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$72+ Cheap flights from Des Moines to San Francisco (DSM - SFO)

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 11/25. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
DSM — SFO
Dec 6 — Dec 131
Sat 12/6
Sat 12/13
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from Des Moines to San Francisco are usually found in August or September, booked 1 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Wednesday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Des Moines (DSM) to San Francisco (SFO). 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 November 6, 2025.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$134
(CheapOair)

One-way from

$72
(CheapOair)

Popular in

March

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$454
Provider with most accurate pricing for Des Moines-San Francisco flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Des Moines-San Francisco flights.
Search Deals
From Des Moines to San Francisco
Search Deals
One-way flight from Des Moines to San Francisco
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 7% potential increase in price ($35 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($5 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in November 2025
Search Deals

Find flight deals from Des Moines to San Francisco

Cheapest flights from Des Moines to San Francisco
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Des Moines to San Francisco. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on November 6, 2025.

This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/5. 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 CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/57:58 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop6h 26mFrontier
Mon 12/86:30 amSFO - DSM
1 stop10h 33mFrontier
Deal found 11/5$134
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/4. 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.
Fri 11/217:46 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop14h 22mFrontier
Fri 11/286:32 amSFO - DSM
1 stop10h 29mFrontier
Deal found 11/4$152
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/6. 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.
Sat 12/208:29 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop13h 54mFrontier
Sun 12/289:56 pmSFO - DSM
2 stops19h 48mFrontier
Deal found 11/6$219
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/5. 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.
Sat 12/208:29 pmDSM - SFO
1 stop13h 54mFrontier
Sat 12/276:24 amSFO - DSM
1 stop11h 20mFrontier
Deal found 11/5$222
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/5. 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 12/78:30 amDSM - SFO
2 stops35h 04mMultiple Airlines
Fri 12/128:48 amSFO - DSM
1 stop8h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 11/5$231
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/6. 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 12/228:29 pmDSM - SFO
2 stops26h 01mFrontier
Mon 12/296:24 amSFO - DSM
1 stop11h 20mFrontier
Deal found 11/6$236

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Des Moines to San Francisco 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 November 6, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Des Moines to San Francisco that are best for you.

Fly from

Des Moines

Fly to

San Francisco

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Mon 12/22

8:29 pm-8:30 pm

2 stops26h 01m

San Francisco

Mon 12/29

6:24 am-7:44 pm

1 stop11h 20m

$236

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Sun 11/16

2:32 pm-2:40 pm

1 stop26h 08m

San Francisco

Mon 12/8

6:30 am-7:03 pm

1 stop10h 33m

$276

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Tue 12/23

2:35 pm-3:11 pm

2 stops26h 36m

San Francisco

Mon 1/5

6:24 am-7:44 pm

1 stop11h 20m

$281

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Mon 12/22

8:29 pm-3:10 pm

1 stop20h 41m

San Francisco

Sun 12/28

6:00 am-11:56 am

1 stop27h 56m

$335

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Thu 12/18

8:30 am-7:48 am

1 stop25h 18m

San Francisco

Thu 12/25

6:00 am-11:30 am

1 stop27h 30m

$349

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Thu 1/15

4:21 pm-11:47 pm

1 stop9h 26m

San Francisco

Sun 1/18

12:47 am-10:14 am

1 stop7h 27m

$387

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Tue 2/17

3:25 pm-11:22 pm

1 stop9h 57m

San Francisco

Sat 3/7

6:00 am-1:44 pm

1 stop5h 44m

$403

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Tue 2/17

4:21 pm-8:59 pm

1 stop6h 38m

San Francisco

Fri 3/6

12:40 am-10:17 am

1 stop7h 37m

$403

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Mon 3/2

6:45 am-1:50 pm

1 stop9h 05m

San Francisco

Wed 3/4

12:50 pm-9:19 pm

1 stop6h 29m

$413

Des MoinesSan Francisco

DSM - SFO

DSMSFO

Des Moines

Tue 11/25

7:46 pm-12:24 am

1 stop6h 38m

$72

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 11/6

Showing 1-10 of 18 results
1
2

Compare providers for flights from Des Moines to San Francisco

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 Francisco in November.
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 Des Moines-San Francisco 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 Francisco flight deals on Cheapflights vs. eDreams >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Des Moines-San Francisco flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Des Moines-San Francisco 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 Francisco 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 Francisco

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

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

Currently, December is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco (average of $144). Flying from Des Moines to San Francisco in May is currently the most expensive (average of $304). 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 SFO?

Find hourly flight availability from Des Moines to San Francisco. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated November 6, 2025.

A simple way to save on the total cost of your ticket is to fly from Des Moines to San Francisco in the evening. If you’re flexible enough to do this you can expect to save up to 74% on your trip compared to booking a flight in the morning.

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

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

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

Reviews of airlines servicing San Francisco

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Francisco. 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 Francisco. Reviews last updated November 6, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Des Moines to San Francisco. 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.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,241 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

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
8.0
Very good
4,241 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,241 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

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
8,001 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,241 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

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
9,007 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,241 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

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
11,040 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,241 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

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.
Frontier
5.8
Fair
3,115 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,241 reviews

Comfort

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Boarding

8.1

Overall

8.0

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 Francisco. 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 Des Moines to San Francisco?

    Frontier can get you from Des Moines to San Francisco in just under 26h 01m. Your travel time can differ by up to . Airlines will cover a distance of 1545 mi.

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

    Our cheapest airline available from Des Moines to San Francisco is Frontier. Our recent data shows that you can find tickets from as low as $144 on this airline. Additional options worth looking into are Delta and American Airlines, starting at $265 and $336 round-trip. Frontier is currently priced 66% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

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

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

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

    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 Francisco.

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

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

    Currently, December is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Des Moines to San Francisco (average of $144). Flying from Des Moines to San Francisco in May is currently the most expensive (average of $304). 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 Francisco?

Book flights to San Francisco if you plan to visit one of these locations
Roseville
South San Francisco
Santa Cruz
Livermore
Turlock
Manteca
Watsonville
Sunnyvale
Santa Clara
Vallejo
Hollister
San Bruno
Foster City
Redwood City
Union City
Burlingame
Lodi
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Vacaville
Lathrop

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Top 5 airlines flying from Des Moines to San Francisco

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from Des Moines to San Francisco. 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 November 6, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
FrontierCheapest$144Average$252FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time62%
DeltaCheapest$265Average$395FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
American AirlinesCheapest$336Average$416FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$344Average$425FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$353Average$504FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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