IAD - SJO

$115 Find Cheap Flights from Washington Dulles Airport to San José

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Dulles Intl to San José departing on 10/12. 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

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San José

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

Cheap Flights from Dulles Intl to San José (IAD-SJO)

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

Thu, Sep 25 - Sat, Oct 4
Avianca Logo
5:45 am - 11:15 amIAD-SJO
7h 30m1 stop
Avianca Logo
7:45 pm - 4:20 amSJO-IAD
6h 35m1 stop
$259Avianca
Find Deal
Fri, Oct 31 - Mon, Nov 3
United Airlines Logo
10:10 pm - 10:25 amIAD-SJO
14h 15m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
12:35 pm - 10:12 pmSJO-IAD
8h 37m1 stop
$260United Airlines
Find Deal
Sun, Mar 8 - Thu, Mar 12
Avianca Logo
5:30 am - 1:40 pmIAD-SJO
10h 10m1 stop
Avianca Logo
3:05 pm - 4:10 amSJO-IAD
11h 05m1 stop
$261Avianca
Find Deal
Fri, Jan 23 - Sat, Jan 31
 Logo
1:23 am - 8:19 pmIAD-SJO
19h 56m1 stop
 Logo
5:10 pm - 10:35 pmSJO-IAD
4h 25mnonstop
Thu, Sep 25 - Wed, Feb 4
Avianca Logo
5:05 pm - 11:35 pmIAD-SJO
8h 30m1 stop
Avianca Logo
4:30 pm - 1:40 amSJO-IAD
8h 10m1 stop
$263Avianca
Find Deal
Fri, Oct 17 - Sat, Oct 25
Copa Airlines Logo
4:41 pm - 8:19 amIAD-SJO
17h 38m1 stop
Copa Airlines Logo
10:58 am - 12:30 amSJO-IAD
11h 32m1 stop
$266Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Oct 9 - Mon, Oct 13
Copa Airlines Logo
4:41 pm - 4:52 pmIAD-SJO
26h 11m3 stops
Copa Airlines Logo
5:55 pm - 4:20 amSJO-IAD
8h 25m1 stop
$271Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Sat, Jan 24 - Sat, Jan 31
American Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 9:30 pmIAD-SJO
17h 30m2 stops
American Airlines Logo
6:29 am - 4:07 pmSJO-IAD
8h 38m1 stop
$286American Airlines
Find Deal
Sat, Jan 24 - Sat, Jan 31
American Airlines Logo
5:15 pm - 2:14 pmIAD-SJO
21h 59m1 stop
American Airlines Logo
6:29 am - 4:07 pmSJO-IAD
8h 38m1 stop
$289American Airlines
Find Deal
Sun, Jan 11 - Sun, Jan 18
Volaris El Salvador Logo
1:07 pm - 6:44 amIAD-SJO
18h 37m1 stop
Volaris El Salvador Logo
4:17 pm - 11:27 amSJO-IAD
18h 10m1 stop
$296Volaris El Salvador
Find Deal

Everything you should know

Our travelers' advice
AI-generated summary based on content written by travel experts
Avianca's Classic fare includes a free checked bag.
United's Wi-Fi offers free messaging on flights.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Avianca
Cheapest • from $259 (round-trip)
Copa Airlines
Best reviews • 7.6 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
3 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 18% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
September
Cheapest • 23% price drop
December
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Nonstop flights
1 day a week
There are direct flights from Dulles Intl to San José 1 day a week: Sat.
Direct flights
Direct flights
Direct flights
Direct flights
Cheapest round-trip
$259
Overall average: $306
Avianca
Thu 9/25Sat 10/4
IAD - SJO • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$261
Typical prices: $291-596
Avianca
Tue 12/30Tue 1/13
IAD - SJO • Non-stop
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 San José!
Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Dulles Intl to San José

 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of KAYAK-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airlines
Avianca

Avianca's Classic fare includes a carry-on, personal item, and free checked bag.


Avianca's LifeMiles program offers attractive redemption rates, often better than other Star Alliance partners.

United Airlines

United's Economy Plus offers up to six inches more legroom than standard economy seats.


United's Wi-Fi offers free messaging; T-Mobile customers get free streaming Wi-Fi on flights.

Airports
IAD

Dulles offers the AeroTrain and mobile lounges for quick terminal transfers. Check the airport map to plan your route efficiently.

Read more about IADby Stefanie Waldek
SJO

Arrange ground transportation in advance for a smoother exit from SJO. Hotels often provide helpful information and may offer transport services.

Read more about SJOby Mark Chesnut
Our travel experts
Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Expert on Avianca and SJO

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

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.

Read more
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines and IAD

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

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.

Read more
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Dulles Intl to San José flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Dulles Intl to San José 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 Washington Dulles Airport to San José?

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

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

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San José, 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San José is September, where tickets cost $306 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and April, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $611 and $523 respectively.

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

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 $343, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San José, 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San José, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 18% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 3 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonOctober
Cheapest flight$115
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 12% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 54% increase in price.
Flight from Washington Dulles Airport to San José

When to book flights from Dulles Intl to San José

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Dulles Intl to San José 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 Washington Dulles Airport to San José flights

  • Which other nearby cities are served by the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)?

    Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) primarily serves the capital city of Costa Rica, San José. However, it is also the main international gateway for travelers visiting various other cities and destinations within Costa Rica. They include Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, and Jaco.

  • What are the most popular connecting routes between Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)?

    Many travelers between Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) connect through major US hubs such as Miami (MIA) or Dallas (DFW). These hubs offer multiple daily flights to SJO, providing convenient options for connecting passengers. Some connect through other Central American cities, such as Panama (PTY) or San Salvador (SAL).

  • What are the most eco-friendly airlines offering flights from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Juan Santamaría International (SJO)?

    Consider Delta, American Airlines, or Copa Airlines if you want to travel sustainably from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Juan Santamaría International (SJO). Delta has taken steps to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. They've invested in modernizing their fleet, including more fuel-efficient aircraft. They also have a carbon offset program and initiatives to minimize waste.

  • Do airlines offer family services on trips between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Juan Santamaría International (SJO)?

    American Airlines, Copa Airlines, and Avianca are parents’ favorites between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). They offer in-flight entertainment options that often include a selection of family-friendly movies, TV shows, and games to keep children entertained during the journey.

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

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San José was $115 for a one-way ticket and $259 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Washington Dulles Airport and San José?

    Yes, you'll most likely have to show a valid passport before boarding the plane in Washington Dulles Airport and on arrival in San José.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Washington Dulles Airport to San José?

    Washington Dulles Airport and San José are both served by 1 main airport. You will leave Washington Dulles Airport from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl and will be arriving at San José Juan Santamaria Intl.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Washington Dulles Airport to San José?

    Delta, and JetBlue offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Washington Dulles Airport to San José flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Washington Dulles Airport to San José?

    The Airbus A320neo is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Washington Dulles Airport to San José flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Washington Dulles Airport to San José?

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

  • What is the most popular layover when flying to San José from Washington Dulles Airport?

    Panama City is the most popular layover city among KAYAK users traveling from Washington Dulles Airport to San José.

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Washington, D.C. to San José are Delta and Copa Airlines. With an average price for the route of $483 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 $395 and an overall rating of 7.6.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Washington Dulles Airport to San José?

    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 Washington Dulles Airport to San José.

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

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

    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 José with an airline and back to Washington Dulles Airport with another airline. Booking your flights between Washington Dulles Airport and SJO 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 Washington Dulles Airport to San José?

    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 José from Washington Dulles Airport 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 Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport to San José

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $162 or less one-way and $327 or less round-trip.
  • United Airlines is the primary carrier that operates the most flights from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). United Airlines has a major hub at IAD, and it offers a wide range of domestic and international flights from this airport, including to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). Choosing this carrier lets you enjoy accelerated services and excellent amenities at IAD.
  • Several airlines that operate flights between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica, offer seat upgrades. These airlines might include major carriers like United Airlines and American Airlines, which allow passengers to move from the economy to business or first class cabins.
  • Major airlines operating between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), such as United Airlines and American Airlines, have put policies and services in place to assist passengers with disabilities. These services include wheelchair assistance, priority boarding, and special seating.
  • Although Ronald Reagan Airport (DCA) and Baltimore Airport (BWI) serve Washington, D.C., Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is a major gateway for international travel. It offers a wider range of international flights and connections to various destinations around the world compared to BWI and DCA. Still, the facility is known for its spacious terminals and modern facilities, providing a comfortable travel experience for passengers.
  • Passengers traveling in business and first class between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) experience more spacious and comfortable seating arrangements, with more legroom and wider seats that often recline fully into lie-flat beds. In addition, passengers will enjoy gourmet dining options tailored to their preferences. Meals may be served on demand, and some airlines offer the opportunity to pre-select your meal before the flight.

Prefer to fly direct from Washington Dulles Airport to San José?

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

Direct departures

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

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

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

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Dulles Intl to San José

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Washington, D.C. to San José. 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 Dulles Intl to San José? 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 1531 reviews
7.4Comfort
8.1Crew
6.8Food
6.8Entertainment
7.8Boarding
Airline reviews

As always, Copa Airlines is great to fly on. The flights are always on time, the staff are pleasant and helpful and it's always a wonderful flying experience.

10.0 ExcellentNeil, Aug 2025PTY - BGI
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

As always, Copa Airlines is great to fly on. The flights are always on time, the staff are pleasant and helpful and it's always a wonderful flying experience.

Cops Airlines is fantastic! The level of care and professionalism provided by the entire crew was top rate.

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

The flighr attandants were very rude they ignored me didnt offer me anything to drink throughoit the 4 hour flight i feel i was targeted and ignored because i was a darkskin latino man.

Very happy with my flight. I would definitely recommend it.

Did upgrade, travel in business it was great (more room I could sleep)

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.

It was ok. However, the food was quite poor since I don't eat pasta.

Enforce the boarding process by group numbers. Tell people to stay seated during the meal/drink distribution. It took forever to get food and drinks because people would not stay out the isle and let the crew do their jobs. Everyone wanted to go to the bathroom forcing the crew to enter and leave the isle constantly so people can pass. Tell people to keep their electronics off speaker mode. No one wants to hear phone conversations and music playing.

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

Great service on board. Boarding a bit slow due to process. Food was pretty average.

Very small cramped plane for an international flight. Everything else was good, but it was maybe the smallest comfort-wise I've ever been on for longer than 3-4 hours and the trip was 7.5

Flight was delayed 3 hours. No food and drink vouchers was provided. They offered a mini pretzel bag and water .

Staff was rude. Didn’t give water for 2 hours. Worst service

Was on time until within 1 hour of flight-how does that happen? Staff very friendly.

I liked the choice of lemon ginger tea. I think stewardesses can be more considerate of older people needs.

We were given vouchers we couldn’t use with a 5.5 hour delay

I fly UAL 7-8 times per year. This flight was not up to snuff because it boarded very late "due to unexpected delays in restocking the plane" and yet Flight Aware showed the plane had landed some 10 hours earlier--so I think they could have planned accordingly. The FA's were nice but harried. The video system had to be rebooted 3-4 times. The food service was rather abrupt; they forgot my row and when I asked for my meal, they brought it with some impatience. Overall, the flight was fine, but the little details made it feel somewhat mundane and hurried.

I didn’t get on plane. Passport being processed by consulate with visa application. Tried to cancel through underpricer after purchasing cacelling for any reason. No dice, they are thieves.

When I booked it on Kayak it aaid that I wasn't allowed hamd luggage. I called United Airlines and it took them 6 minutes to figure out if I was allowed free hand luggage. Surely something that simple they should be able to tell me instantly.

Given it’s a red-eye into Charolotte, we didn’t get any food. The survey does not include “N/A” so the rating will be skewed.

Great. Quick and quiet and east. The breakfast choices were a welcome surprise!

American airlines suck they delay the flights all the time made me sleep in an airport because my flight was delayed and I miss my connecting flight

There's nothing I liked about it. For first off I scheduled this trip two weeks in advance then they delayed my flight which messed up my whole trip. So I scheduled it for the following weekend thinking there won't be a delay and guess what as soon as I got to the airport we said in the airplane on the tarmac for an hour and a half. Not only was it delayed I missed my connecting flight meaning I had to stay the night at Dallas-Fort Worth airport sleeping on the floor. I will tell you this I will never fly American airlines ever again I have had nothing but horrible experience with them and I just throw money at them

The stewardess hit me with the food kart twice on the head and didn't say I'm sorry once. The same stewardess gave me a warm Apple Juice with No ice. The Flight was delayed for Departure 6 times, starting from 2:36pm, finally taking off 7:50pm. I was late picking up my child from the sitter by 3 hours.

It took way too long to diagnose and solve the problem of a broken crew member cabin seat. Though compensation for the volunteer who left the flight was very kind.

We fly American Airlines quite a bit. And we always fly business class when traveling internationally. We were a bit disappointed with the comfort of this particular plane as well as the entertainment options.

The AA staff person who checked our bags was curt and almost rude. The FA also seemed unhappy doing her job. Overall it was like riding the school bus back in grade school.

They are still charging me after taking 466 and 833 for round trip from AR to to Bradley airport from 19 to 21. Then poor experience. Am hurt and I will say it on social media. Please stay away from this airline. I see in my bank account they are still taking 644. Am trying to stop it. I used to fly United airlines and I suggest that if you don't want extra charges and good service you go back there. American airlines delayed my flight again and I was late for my meeting, no recompensation but charging me over and over.

They changed our Gate 5 times, and concourse twice. Changed our seats twice.

Boarding, crew were excellent, food was ok and entertainment need to improve

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.

Not what it used to be. The sale of food makes them look greedy!

Boarding was excessively slow. They do it by groups in a way that it doesn’t make sense. After business class , ppl that need assistance and any other priority group they should have ppl board from the back to the front. First rows 20+. Then 15+. Then 10, etc. having ppl sitting in the back board last makes no sense. The libe backame long as soon as ppl on rows 10 or so where told to board. The line went all the way up the ramp and tunnel for 25 mins.

Seats are very tight even in Plus, no complimentary snacks or beverage

The chicken that was served in business class was cold!

I receive a service for what I pay, so it is fair.

Terrible, We had to stay in Bogota for two days due to weather but the airline did not provide for the same day flight. Only two days later

There isn't much space in-between seats and even water needs to be paid for during the flight.

We did not know about the bag fees until check in. They are way too high. It’s insane. We also had a huge delay and everything costed extra which was very annoying.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Dulles Intl to San José

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