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Des Moines

$94+ Cheap flights from San Diego to Des Moines (SAN - 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 3/15. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SAN — DSM
Feb 20 — Feb 271
Fri 2/20
Fri 2/27
1 adult, Economy
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Find cheap flights from San Diego to Des Moines with Cheapflights

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Diego to Des Moines are usually found in November or July, booked 84 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Tuesday and return on a Monday

Cheap flight deals from San Diego to Des Moines

Cheapest flights from San Diego to Des Moines
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Diego to Des Moines. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on January 21, 2026.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/20. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 3/118:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop8h 51m
Frontier
Wed 3/258:21 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop26h 12m
Frontier
Deal found 1/20$142
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 3/69:00 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop8h 16m
Frontier
Mon 3/168:21 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop26h 53m
Frontier
Deal found 1/21$158
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 2/136:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop9h 54m
Frontier
Mon 2/167:17 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop6h 51m
Frontier
Deal found 1/21$181
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/19. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 2/156:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop10h 07m
Frontier
Sun 2/227:45 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop17h 00m
Frontier
Deal found 1/19$193
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 3/56:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop10h 17m
Frontier
Mon 3/168:21 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop26h 53m
Frontier
Deal found 1/21$200
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 3/26:25 am
SAN
-
DSM
1 stop10h 07m
Frontier
Mon 3/168:21 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop26h 53m
Frontier
Deal found 1/21$204
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 3/48:45 am
SAN
-
DSM
2 stops25h 36m
Multiple Airlines
Mon 3/168:21 pm
DSM
-
SAN
1 stop26h 53m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 1/21$217

Find flight deals from San Diego to Des Moines

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San Diego (SAN) 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 21, 2026.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$142
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$94
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

November

Average price

$336
Provider with most accurate pricing for San Diego-Des Moines flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for San Diego-Des Moines flights.
Search Deals
From San Diego to Des Moines
Search Deals
One-way flight from San Diego to Des Moines
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 16% potential increase in price ($72 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($15 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 San Diego 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 21, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Diego to Des Moines that are best for you.

Fly from

San Diego

Fly to

Des Moines

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Wed 3/11

6:25 am-7:16 pm

1 stop10h 51m

Des Moines

Wed 3/25

8:21 pm-9:07 pm

2 stops26h 46m

$156

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Sun 2/15

6:25 am-6:32 pm

1 stop10h 07m

Des Moines

Sun 2/22

7:45 pm-11:52 pm

2 stops30h 07m

$225

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Wed 2/4

7:00 am-3:40 pm

2 stops30h 40m

Des Moines

Sun 2/8

4:30 pm-1:57 pm

1 stop23h 27m

$261

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Sat 2/14

8:35 am-6:19 pm

1 stop7h 44m

Des Moines

Mon 2/16

7:17 pm-9:41 pm

1 stop28h 24m

$290

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Wed 3/11

11:03 am-8:27 pm

2 stops7h 24m

Des Moines

Wed 3/25

1:30 pm-7:48 pm

2 stops8h 18m

$312

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Mon 3/30

10:10 pm-9:46 am

1 stop9h 36m

Des Moines

Tue 4/7

6:55 am-11:08 am

1 stop6h 13m

$339

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Wed 2/18

9:00 am-11:43 pm

1 stop12h 43m

Des Moines

Wed 2/25

9:04 am-6:48 pm

2 stops11h 44m

$355

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Mon 3/16

9:00 am-7:16 pm

1 stop8h 16m

$94

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Sun 3/15

9:18 pm-7:16 pm

1 stop19h 58m

$94

San DiegoDes Moines

SAN - DSM

SANDSM

San Diego

Sun 2/15

9:09 am-6:32 pm

1 stop7h 23m

$117

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/21

Showing 1-10 of 18 results
1
2

Compare providers for flights from San Diego 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 San Diego to Des Moines in January.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust 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 San Diego-Des Moines flights, users find the pricing of eDreams to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. eDreams Users can find the same prices on San Diego-Des Moines flight deals on Cheapflights vs. eDreams >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from San Diego-Des Moines flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on San Diego-Des Moines flights, Cheapflights users trust eDreams the most. eDreams 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 San Diego-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 San Diego to Des Moines

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Des Moines from San Diego 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 San Diego to Des Moines

How far ahead should I book a flight from San Diego to Des Moines?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from San Diego to Des Moines. Price data was last updated on January 16, 2026.

Booking 80 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from San Diego to Des Moines. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San Diego to Des Moines?

Currently, July is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Diego to Des Moines (average of $75). Flying from San Diego to Des Moines in August is currently the most expensive (average of $172). 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 21, 2026.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from San Diego to Des Moines to help guide your decision. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
Delta
7.9
Good
8,089 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,191 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,174 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
Frontier
5.7
Fair
3,057 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,266 reviews

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.

Related info for your journey

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

  • How long is the flight from San Diego to Des Moines?

    Frontier can get you from San Diego to Des Moines in just under 10h 51m. Your travel time can differ by up to . The distance from San Diego to Des Moines is about 1425 mi.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from San Diego to Des Moines round-trip?

    Our cheapest airline available from San Diego to Des Moines is Allegiant Air. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $75 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Delta and Frontier, starting at $148 and $162 round-trip. These flights start at 80% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from San Diego to Des Moines one-way?

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with Frontier, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $55. Allegiant Air flights start at $73 while deals on American Airlines start at $143 one-way.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Diego 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 San Diego to Des Moines?

    Currently, July is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Diego to Des Moines (average of $75). Flying from San Diego to Des Moines in August is currently the most expensive (average of $172). 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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Top 6 airlines flying from San Diego to Des Moines

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from San Diego 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 21, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Allegiant AirCheapest$75Average$170FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
DeltaCheapest$148Average$324FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
FrontierCheapest$162Average$253FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
SouthwestCheapest$247Average$436FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$286Average$396FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$286Average$416FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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