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Des Moines

$173+ Cheap flights from Columbus (CMH) to Des Moines (DSM)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 5/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CMH — DSM
Feb 25 — Mar 41
Wed 2/25
Wed 3/4
1 adult, Economy
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Cheap flight deals from Columbus to Des Moines

Cheapest flights from Columbus to Des Moines
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Columbus to Des Moines. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on January 26, 2026.

This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/24. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 2/145:30 am
CMH
-
DSM
1 stop6h 23m
United Airlines
Wed 2/188:00 am
DSM
-
CMH
1 stop4h 15m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/24$327
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/26. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 2/195:30 am
CMH
-
DSM
1 stop6h 04m
American Airlines
Fri 2/207:44 pm
DSM
-
CMH
1 stop12h 47m
American Airlines
Deal found 1/26$336
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/26. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 2/197:05 am
CMH
-
DSM
2 stops8h 22m
United Airlines
Fri 2/203:24 pm
DSM
-
CMH
1 stop4h 10m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/26$361
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/26. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 7/236:25 am
CMH
-
DSM
1 stop3h 54m
Delta
Sun 7/266:20 am
DSM
-
CMH
1 stop4h 00m
Delta
Deal found 1/26$367
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/26. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 2/128:08 pm
CMH
-
DSM
1 stop23h 11m
Frontier
Sun 2/157:27 pm
DSM
-
CMH
1 stop23h 01m
Frontier
Deal found 1/26$381
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/25. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 5/118:50 pm
CMH
-
DSM
1 stop3h 39m
American Airlines
Thu 5/146:00 am
DSM
-
CMH
1 stop5h 25m
American Airlines
Deal found 1/25$391
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/26. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 5/115:45 pm
CMH
-
DSM
1 stop5h 44m
Delta
Thu 5/146:20 am
DSM
-
CMH
1 stop4h 00m
Delta
Deal found 1/26$392
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/25. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 7/235:30 am
CMH
-
DSM
1 stop3h 53m
American Airlines
Sun 7/261:41 pm
DSM
-
CMH
1 stop5h 45m
American Airlines
Deal found 1/25$397

Find flight deals from Columbus to Des Moines

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Columbus (CMH) to Des Moines (DSM). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated January 26, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

Expedia
3 stars

Round-trip from

$327
(United Airlines)

One-way from

$173
(American Airlines)

Popular in

August

Cheapest in

November

Average price

$537
Provider with most accurate pricing for Columbus-Des Moines flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Columbus-Des Moines flights.
Search Deals
From Columbus to Des Moines
Search Deals
One-way flight from Columbus to Des Moines
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 11% potential increase in price ($48 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 4% potential price decrease ($17 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Columbus to Des Moines that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated January 26, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines that are best for you.

Fly from

Columbus

Fly to

Des Moines

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ColumbusDes Moines

CMH - DSM

CMHDSM

Columbus

Sat 2/14

5:30 am-10:53 am

1 stop6h 23m

Des Moines

Wed 2/18

8:00 am-1:15 pm

1 stop4h 15m

$327

ColumbusDes Moines

CMH - DSM

CMHDSM

Columbus

Thu 2/19

5:30 am-10:34 am

1 stop6h 04m

Des Moines

Fri 2/20

7:44 pm-9:31 am

1 stop12h 47m

$336

ColumbusDes Moines

CMH - DSM

CMHDSM

Columbus

Thu 7/23

6:00 am-10:14 am

1 stop5h 14m

Des Moines

Sun 7/26

6:20 am-11:20 am

1 stop4h 00m

$367

ColumbusDes Moines

CMH - DSM

CMHDSM

Columbus

Thu 2/19

7:05 am-2:27 pm

2 stops8h 22m

Des Moines

Fri 2/20

3:24 pm-11:44 pm

2 stops7h 20m

$367

ColumbusDes Moines

CMH - DSM

CMHDSM

Columbus

Thu 2/12

8:08 pm-6:19 pm

1 stop23h 11m

Des Moines

Sun 2/15

7:27 pm-7:28 pm

1 stop23h 01m

$381

ColumbusDes Moines

CMH - DSM

CMHDSM

Columbus

Mon 5/11

8:50 pm-11:29 pm

1 stop3h 39m

Des Moines

Thu 5/14

6:00 am-12:25 pm

1 stop5h 25m

$391

ColumbusDes Moines

CMH - DSM

CMHDSM

Columbus

Mon 5/11

5:45 pm-10:29 pm

1 stop5h 44m

Des Moines

Thu 5/14

6:20 am-11:20 am

1 stop4h 00m

$392

ColumbusDes Moines

CMH - DSM

CMHDSM

Columbus

Thu 7/23

5:30 am-8:23 am

1 stop3h 53m

Des Moines

Sun 7/26

1:41 pm-8:26 pm

1 stop5h 45m

$397

ColumbusDes Moines

CMH - DSM

CMHDSM

Columbus

Mon 5/11

8:50 pm-11:29 pm

1 stop3h 39m

$173

ColumbusDes Moines

CMH - DSM

CMHDSM

Columbus

Fri 2/13

5:30 am-10:53 am

1 stop6h 23m

$224

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/25

Showing 1-10 of 14 results
1
2

Compare providers for flights from Columbus to Des Moines

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Columbus to Des Moines in January.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star
PricelinePrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Columbus Airport-Des Moines flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Columbus Airport-Des Moines flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Columbus Airport-Des Moines flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Columbus Airport-Des Moines flights, Cheapflights users trust Expedia the most. Expedia has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Columbus Airport-Des Moines flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from Columbus to Des Moines

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Des Moines from Columbus with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines (average of $143). Flying from Columbus Airport to Des Moines in January is currently the most expensive (average of $467). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

Reviews of airlines servicing Des Moines

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Des Moines. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Des Moines. Reviews last updated January 26, 2026.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from Columbus Airport to Des Moines, such as Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,268 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,268 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,268 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
Delta
7.9
Good
8,111 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,268 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,199 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,268 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,189 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,268 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Thomas,Dec 2025

SEA - DEN

Plane two hours late in leaving 1:00 pm west coat time got home next day at 2:45am most car rental places are closed and don’t open till 5am

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Columbus to Des Moines. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airport do you fly into for flights to Des Moines from Columbus?

    Des Moines (DSM), located 3.6 mi from the city center, is the airport you fly into when you book flights from Columbus to Des Moines. 4 airlines have flights to Des Moines from Columbus on a regular basis. Booking flights from Columbus to Des Moines should not be difficult; the airport handles an average of 0 inbound flights from Columbus per day.

  • How long is the flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

    Departing from Columbus Airport to Des Moines will take you 5h 14m. The distance from Columbus Airport to Des Moines is about 573 mi. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Columbus Airport to Des Moines round-trip?

    Our cheapest airline available from Columbus Airport to Des Moines is Delta. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $143 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are American Airlines and United Airlines, starting at $228 and $243 round-trip. Users have found that Delta is 62% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Columbus Airport to Des Moines one-way?

    The cheapest airlines for a one-way flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines are American Airlines ($118), Delta ($121), and United Airlines ($163).

  • Can I find deals for flights from Columbus to Des Moines that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Columbus to Des Moines flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Columbus to Des Moines?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Columbus to Des Moines.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Columbus to Des Moines?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Columbus to Des Moines by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines?

    Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Columbus Airport to Des Moines (average of $143). Flying from Columbus Airport to Des Moines in January is currently the most expensive (average of $467). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near Des Moines?

Book flights to Des Moines if you plan to visit one of these locations
Altoona
Johnston
Boone
Ames
Clive
West Des Moines
Ankeny

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Alternative routes for Columbus to Des Moines

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
Columbus to Cedar Rapids flights
Columbus to Omaha flights

Top 4 airlines flying from Columbus to Des Moines

Discover the top 4 airlines that operate flights from Columbus to Des Moines. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated January 26, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
DeltaCheapest$143Average$331FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$228Average$347FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$243Average$363FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$286Average$395FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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