Los Angeles

$79+ 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 6/3. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — LAX
May 28 — Jun 41
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1. Tell us where you want to go

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to Los Angeles Los Angeles are usually found in January or September, booked 81 days in advance, depart on a Wednesday or Thursday and return on a Thursday

Cheap 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 April 28, 2026.

This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/24. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 5/272:16 pm
DSM
-
LAX
1 stop20h 19m
Frontier
Tue 6/29:48 am
LAX
-
DSM
2 stops25h 43m
Frontier
Deal found 4/24$168
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/24. 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 Frontier is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 5/82:16 pm
DSM
-
LAX
1 stop12h 00m
Frontier
Mon 5/186:30 am
LAX
-
DSM
1 stop5h 01m
Frontier
Deal found 4/24$185
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/24. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 5/272:16 pm
DSM
-
LAX
1 stop20h 19m
Frontier
Thu 6/46:30 am
LAX
-
DSM
1 stop29h 01m
Frontier
Deal found 4/24$191
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/24. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 5/272:16 pm
DSM
-
LAX
1 stop20h 19m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 6/38:27 pm
LAX
-
DSM
1 stop21h 44m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/24$199
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/27. 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 6/52:16 pm
DSM
-
LAX
1 stop20h 19m
Frontier
Tue 6/96:45 am
LAX
-
DSM
1 stop28h 46m
Frontier
Deal found 4/27$208
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/24. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 6/19:17 pm
DSM
-
LAX
1 stop13h 46m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 6/28:27 pm
LAX
-
DSM
2 stops15h 04m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/24$215
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 4/24. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 6/12:16 pm
DSM
-
LAX
2 stops32h 54m
Multiple Airlines
Thu 6/412:08 pm
LAX
-
DSM
1 stop6h 03m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 4/24$223

Find 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 April 28, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$168
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$79
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$348

Good round-trip deal

$337 or less

Good one-way deal

$199 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-Los Angeles Los Angeles flight deals.
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-Los Angeles Los Angeles flights.
From Des Moines to Los Angeles Los Angeles
One-way flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles Los Angeles
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 0% potential increase in price ($0 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 0% potential price decrease ($4 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in April 2026
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles Los Angeles.
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles Los Angeles.

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 April 28, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip
Quickest round-trip

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Tue 6/9

6:03 pm-11:54 pm

1 stop7h 51m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Tue 6/16

6:25 am-2:05 pm

1 stop5h 40m

$305

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Sat 5/30

10:56 am-5:45 pm

1 stop8h 49m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Thu 6/4

1:20 pm-10:32 pm

1 stop7h 12m

$331

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Thu 6/4

5:27 am-1:19 pm

1 stop9h 52m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Thu 6/18

9:45 am-8:41 pm

1 stop8h 56m

$357

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Fri 9/4

6:30 pm-12:12 am

1 stop7h 42m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Mon 9/7

11:45 pm-10:15 am

1 stop8h 30m

$357

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Tue 8/4

6:40 pm-10:25 pm

1 stop5h 45m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Thu 8/6

11:55 pm-11:25 am

1 stop9h 30m

$374

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Wed 6/24

3:45 pm-11:40 pm

1 stop9h 55m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Fri 6/26

1:05 pm-10:20 pm

2 stops7h 15m

$380

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Sat 5/23

12:29 pm-6:05 pm

1 stop7h 36m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Wed 5/27

7:59 pm-10:16 am

2 stops12h 17m

$400

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Sat 9/19

7:20 am-2:35 pm

2 stops9h 15m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Sat 9/26

10:30 am-7:25 pm

1 stop6h 55m

$427

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Sun 8/2

6:10 am-11:05 am

2 stops6h 55m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Wed 8/5

6:45 am-5:45 pm

2 stops9h 00m

$432

Des MoinesLos Angeles

DSM - LAX

DSMLAX

Des Moines

Tue 5/26

6:55 am-1:00 pm

2 stops8h 05m

Los Angeles Los Angeles

Sat 5/30

11:05 am-8:55 pm

2 stops7h 50m

$470

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 4/24

Showing 1-10 of 23 resultsSorted by cheapest first
1
2
3

Compare providers for flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles

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 Des Moines to Los Angeles in April.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
PricelinePrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
JustAirTicketPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*1 star

*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 Des Moines-Los Angeles flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Des Moines-Los Angeles flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Des Moines-Los Angeles flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-Los Angeles flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub 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 Des Moines-Los Angeles 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 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?

Booking 79 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 $313). Flying from Des Moines to Los Angeles in December is currently the most expensive (average of $403). 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 April 28, 2026.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Des Moines to Los Angeles in the evening. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 69% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the morning.

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Des Moines to Los Angeles?

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 April 28, 2026.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest,Delta, andUnited 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.

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

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.
  • What airports do I use to fly from Des Moines to Los Angeles?

    You will need to book a flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles Los Angeles if you want to fly from Des Moines to Los Angeles. At least 6 different airlines have flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX) on a regular basis. There is 1 flight to Los Angeles from the Des Moines airport per day. If you manage to book one that is nonstop, then you can expect the flight time from DSM to LAX to be around 3h 52m.

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

  • How long is the flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles?

    There are many flights that can get you from Des Moines to Los Angeles in 10h 14m. Fly via Delta to get the fastest option. The distance between Des Moines and Los Angeles is about 1443 mi.

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

    According to our current data, Allegiant Air ($128), Frontier ($149), and American Airlines ($209) offers the cheapest pricing from Des Moines to Los Angeles. You may be able to fly from Des Moines to Los Angeles for 64% 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 $82 on Frontier. Other airlines that offer cheap prices include American Airlines from $115 and United Airlines from $138 one-way.

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

    On average you can expect to pay $345 for a flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles. The cheapest flight overall is $115 while the most popular route, (Des Moines - Los Angeles Los Angeles) is currently priced at $254.

  • 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 $313). Flying from Des Moines to Los Angeles in December is currently the most expensive (average of $403). 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
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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 April 28, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Allegiant AirCheapest$128Average$152FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
FrontierCheapest$149Average$242FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
American AirlinesCheapest$209Average$372FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$236Average$368FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
SouthwestCheapest$238Average$374FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$256Average$367FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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