Cheap Flights from LAX to DSM: When to Fly from Los Angeles to Des Moines

 

The cheapest times to fly from LAX to DSM are

• August 6th to December 9th (except the weeks of November 19th and November 26th)
• December 24th to February 25th

based on data collected exclusively by Champion Traveler across tens of millions of flights. Among all the dates above, the very cheapest time to fly from LAX to DSM is late October to early November. Prices can be as high as $880 for Sunday flights during mid December, or as low as $257 for Tuesday flights around late October to early November.

 

When to Fly to Des Moines

Flying from Los Angeles, CA (LAX) to Des Moines, IA (DSM) will usually cost between $297 to $564 per person if booking more than four weeks in advance. On average the very cheapest time to fly is late October to early November with an average ticket price of $305. Due to high demand the most expensive time to fly is mid December, with an average price of $561. Planning your trip to low-cost times can easily save you $256 on economy flights and even more on first-class flights. Generally, any price below $409 can be considered a good price for a round-trip LAX to DSM flight.

See below for a graph of average weekly prices for the LAX to DSM route. All prices are for round-trip tickets in USD.

Compared to other flights, the LAX to DSM flight is much cheaper than the average and costs much less than the average flight leaving from Los Angeles. The average price per mile (for a direct flight) is $0.18, which is below average.

 

Flight Prices by Day of the Week

Tuesday is usually the cheapest day to depart and return on this flight. Sundays are the most expensive days to fly out or take a return trip. Selecting flights on the least expensive days could save you up to $117 (24%) on this flight.

Departing prices are for round-trip flights returning on the day of departure. For example, a flight departing on Tuesday and returning a week later will cost an average of $369. Return trip prices are from the DSM to LAX flight, and often highlight the quality of our data in showing the same trend.

 

Nonstop Flights and Layovers

Travelers looking to fly from LAX to DSM can generally find a 1-layover flight. Because there is not usually a direct flight option the real-world direct flight time of 3 hour 35 minutes may not be realistic.

 

Alternative Nearby Airports

Champion Traveler tells you which airports are nearby and whether tickets might be cheaper alternative airports nearby. Sometimes it’s worth it to fly into a closer airport and then commute to your destination. Remember that there is not usually a nonstop flight from LAX to DSM while comparing.

 

Flight Hacking LAX to DSM

Flight hacking is when you book two tickets instead of a layover, sometimes with different airlines. You will need to either bring only a carry-on bag (highly recommended) or leave yourself plenty of time to go through security again. Flight hacking is completely allowed, but airlines don’t always tell you the cheapest way to get from LAX to DSM — but Champion Traveler does!

 

Flight Questions Answered

Still have questions about flying from LAX to DSM? We’ve got answers.

Which airlines fly this route?

You can find 8 major airlines flying this route most often: Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Iberia, Southwest, United, and potentially more during busy seasons.

How far away is it from Des Moines International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport?

The distance between the two airports is roughly 1444 miles or 2324 kilometers.

How long does it take to fly from LAX to DSM?

The real-world flight time for a nonstop LAX to DSM flight is about 3 hour 35 minutes.

How many flights go between Los Angeles, CA and Des Moines, IA?

It depends on the day of the week and the date, but a typical day might have around 83 available flights from LAX to DSM.

 

Airport Location Info

 

 

Late and Early Flight Data

Flights from LAX to DSM tend to depart late almost never compared to the average flight. According to our recently updated data, 11% of flights departed 5 or more minutes late, and 56% of flights left 5 or more minutes early. On average you can expect to leave DSM heading for LAX about 3 minutes early. This does significantly impact arrival time, as the average landing time in Des Moines, IA is about 2 minutes early. The numbers below show a recent average of take-off times versus the scheduled departure flight:

• Allegiant: 3 minutes early
• Some airlines not reporting

 

Please note that while we’ve worked hard to analyzed tens of millions of flights to get you this data, we do not calculate current live prices or guarantee pricing. Please see our partners using the links above for current offers.