Des Moines

$316+ Cheap flights from San José (SJO) 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 1/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SJO — DSM
Aug 22 — Aug 291
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Cheap flight deals from San José to Des Moines

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San José (SJO) 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 August 17, 2025.

Round-trip from

$542
(American Airlines)

One-way from

$316
(American Airlines)

Popular in

April

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$567
From San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Des Moines
One-way flight from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Des Moines
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 2% potential increase in price ($13 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($14 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in August 2025

Find flight deals from San José to Des Moines

Cheapest flights from San José to Des Moines
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San José to Des Moines. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on August 17, 2025.

This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/16. 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 12/156:34 amSJO - DSM
1 stop16h 08mAmerican Airlines
Wed 1/75:58 amDSM - SJO
1 stop14h 04mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 8/16$542
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/15. 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 9/87:27 amSJO - DSM
1 stop14h 46mAmerican Airlines
Sat 9/206:12 pmDSM - SJO
1 stop25h 02mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 8/15$563
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/17. 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 9/227:27 amSJO - DSM
1 stop14h 46mAmerican Airlines
Fri 9/265:10 amDSM - SJO
1 stop14h 01mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 8/17$573
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/16. 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.
Sun 9/217:55 amSJO - DSM
2 stops25h 44mUnited Airlines
Fri 9/266:08 amDSM - SJO
1 stop14h 29mUnited Airlines
Deal found 8/16$578
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/16. 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.
Sun 9/217:00 amSJO - DSM
1 stop10h 37mAmerican Airlines
Fri 9/265:10 amDSM - SJO
1 stop14h 01mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 8/16$579

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from San José 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 August 17, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San José to Des Moines that are best for you.

Fly from

San José

Fly to

Des Moines

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San JoséDes Moines

SJO - DSM

SJODSM

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Mon 12/15

6:34 am-4:14 pm

1 stop9h 40m

Des Moines

Wed 1/7

5:58 am-8:02 pm

1 stop14h 04m

$542

San JoséDes Moines

SJO - DSM

SJODSM

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Mon 9/8

7:27 am-11:13 pm

1 stop14h 46m

Des Moines

Sat 9/20

6:12 pm-6:14 pm

1 stop25h 02m

$563

San JoséDes Moines

SJO - DSM

SJODSM

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sun 1/11

8:05 am-10:25 pm

1 stop14h 20m

$316

San JoséDes Moines

SJO - DSM

SJODSM

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sun 1/11

6:30 am-10:20 am

2 stops27h 50m

$321

San JoséDes Moines

SJO - DSM

SJODSM

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sat 1/10

4:09 am-5:33 pm

2 stops13h 24m

$2,208

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 8/16

Best time to book a flight from San José to Des Moines

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

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San José, San José Province to Des Moines?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San José, San José Province to Des Moines (average of $336). Flying from San José, San José Province to Des Moines in June is currently the most expensive (average of $401). 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.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SJO to DSM?

Find hourly flight availability from San José to Des Moines. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated August 17, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from San José, San José Province to Des Moines in the morning. By choosing this option you can save up to 6% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the afternoon.

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 August 17, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown American Airlines from San José to Des Moines. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Crew

8.0

Boarding

7.5

Food

6.5

Entertainment

6.9

Overall

7.2

Comfort

7.2

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Aug 2025

MIA - DCA

Flight delayed 5 hours and was told it was due to mechanical issues. Instead of providing lodging due to missed connecting flight, American changed the cause of delay to weather, which meant they were not able required to provide a hotel. To make matters worse, one of our checked bags was lost even though its status said it was “by the plane” but no one at the service desk seemed able to locate it.

Crew

8.0

Boarding

7.5

Food

6.5

Entertainment

6.9

Overall

7.2

Comfort

7.2

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Aug 2025

MIA - DCA

Flight delayed 5 hours and was told it was due to mechanical issues. Instead of providing lodging due to missed connecting flight, American changed the cause of delay to weather, which meant they were not able required to provide a hotel. To make matters worse, one of our checked bags was lost even though its status said it was “by the plane” but no one at the service desk seemed able to locate it.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San José 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 is the cheapest airline to fly from San José, San José Province to Des Moines round-trip?

    Flying on American Airlines is currently your cheapest option to Des Moines, with prices starting at $504. This flight start at 18% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

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

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

  • How can I find direct flights from San José 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 José to Des Moines.

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San José 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 José, San José Province to Des Moines?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San José, San José Province to Des Moines (average of $336). Flying from San José, San José Province to Des Moines in June is currently the most expensive (average of $401). 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
Ames
Johnston
Boone
West Des Moines
Ankeny

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Alternative routes for San José to Des Moines

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.

Top airline flying from San José to Des Moines

Discover the top airline that operate flights from San José 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 August 17, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
American AirlinesCheapest$504Average$571FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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