catch a nonstop flight from San José to Washington, D.C. on on Saturday, and Sunday.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San José to Washington, D.C., Delta or Copa Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San José to Washington, D.C. are Delta and Copa Airlines. With an average price for the route of $234 and an overall rating of 7.9, Delta is the most popular choice. Copa Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $317 and an overall rating of 7.5.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San José to Washington, D.C.?

    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 Washington, D.C..

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C.?

    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 Washington, D.C. with an airline and back to San José with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from San José to Washington, D.C.?

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

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from San José to Washington, D.C.

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $280 or less one-way.

Prefer to fly direct from San José to Washington, D.C.?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Washington, D.C..
Find which airlines fly direct from San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport to Washington, D.C., which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Washington, D.C.

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Washington, D.C. to San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San José to Washington, D.C.

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San José to Washington, D.C.. 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 Washington, D.C.? 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.
7.5
Copa AirlinesOverall score based on 1556 reviews
8.1Crew
7.4Comfort
6.8Entertainment
7.8Boarding
6.8Food
Airline reviews

A lot things happened in this trip.The fly should be less stress.

6.0 GoodIrma, Jan 2026
PTY - MIA
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

A lot things happened in this trip.The fly should be less stress.

The flight was good overall. Everything went smoothly, although the landing was a bit rough. Still, it was a pleasant experience

I always enjoy flying Copa. There are very few airlines where I can enjoy a comfortable sleep in-flight. The snacks weren't the best, but they sufficed. The in-flight entertainment was fantastic, and I crossed another movie off my watch list.

Very strict carry on rules meant most of the plane had to gate check their luggage. As is often the case had things that were broken because of this, but I appreciated not being charged to gate check. Otherwise good flight and great crew once on the plane

Some of the Air hostesses are not that friendly. Need improvement

Simply as follows:- First, there was no vegetarian option for the meal Second, only 2 washrooms for the entire economy class.

I liked the meatloaf the chicken was awful but the plane was on time and got there and the staff was nice.

We had a great flight just wished they had a tv so we can see a movie that would of made my trip excellent.

horrible service, food was an embarrassment, no charging for cellphones, stay away

Great experience with a crew always thinking in the passenger

This airline always trick us so we end up paying again for the luggage’s. This airline is worthless and take advantage of travelers .

Now days most airlines flying to Central America have a really poor service, but if you buy first class they will treat you better. I miss those days when flying was fun.

Friendly staff at all very easy check in and organize process

Horrible airline, upgraded to sit on seats made of stone. Staff were rude and on top of it they charge an arm and a leg for luggage 🧳 never again

The seats are the worst I upgraded to premium big mistake and it seems like no one likes there job very unpleasant

they don’t have TV Seat to Type in space

Crew was great. 2 1/2 hour delay was due to staff needing "rest" was avoidable and self inflicted as United not willing to hire enough crew to keep flight on time.. Ridiculous. The crew and the passengers both suffered due to this.

Fine not above and beyond as I had a connection that was delayed due to maintenance

Bad food, bad service, cold cabin with no additional blankets when asked for (they told me they don’t provide additional blankets). I’m a frequent traveler and this is one of the worst companies I traveled with (by the way I thought that I booked my ticket with Lufthansa but I didn’t see that the flights were handled by United).

Great other than a couple very drunk guys that for a while kept bumping my seat from behind. The staff did their best to control them. Even refused serving them alcohol and allowed the gal sitting next to them to move.

Good crew. Boarding delays. Almost two hours wait for the bags in DC.

Unfortunately weather delayed our flight waiting for our plane to arrive and due to a little snow time was needed to deice the plane so departure was very delayed and I missed the connecting flight

It was great. There were some issues prior to takeoff. The weather was poor so we had to go through deicing, and we were delayed a bit by the pilots' concern about one of the engines, but that's aviation. The pilots handled everything with aplomb, and kept us apprised

The seats were comfortable and we had leg room. Great entertainment.

The flight crew where really good. Better then the crew from BNE to SFO

Safe made to destination. Late to start at GVA for icy reasons but we fought our next fly.

The flight was on time/early, attentive crew, and everything overall went smoothly. Disappointed that WIFI was not working for the flight.

Concern Regarding Significant Gate Delay and Jet Bridge Issue Dear Customer Relations Team, I am writing to express my disappointment with the experience I had on my recent flight AA 2414 on Sunday January 18, 2026. What should have been a routine departure turned into a frustrating and avoidable delay due to an issue with the jet bridge at the gate. As a result, the flight was delayed by approximately 90 minutes while multiple gate changes were attempted. The lack of clear communication during this period made the situation even more challenging. Passengers were left uncertain about the cause of the delay, the expected timeline, and the next steps. This not only disrupted travel plans but also created unnecessary stress for everyone on board. I understand that operational issues can arise, but a malfunctioning jet bridge and the resulting extended delay suggest an area where procedures or equipment maintenance may need attention. I hope you will review this incident to prevent similar disruptions in the future. I would appreciate acknowledgment of this concern and consideration of appropriate compensation for the inconvenience and lost time caused by this delay. Thank you for taking the time to review my experience. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Dion Dillard

I got sick nothing contagious but distressing enough and the care I received on the flight was astounding.

Horrible. Both legs of my flight were delayed more than 6 hours. No compensation, no screens on the plane, and the plane was not clean.

After we'd boarded , they canceled the flight. The crew didn't even know , we just all received text messages. Then after they deplaned us , AA was just like "too bad, go F your self, we sure ain't gonna help you"

Initial flight was cancelled at the time of arrival to the airport, flight alternative requires switching from direct to flight with a layover, and the plane felt like it would split apart, it was so rattle-y.

Weather delay for 2.5 hours followed by half hour crew delay, did not have ginger ale, uncomfortable seats

It was nobody’s fault - but the plane came 4-hrs late and we were updated randomly in 20-30 mins increments which left us hostage to sit and wait expectantly. It was very long and got very late. Our plane didn’t land until nearly 1 am! Also the toilet wasn’t working. The hosts were nice enough but were clearly “about to pass out” as one told me. Lastly, there was no snack or even time for it. Just a bad experience overall.

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.

The boarding crew was incredibly helpful getting me on an earlier flight

Horrible experience with Avianca, they delayed their flight and when we arrived to NYC, AVIANCA took 1 hr y 30 mins to park the airplane and all passenger get off the plane, it made me lost all my trains to get back home and I came back to my place at 3 am instead of 12 am. On the top of that their plane seat are so uncomfortable and is not enough space and killed my legs and knees, Avianca used to be good when it was a Colombian company, now after Brasilian company bought them, their service quality is bad and their flights are delayed and oversold.

Boarding was late due to the company’s that cleaned the aircraft (very poorly done) and the catering company. The entertainment system was not working for this six hour flight, uncomfortable seats in business (barely any cushion or recline). The airline staff is very good but the planes are horrible and not well maintained.

We waited for one hour to deboard the plane after landing. That could be better

I handed in my suitcase in perfect condition at SAL Airport. And in MIA Airport I received it with one corner broken and the wheels bent.

I like the crew members they're very friendly. Clean plane. The flight was on time. I dont like the comfort my car seat its better that the plane seats. They charge for everything. This airline was very good. Now it's a low cost airline

I like the crew they're very friendly. I don't like. on five hour flight they not offered snacks. Any drink. Not even coffee

6 hour flight and have to pay for everything 100 dollars to add a carry-on bag is insane

Horrible experience. Flight cancelled. Arrived at destination 12 hs later. No one gave us an answer or any information. Very very poor service. We won’t ever travel again with Avianca

Usb plugs for charging your phone does not work in every flight. uncomfortable chairs even in higher categories.

The seats were uncomfortable and barely reclined at all. Very little leg room despite being business class. The crew was friendly and the food was good. Had to use my own phone for in-flight entertainment.

Everything you need to know for your flight from San José to Washington, D.C.

Information on your arrival and departure airports