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$96+ Cheap flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles (DSM - LAX)

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 10/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — LAX
Aug 3 — Aug 101
Sun 8/3
Sun 8/10
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to Los Angeles are usually found in August or May, booked 89 days in advance, depart on a Friday or Monday and return on a Tuesday

Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to Los Angeles

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX). 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 July 29, 2025.

Round-trip from

$207
(Trip.com)

One-way from

$96
(Trip.com)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$349

Good round-trip deal

$358 or less

Good one-way deal

$233 or less
From Des Moines to Los Angeles
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One-way flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 8% potential increase in price ($35 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($7 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in July 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles.
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles.
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Find flight deals from Des Moines to Los Angeles

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to Los Angeles. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on July 29, 2025.

This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/28. 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 10/22:25 pmDSM - LAX
1 stop12h 02mFrontier
Sat 10/42:31 pmLAX - DSM
1 stop21h 09mFrontier
Deal found 7/28$207
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/28. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 10/271:43 pmDSM - LAX
1 stop9h 50mMultiple Airlines
Fri 10/319:26 amLAX - DSM
1 stop11h 11mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/28$208
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/28. 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 11/36:20 pmDSM - LAX
1 stop14h 10mAmerican Airlines
Tue 11/49:50 amLAX - DSM
1 stop6h 45mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 7/28$259
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/28. 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 Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 9/173:25 pmDSM - LAX
1 stop6h 20mSouthwest
Wed 9/2412:40 pmLAX - DSM
1 stop6h 45mSouthwest
Deal found 7/28$294
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/28. 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.
Tue 9/165:25 pmDSM - LAX
1 stop8h 24mDelta
Wed 9/241:20 pmLAX - DSM
1 stop5h 41mDelta
Deal found 7/28$295
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/28. 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.
Tue 8/261:20 pmDSM - LAX
1 stop5h 48mUnited Airlines
Tue 9/28:15 amLAX - DSM
1 stop6h 59mUnited Airlines
Deal found 7/28$296

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles 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 July 29, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles that are best for you.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

Los Angeles

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Thu 10/2

2:25 pm-12:27 am

1 stop12h 02m

Los Angeles

Sat 10/4

2:31 pm-1:40 pm

1 stop21h 09m

$207

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Mon 10/27

1:43 pm-9:33 pm

1 stop9h 50m

Los Angeles

Fri 10/31

9:26 am-10:37 pm

1 stop11h 11m

$208

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Mon 11/3

6:20 pm-6:30 am

1 stop14h 10m

Los Angeles

Tue 11/4

9:50 am-6:35 pm

1 stop6h 45m

$259

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Wed 9/17

3:25 pm-7:45 pm

1 stop6h 20m

Los Angeles

Wed 9/24

12:40 pm-9:25 pm

1 stop6h 45m

$294

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Tue 9/16

5:25 pm-11:49 pm

1 stop8h 24m

Los Angeles

Wed 9/24

1:20 pm-9:01 pm

1 stop5h 41m

$295

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Tue 8/26

1:20 pm-5:08 pm

1 stop5h 48m

Los Angeles

Tue 9/2

8:15 am-5:14 pm

1 stop6h 59m

$296

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Mon 10/6

2:25 pm-12:27 am

1 stop12h 02m

$96

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Mon 10/6

3:40 pm-8:00 pm

1 stop6h 20m

$97

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Tue 10/7

3:10 pm-5:00 pm

Nonstop3h 50m

$139

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Tue 9/16

6:30 am-12:10 pm

1 stop7h 40m

$147

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/27

Showing 1-10 of 12 results
1
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Best time to book a flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Los Angeles from Des Moines 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 Des Moines to Los Angeles

How far ahead should I book a flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles. Price data was last updated on July 25, 2025.

Booking 89 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles. 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 Des Moines to Los Angeles?

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles (average of $246). Flying from Des Moines to Los Angeles in March is currently the most expensive (average of $326). 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 DSM to LAX?

Find hourly flight availability from Des Moines to Los Angeles. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated July 29, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Des Moines to Los Angeles in the morning. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 78% on your trip compared to booking a flight at noon.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Des Moines to Los Angeles?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Des Moines to Los Angeles. Price data was last updated on July 27, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Des Moines to Los Angeles flight should consider departing on Friday mornings when fares are most often at their lowest. Saturday afternoons flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Reviews of airlines servicing Los Angeles

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Los Angeles. 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 Los Angeles. Reviews last updated July 29, 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Des Moines to Los Angeles by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,238 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,238 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,238 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,979 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,238 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,896 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,238 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,238 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.
Frontier
5.9
Fair
3,238 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,238 reviews

Crew

8.6

Overall

8.0

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Merlyn,Feb 2025

LAX - SMF

New Terminal is neat, lost of stores and places to catch a bite.

Related info for your journey

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

  • How popular is this Des Moines to Los Angeles flight route?

    This flight path from Des Moines to Los Angeles was viewed by 2 users in the past month. Keep an eye out for changes in search interest prior to high and low season.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Des Moines to Los Angeles round-trip?

    According to our current data, Frontier ($207), American Airlines ($259), and Southwest ($294) offers the cheapest pricing from Des Moines to Los Angeles. You may be able to fly from Des Moines to Los Angeles for 47% less than the average price by searching for these airlines.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Des Moines to Los Angeles one-way?

    One-way options have recently been found by users for as low as $96 on Frontier. Other airlines that offer cheap prices include American Airlines from $139 and Southwest from $147 one-way.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles?

    On average you can expect to pay $483 for a flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles. The cheapest flight overall is $215 while the most popular route, (Des Moines - Los Angeles) is currently priced at $208.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Des Moines to Los Angeles 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 Des Moines to Los Angeles?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles (average of $246). Flying from Des Moines to Los Angeles in March is currently the most expensive (average of $326). 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 Los Angeles?

Book flights to Los Angeles if you plan to visit one of these locations
Stanton
Inglewood
Universal City
Oceanside
Moreno Valley
Santa Clarita
Buena Park
Avalon
El Segundo
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Glendale
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Del Mar
Marina del Rey
West Hollywood
Menifee
Fontana

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Alternative routes for Des Moines to Los Angeles

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Top 6 airlines flying from Des Moines to Los Angeles

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles. 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 July 29, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Allegiant AirCheapest$127Average$185FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
FrontierCheapest$138Average$236FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
United AirlinesCheapest$256Average$427FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
DeltaCheapest$290Average$406FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$294Average$405FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$334Average$420FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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