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Cheap Flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)

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      Travellers and cabin class, 1 Adult, Economy
      American Airlines

      Compare Des Moines to Los Angeles International flight deals

      Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Los Angeles International

      Book the best Los Angeles International fare with no extra fees

      Flight deals from Des Moines to Los Angeles International

      Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from $325. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
      Los Angeles.$269 per passenger.Departing Mon, 28 Sep, returning Mon, 5 Oct.Return flight with Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Allegiant Air, departs from Des Moines on Mon, 28 Sep, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Los Angeles International on Mon, 5 Oct, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $269, select.
      Los Angeles.$272 per passenger.Departing Sun, 18 Oct, returning Thu, 22 Oct.Return flight with Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Allegiant Air, departs from Des Moines on Sun, 18 Oct, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Los Angeles International on Thu, 22 Oct, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $272, select.
      Los Angeles.$298 per passenger.Departing Fri, 30 Oct, returning Mon, 2 Nov.Return flight with Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Des Moines on Fri, 30 Oct, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Los Angeles International on Mon, 2 Nov, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $298, select.
      Los Angeles.$325 per passenger.Departing Tue, 12 Jan, returning Sat, 16 Jan.Return flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from Des Moines on Tue, 12 Jan, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from Los Angeles International on Sat, 16 Jan, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $325, select.
      Los Angeles.$325 per passenger.Departing Mon, 14 Sep, returning Fri, 18 Sep.Return flight with Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Allegiant Air, departs from Des Moines on Mon, 14 Sep, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Frontier Airlines, departs from Los Angeles International on Fri, 18 Sep, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $325, select.
      Los Angeles.$415 per passenger.Departing Tue, 29 Sep, returning Tue, 6 Oct.Return flight with American Airlines.Outbound direct flight with American Airlines departs from Des Moines on Tue, 29 Sep, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound direct flight with American Airlines departs from Los Angeles International on Tue, 6 Oct, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $415, select.
      Los Angeles.$420 per passenger.Departing Wed, 18 Nov, returning Sun, 22 Nov.Return flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from Des Moines on Wed, 18 Nov, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from Los Angeles International on Sun, 22 Nov, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $420, select.
      Los Angeles.$438 per passenger.Departing Wed, 17 Feb, returning Wed, 24 Feb.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Des Moines on Wed, 17 Feb, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Los Angeles International on Wed, 24 Feb, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $438, select.
      Los Angeles.$438 per passenger.Departing Tue, 15 Dec, returning Wed, 6 Jan.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Des Moines on Tue, 15 Dec, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Los Angeles International on Wed, 6 Jan, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $438, select.
      Los Angeles.$439 per passenger.Departing Tue, 24 Nov, returning Tue, 1 Dec.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from Des Moines on Tue, 24 Nov, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Los Angeles International on Tue, 1 Dec, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $439, select.
      Los Angeles.$443 per passenger.Departing Sat, 16 Jan, returning Sat, 15 May.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Des Moines on Sat, 16 Jan, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Los Angeles International on Sat, 15 May, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $443, select.
      Los Angeles.$443 per passenger.Departing Wed, 2 Dec, returning Sat, 5 Dec.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from Des Moines on Wed, 2 Dec, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Los Angeles International on Sat, 5 Dec, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $443, select.
      Los Angeles.$489 per passenger.Departing Sat, 27 Feb, returning Thu, 11 Mar.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from Des Moines on Sat, 27 Feb, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Los Angeles International on Thu, 11 Mar, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $489, select.
      Los Angeles.$492 per passenger.Departing Fri, 30 Oct, returning Mon, 2 Nov.Return flight with American Airlines.Outbound direct flight with American Airlines departs from Des Moines on Fri, 30 Oct, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound direct flight with American Airlines departs from Los Angeles International on Mon, 2 Nov, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $492, select.
      Los Angeles.$539 per passenger.Departing Thu, 1 Apr, returning Mon, 5 Apr.Return flight with Southwest Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from Des Moines on Thu, 1 Apr, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Southwest Airlines, departs from Los Angeles International on Mon, 5 Apr, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $539, select.
      Los Angeles.$550 per passenger.Departing Wed, 26 Aug, returning Wed, 2 Sep.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Des Moines on Wed, 26 Aug, arriving in Los Angeles International.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Los Angeles International on Wed, 2 Sep, arriving in Des Moines.Price includes taxes and charges.From $550, select.

      Find the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to Los Angeles International

      We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Des Moines to Los Angeles International flights are currently cheapest in October.
      Aug
      from $605
      Sep
      from $325
      Oct
      from $272
      Nov
      from $420
      Dec
      from $443
      Jan
      from $325
      Feb
      from $438
      Mar
      from $723
      Apr
      from $539
      May
      Find prices
      Jun
      from $1,147
      Jul
      Find prices

      Direct flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles International

      American Airlines

      Des Moines to Los Angeles International: Alternative routes

      Compare routes from Des Moines to Los Angeles below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Los Angeles International.

      Hawthorne

      17km from central Los Angeles
      Closest
      Search flights

      Burbank

      19km from central Los Angeles
      from $498
      Search flights

      Los Angeles International

      20km from central Los Angeles
      from $269
      Search flights

      Long Beach Municipal

      28km from central Los Angeles
      from $480
      Search flights

      Los Angeles Van Nuys

      28km from central Los Angeles
      Search flights

      Santa Ana John Wayne

      55km from central Los Angeles
      Cheapest
      from $197
      Search flights

      Ontario International

      59km from central Los Angeles
      from $349
      Search flights

      Des Moines to Los Angeles: Flight information

      The things to know before you go.
      Cheapest flight found$269
      Cheapest month to flySeptember
      Average flight time4 hrs
      Most popular airlineAmerican Airlines
      Average flights per week9

      Finding cheap flights from Des Moines to Los Angeles International: Frequently asked questions

      The best price we found for a return flight from Des Moines to Los Angeles International is $269. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
      4 hours is the average flight time from Des Moines to Los Angeles International.
      American Airlines flies direct from Des Moines to Los Angeles International.
      As of August 2026, there are 9 flights per week flying from Des Moines to Los Angeles International.
      The cheapest month to fly from Des Moines to Los Angeles International is usually September.
      After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, 28 September 2026.
      Yes – the average flight time is 4 hours.
      We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Los Angeles International but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.

      We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Los Angeles is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

      Currently, Allegiant Air and American Airlines offer the cheapest flight tickets to Los Angeles International.

      Travelling from Des Moines Airport (DSM) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): what you need to know

      • Jump on a direct flight from Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport and you'll be in the air for an average of 4 hours 5 minutes.

      • Los Angeles is two hours behind Des Moines and observes the UTC-8 timezone.

      • You can take your pick of six weekly Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport flights.

      • Get to the airport on time so you don't miss your DSM to LAX flight. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid the stress of rushing.

      • Travelling during a peak time such as August? School holidays and other popular periods can result in longer queues at airport checkpoints. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before domestic departures.

      • Travelling to Los Angeles (and then exploring more of the United States!) is easy with American Airlines. This popular carrier has direct flights from Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.

      • American Airlines is the airline with the highest passenger demand for this route.

      • With 78.33% of services landing as planned, American Airlines is the most punctual carrier offering DSM to LAX flights.

      • Think about adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' to break up your trip, or perhaps explore a new destination along the way. Here are some options between DSM and LAX:

        • Denver International Airport

        • Phoenix Sky Harbour Airport

        • Harry Reid International Airport

      How to find the cheapest flights from Des Moines Airport (DSM) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

      • $141 is the best price for a one-way Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport flight. A return flight starts from $269. These fares can change based on availability.

      • It's a good idea to book in advance if you're looking for cheap tickets from DSM to LAX. That's because airlines change prices based on demand, which tends to increase closer to the date of departure.

      • If you can be flexible with your travel dates, try using the 'Whole month' search function. It'll find the cheapest price across each month when looking for a flight from Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.

      • Picking up cheap flights from DSM to LAX is a cinch with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as a lower fare pops up.

      • Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to get the best deals on flights from Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.

      Handy information about Des Moines Airport (DSM)

      • DSM is located at 5800 Fleur Drive, Suite 201.

      • When it comes to Des Moines Airport's on-time performance, 77% of flights complete their journey on time.

      • Des Moines Airport is around 11 kilometres from central Des Moines. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take you 15 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.

      • The journey on public transport typically takes 30 minutes.

      • Get your break off to a leisurely start by staying near DSM. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these stays have you covered:

      Arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

      When to fly to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

      • July is the most popular month for flights from Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. To avoid the crowds, head to Los Angeles in March.

      • The warmest month in Los Angeles is August, with the temperature ranging between 16ºC (61ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF). Lock in your flights from Des Moines Airport to Los Angeles International Airport in this month if this is the type of weather you enjoy.

      • February has average temperatures of between 6ºC (43ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF). Look for cheap tickets from DSM to LAX around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.

      Explore more of the United States

      • San Diego is just one of the many places in the United States waiting to be discovered after you've experienced Los Angeles. Around 177 kilometres away to the south-east, its top attractions include San Diego Zoo, San Diego Balboa Park and USS Midway Museum.

      • If you're ready to explore another side of the United States, consider San Jose, roughly 499 kilometres north-west of Los Angeles. Winchester Mystery House, The Tech Interactive and Santa Clara Valley are key reasons to visit.

      Plan smart, explore more

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      Plan the rest of your trip from Des Moines to Los Angeles

      Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 12 days.