$201 Cheap Flights from Des Moines (DSM) to San José (SJO)

View $201 flight on Mon, Nov 10, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO)

Cheap Flights from Des Moines to San José (DSM-SJO)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $201 for one-way flights and $450 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Southwest Airlines
Fri, Oct 3 - Tue, Oct 7
DSM
Des Moines
SJO
San José
$450 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$450
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Fri, Oct 3 from Des Moines to San José, returning Tue, Oct 7, priced at $450 found 3 days ago
Southwest Airlines
Tue, Sep 30 - Tue, Oct 7
DSM
Des Moines
SJO
San José
$461 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$461
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Tue, Sep 30 from Des Moines to San José, returning Tue, Oct 7, priced at $461 found 1 day ago
Southwest Airlines
Tue, Sep 30 - Tue, Oct 7
DSM
Des Moines
SJO
San José
$463 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$463
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Tue, Sep 30 from Des Moines to San José, returning Tue, Oct 7, priced at $463 found 1 day ago
Southwest Airlines
Thu, Nov 13 - Tue, Nov 18
DSM
Des Moines
SJO
San José
$467 Roundtrip, found 1 day ago
$467
Roundtrip
found 1 day ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Thu, Nov 13 from Des Moines to San José, returning Tue, Nov 18, priced at $467 found 1 day ago
Southwest Airlines
Sun, Feb 1 - Thu, Feb 12
DSM
Des Moines
SJO
San José
$469 Roundtrip, found 2 hours ago
$469
Roundtrip
found 2 hours ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Sun, Feb 1 from Des Moines to San José, returning Thu, Feb 12, priced at $469 found 2 hours ago
Southwest Airlines
Wed, Oct 22 - Wed, Nov 5
DSM
Des Moines
SJO
San José
$471 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$471
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Wed, Oct 22 from Des Moines to San José, returning Wed, Nov 5, priced at $471 found 3 days ago
United
Fri, Jan 23 - Fri, Jan 30
DSM
Des Moines
SJO
San José
$477 Roundtrip, found 1 hour ago
$477
Roundtrip
found 1 hour ago
Select United flight, departing Fri, Jan 23 from Des Moines to San José, returning Fri, Jan 30, priced at $477 found 1 hour ago
American Airlines
Sun, Feb 1 - Thu, Feb 12
DSM
Des Moines
SJO
San José
$526 Roundtrip, found 2 hours ago
$526
Roundtrip
found 2 hours ago
Select American Airlines flight, departing Sun, Feb 1 from Des Moines to San José, returning Thu, Feb 12, priced at $526 found 2 hours ago
Delta
Sun, Nov 23 - Wed, Nov 26
DSM
Des Moines
SJO
San José
$526 Roundtrip, found 15 hours ago
$526
Roundtrip
found 15 hours ago
Select Delta flight, departing Sun, Nov 23 from Des Moines to San José, returning Wed, Nov 26, priced at $526 found 15 hours ago
Copa
Fri, Nov 14 - Wed, Nov 19
DSM
Des Moines
SJO
San José
$918 Roundtrip, found 10 hours ago
$918
Roundtrip
found 10 hours ago
Select Copa flight, departing Fri, Nov 14 from Des Moines to San José, returning Wed, Nov 19, priced at $918 found 10 hours ago

Find the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines (DSM) to San José (SJO)

September is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $370 - $1,409 per traveler.

Graph displaying average flight prices per month

Alternative airports near San José

Prices were available within the past 7 days. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Select flight to Juan Santamaria Intl. SJO. Cheapest option available. Average driving time to city center is 20 minutes. Flights from $557
SJO
Juan Santamaria Intl.
Cheapest
Average driving time to city center20 min
Flights from $557
Flights from Des Moines (DSM) to San José (SJO)
Origin airport
Des Moines Intl.
Destination airport
Juan Santamaría Intl.
Airlines serving
Air Canada, American Airlines, Copa, Delta, Southwest Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$450
Distance
2253 mi

Des Moines to San José Flights

The cheapest times to fly from Des Moines to San José

On average, Thursday can be the cheapest time to fly, according to data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), one of the world's biggest databases for global airline sales. The data reveals that you could save up to 16% by flying on a Thursday—the cheapest day to travel on average—instead of a Sunday—the most expensive. Some of the most affordable flights from Des Moines to San José are during the month of October. You can find some of the cheapest flights from Des Moines to San José with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

 

The best time to book a flight from Des Moines to San José

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from Des Moines to San José: Tickets reserved on a Sunday cost between 6% and 13% less than those reserved on a Friday, according to ARC data. The data also suggests booking early can also lead to cheaper airfares. You could save 24% by buying your tickets for domestic flights at least a month in advance and 10% by booking international flights 2 months in advance.

 

How to find cheap round-trip tickets from Des Moines to San José

Being flexible with your dates and using Expedia's Price Drop Protection and Price Tracking features are some of the best ways of finding a cheap ticket from Des Moines to San José in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $201 one-way. Expedia also offers Price Drop Protection, so if the cost of your airfare goes down after booking, you'll receive a credit for the difference*. This is available for a small fee, and is free to One Key Gold and Platinum tier members.

 

Expedia's Price Tracking feature means you can stay on top of airfares without manually checking every day. It sends you automated price alerts for cheap Des Moines to San José flights and uses historical data to indicate when the best time to book is. Download Expedia's free app to activate this handy tool in a few easy taps.

 

You could also save big by booking one of Expedia's vacation packages. Bundling together your Des Moines to San José airfare with your accommodations and car rental is often cheaper than booking everything separately. There’s also One Key, Expedia's generous rewards program. Join for free and you could earn One Key cash on most bookings to save on future adventures.

 

*Terms apply.

 

Disclaimer: ARC The statistics are based on average round-trip ticket prices between January and August 2023. The percentages you see are averages.

 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) cost?
Lock in a cheap one-way flight from $201 or cheap return flight from $450 from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) with Expedia. Enter your travel dates and sort by "Price (lowest to highest)" to find our cheapest flight offers on this route.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO)?
October is the most affordable month to fly from DSM to SJO. Avoiding peak travel times is often the key to finding better deals on flights.
What is the cheapest airline that flies from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO)?
To find the cheapest airline that'll fly you from DSM to SJO, use Expedia's filter tool. Customize your search based on what's important to you, such as preferred carriers and seat class. You can then sort your results by "Price (lowest to highest)" to discover the cheapest flight right away.
How many flights per day from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO)?
You'll have to hop on a flight with a layover when traveling from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO). There are no daily direct flights on this route. However, just filter your search to include one or more stops to find an option that works for you.
What day of the week has the most flights from DSM to SJO?
Friday is generally the busiest day for flights, while Tuesday is often the quietest.* Keep in mind that flight schedules can vary based on various factors, including the carrier and season.*Busiest/quietest day to travel is based on Expedia flight demand through January to December 2024.
What is the best time to fly from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO)?
To avoid possible delays on the Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) route, aim to fly before 3 PM. Flights after this time have a 22% higher chance of cancellation.**Most reliable time of the day and month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG's global flight data platform.
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) last-minute?
Holding off until right before your break to book a flight from DSM to SJO generally means paying more. While you may find some last-minute discounts, they aren't always guaranteed. Allow some flexibility in your schedule to maximize your chances of snagging a bargain.
Is it cheaper to book a DSM to SJO flight and hotel package?
Booking a DSM to SJO flight and hotel package is generally cheaper than booking separately. With Expedia, you can enjoy the convenience of organizing your travels in one place. Pick from our impressive range of accommodations and then add car rentals, flights and activities to your booking. Bundle it all together, and you could save hundreds of dollars.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from Des Moines Intl. Airport (DSM) to Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO)?
If you reserved your DSM to SJO flight in the last 24 hours, you may be able to cancel or modify it without fees. Depending on the airline and the type of ticket you purchased, additional charges may apply for changes beyond this timeframe. Airline policies and contact information can be found in your itinerary or confirmation email. Or, go to our Customer Service portal for more details.

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*Available to One Key members.