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$107+ Cheap flights from Des Moines to San Diego (DSM - SAN)

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 1/25. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — SAN
Jan 11 — Jan 181
Sun 1/11
Sun 1/18
1 adult, Economy
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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 San Diego are usually found in June or August, booked 41 days in advance, depart on a Monday or Wednesday and return on a Friday

Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to San Diego

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to San Diego
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to San Diego. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on December 12, 2025.

This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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.
Mon 12/228:29 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop5h 30mFrontier
Sat 12/276:25 amSAN - DSM
1 stop11h 19mFrontier
Deal found 12/9$328
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 12/208:29 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop24h 46mFrontier
Sat 1/36:25 amSAN - DSM
1 stop11h 19mFrontier
Deal found 12/10$348
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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.
Tue 12/232:35 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop11h 24mFrontier
Tue 12/306:25 amSAN - DSM
1 stop5h 15mFrontier
Deal found 12/9$383
This Frontier deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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.
Tue 12/232:35 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop6h 40mFrontier
Sat 12/276:25 amSAN - DSM
1 stop11h 19mFrontier
Deal found 12/9$387
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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 12/235:55 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop8h 00mDelta
Thu 12/2511:52 amSAN - DSM
1 stop6h 10mDelta
Deal found 12/9$402
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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 12/313:00 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop23h 11mMultiple Airlines
Sun 1/48:59 pmSAN - DSM
2 stops20h 45mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 12/9$435
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 12/184:21 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop28h 05mMultiple Airlines
Sun 12/211:06 pmSAN - DSM
1 stop27h 58mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 12/10$441
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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.
Tue 12/232:35 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop6h 40mFrontier
Sat 1/36:25 amSAN - DSM
1 stop11h 19mFrontier
Deal found 12/10$442
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/10. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/198:29 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop5h 30mFrontier
Mon 12/226:25 amSAN - DSM
1 stop11h 19mFrontier
Deal found 12/10$447
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 12/228:29 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop5h 30mMultiple Airlines
Fri 12/268:05 amSAN - DSM
1 stop8h 20mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 12/9$481
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. 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 12/235:06 pmDSM - SAN
1 stop5h 41mUnited Airlines
Thu 12/256:15 amSAN - DSM
2 stops12h 15mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/9$486

Find flight deals from Des Moines to San Diego

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Des Moines (DSM) to San Diego (SAN). 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 December 12, 2025.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$154
(Kiwi.com)

One-way from

$107
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

June

Average price

$447
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-San Diego flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-San Diego flights.
Search Deals
From Des Moines to San Diego
Search Deals
One-way flight from Des Moines to San Diego
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 16% potential increase in price ($74 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($11 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in December 2025
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to San Diego 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 December 12, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to San Diego that are best for you.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

San Diego

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Sun 1/18

6:54 am-10:48 am

1 stop5h 54m

San Diego

Sat 1/24

10:30 pm-10:41 am

1 stop10h 11m

$277

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Sat 1/31

10:00 am-10:25 am

1 stop26h 25m

San Diego

Thu 2/5

9:45 pm-5:24 pm

1 stop17h 39m

$284

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Sat 2/14

1:02 pm-6:51 pm

1 stop7h 49m

San Diego

Mon 2/23

6:25 am-4:57 pm

1 stop8h 32m

$296

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Tue 2/17

5:30 am-9:24 am

1 stop5h 54m

San Diego

Sat 2/21

4:10 pm-11:43 pm

1 stop5h 33m

$297

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Wed 1/21

4:21 pm-8:49 pm

1 stop6h 28m

San Diego

Sat 1/24

10:00 pm-9:41 am

1 stop9h 41m

$297

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Tue 2/10

12:25 pm-7:01 pm

1 stop8h 36m

San Diego

Tue 2/24

10:05 pm-9:55 am

1 stop9h 50m

$297

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Sat 1/24

2:34 pm-6:31 pm

1 stop5h 57m

San Diego

Sat 1/31

6:15 am-1:48 pm

1 stop5h 33m

$298

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Tue 2/10

12:05 pm-5:15 pm

1 stop7h 10m

San Diego

Sun 2/15

6:25 am-1:40 pm

1 stop5h 15m

$316

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Wed 1/21

12:05 pm-3:25 pm

1 stop5h 20m

San Diego

Sun 1/25

6:25 am-1:40 pm

1 stop5h 15m

$316

Des MoinesSan Diego

DSM - SAN

DSMSAN

Des Moines

Tue 2/10

6:54 am-1:48 pm

1 stop8h 54m

San Diego

Mon 2/23

10:05 pm-9:55 am

1 stop9h 50m

$316

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 12/11

Showing 1-10 of 21 results
1
2
3

Compare providers for flights from Des Moines to San Diego

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

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

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Des Moines to San Diego. Price data was last updated on December 5, 2025.

The price you pay for your flight from Des Moines to San Diego may vary depending on when you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, look to book 41 days in advance of your trip. Fares are likely to increase a fortnight or so before your departure date.

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

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Diego (average of $100). Flying from Des Moines to San Diego in November is currently the most expensive (average of $143). 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 SAN?

Find hourly flight availability from Des Moines to San Diego. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated December 12, 2025.

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from Des Moines to San Diego is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are in the morning tend to be the most expensive. A flight at noon could potentially save you up to 60% on airfare.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Des Moines to San Diego?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Des Moines to San Diego. Price data was last updated on December 16, 2024.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Des Moines to San Diego flight should consider departing on Thursday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday afternoons flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Reviews of airlines servicing San Diego

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Diego. 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 San Diego. Reviews last updated December 12, 2025.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from Des Moines to San Diego, 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
7.9
Good
4,253 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,253 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,253 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Delta
7.9
Good
8,007 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,253 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,095 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,253 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,050 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,253 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Allegiant Air
7.2
Good
699 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,253 reviews

Entertainment

7.5

Overall

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Des Moines to San Diego. 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 San Diego flight route?

    Flights from Des Moines to San Diego have been viewed 1 times in the past calendar month.

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

    Departing from Des Moines to San Diego will take you 5h 54m. Airlines will cover a distance of 1425 mi.

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

    Cheapflights users have booked flights from Des Moines to San Diego round-trip from $100. Other airlines that can offer you cheap pricing are Allegiant Air, from $101, and Delta, from $118. You may be able to fly from Des Moines to San Diego for 72% less than the average price by searching for these airlines.

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

    $60 is the cheapest one-way deal found within the past few days, from Allegiant Air. You may also be able to find cheap deals on Frontier and Southwest, with prices starting from $85 and $143, respectively.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Diego (average of $100). Flying from Des Moines to San Diego in November is currently the most expensive (average of $143). 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 San Diego?

Book flights to San Diego if you plan to visit one of these locations
El Cajon
Chula Vista
Coronado
La Mesa
Poway
Lemon Grove
Julian
National City

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Top 6 airlines flying from Des Moines to San Diego

Discover the top 6 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to San Diego. 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 December 12, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Allegiant AirCheapest$104Average$170FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time88%
FrontierCheapest$119Average$248FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$256Average$341FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$282Average$442FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$286Average$384FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$307Average$475FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%

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