DSM

$980 Find Cheap Flights to Des Moines – Compare and Save

1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
$1,481
Typical prices: $1,461-$2,400
American Airlines
Sun 21/10Thu 25/10
MEL - DSM • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way flight
$980
Typical prices: $939-$1,468
United Airlines
Mon 26/11
MEL - DSM • 2 stops
Top airlines
Delta
Best reviews • 7.8 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
Top routes
MEL - DSM
Cheapest • 20% average savings
SYD - DSM
Most popular
Insights
Insights
When to travel
January
Cheapest • 16% price drop
June
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
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We hope you enjoy your trip to Des Moines!
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Des Moines

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to Des Moines

Wed, 21 Oct - Sun, 25 Oct
American Airlines Logo
09:45 - 09:15MEL  Melbourne-DSM Des Moines
39h 30m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
09:48 - 05:00DSM  Des Moines-MEL Melbourne
27h 12m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$1,481American Airlines
Wed, 21 Oct - Sun, 25 Oct
American Airlines Logo
09:45 - 09:15MEL  Melbourne-DSM Des Moines
39h 30m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
09:48 - 05:00DSM  Des Moines-MEL Melbourne
27h 12m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$1,482American Airlines
Wed, 21 Oct - Sun, 25 Oct
American Airlines Logo
09:45 - 09:15MEL  Melbourne-DSM Des Moines
39h 30m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
06:14 - 05:00DSM  Des Moines-MEL Melbourne
30h 46m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$1,485American Airlines
Wed, 21 Oct - Sun, 25 Oct
American Airlines Logo
09:45 - 09:15MEL  Melbourne-DSM Des Moines
39h 30m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
09:48 - 05:00DSM  Des Moines-MEL Melbourne
27h 12m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$1,492American Airlines
Wed, 21 Oct - Sun, 25 Oct
American Airlines Logo
09:45 - 23:45MEL  Melbourne-DSM Des Moines
54h 00m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
American Airlines Logo
16:12 - 05:00DSM  Des Moines-MEL Melbourne
20h 48m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$1,616American Airlines
Wed, 21 Oct - Sun, 25 Oct
United Airlines Logo
10:30 - 16:20MEL  Melbourne-DSM Des Moines
21h 50m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
17:12 - 08:30DSM  Des Moines-MEL Melbourne
47h 18m2 stops Denver Intl Los Angeles Los Angeles
$1,738United Airlines
Wed, 21 Oct - Sun, 25 Oct
United Airlines Logo
10:30 - 16:20MEL  Melbourne-DSM Des Moines
21h 50m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
17:12 - 08:30DSM  Des Moines-MEL Melbourne
47h 18m2 stops Denver Intl Los Angeles Los Angeles
$1,739United Airlines
Wed, 21 Oct - Sun, 25 Oct
United Airlines Logo
10:30 - 16:20MEL  Melbourne-DSM Des Moines
21h 50m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
17:12 - 08:30DSM  Des Moines-MEL Melbourne
47h 18m2 stops Denver Intl Los Angeles Los Angeles
$1,742United Airlines
Wed, 21 Oct - Sun, 25 Oct
United Airlines Logo
10:30 - 16:20MEL  Melbourne-DSM Des Moines
21h 50m2 stops Los Angeles Los Angeles Denver Intl
United Airlines Logo
17:12 - 08:30DSM  Des Moines-MEL Melbourne
47h 18m2 stops Denver Intl Los Angeles Los Angeles
$1,750United Airlines
Wed, 21 Oct - Sun, 25 Oct
American Airlines Logo
10:35 - 18:55PER  Perth-DSM Des Moines
45h 20m2 stops Brisbane Los Angeles Los Angeles
American Airlines Logo
19:42 - 14:20DSM  Des Moines-PER Perth
53h 38m2 stops Dallas/Fort Worth Sydney Kingsford Smith
$2,060American Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for Australia to Des Moines flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from Australia to Des Moines with more confidence.

What is the cheapest flight to Des Moines?

Melbourne Airport to Des Moines is the cheapest route at $1,481 return, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. KAYAK data shows this is also the most popular route.

How much is a flight to Des Moines?

A return flight to Des Moines costs $1,790 on average, based on data over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Return fares from Melbourne Airport average $1,496, while Brisbane runs a bit higher at $1,611.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Des Moines?

Friday is the cheapest day to fly to Des Moines at $1,422 return on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Saturday is the most expensive at $2,309.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Des Moines?

  • January is the cheapest month to fly to Des Moines with an average price of $1,512 return.
  • September ($2,849) and June ($2,371) are the most expensive.
  • Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Des Moines?

Morning flights to Des Moines are the cheapest at $1,719 return on average. Night flights are the most expensive at $2,849.

What is a good deal for flights to Des Moines?

Flights under $1,461 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found return flights to Des Moines at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from:

  • Melbourne Airport $1,284
.

Find deals

Key details for flights to Des Moines

Low season

September

Cheapest flight

$980
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 59% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly (32% more expensive on average)
Flights from Melbourne Airport to Des Moines

When to book flights to Des Moines

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Des Moines based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your questions about flights to Des Moines, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at Des Moines?

    American Airlines operates the most flights from Australia to Des Moines at 0 per week, while Qantas Airways is the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from Australia to Des Moines. The two are often different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveller choice.

  • Where can I fly from to get the cheapest fares to Des Moines?

    Based on fares booked in the past 5 days, the cheapest flights to Des Moines are from:
    • Melbourne, from $1,481 return

  • How do I know if a flight to Des Moines is a good deal?

    A good deal on a flight to Des Moines is around $1,461 return. This fare is in the lowest 25% of return flight prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.

Your guide to booking Des Moines flights

From booking to airport arrival, find tips to help you plan your flight with more confidence.
  • For flights to Des Moines, recent KAYAK data shows that stronger deals tend to be around $1,461 return. If you see a fare below that threshold, it's a good deal – book before the price climbs back up.
  • If you can choose when to go, aim to travel to Des Moines in January. Return fares historically average $1,512 that month – typically the cheapest month to travel based on the last 12 months.
  • Before you book:

    • Check the route's typical price range so you can spot a deal.
    • Confirm baggage fees and seat selection costs on budget carriers.
    • Verify whether you need any travel documents beyond an ID.
    • Pick a departure airport, since your nearest may not be the cheapest origin.
  • Shift your departure to morning to save up to $1,130 per return. Morning flights to Des Moines average $1,719 compared to $2,849 for evening flights. See the time-of-day chart above for the full breakdown.

Reviews of the top airline flying to Des Moines

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to Des Moines? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.4
United AirlinesOverall score based on 10213 reviews
7.3Comfort
8.1Crew
7.7Boarding
7.1Entertainment
6.7Food
Airline reviews

Uncomfortable plastic seats even in premium economy. No free wifi. Even paid wifi was spotty to nonexistent. Bad food. Much worse than economy on foreign carriers like Qantas.

4.0 Okayziv, May 2026
Read more United Airlines reviews

Uncomfortable plastic seats even in premium economy. No free wifi. Even paid wifi was spotty to nonexistent. Bad food. Much worse than economy on foreign carriers like Qantas.

A long delay. Don't travel late in the day.

The seat was comfortable. There was a lot of turbulence. If it weren't for that,it would have been okay.

Good flight. However, when booked flight with United, assumed the layover included by United in San Francisco of 1 hr and 40 minutes was sufficient . Not so and would recommend at least 2 hours or more. Needed to go through US immigration (very long lineups), then pick up bags, take all the way to another terminal, running because we did not have sufficient time. We made the flight because they held the door for us but luggage didn’t follow.

It was good but only meal served is very less. Meantime good to add rice and chicken in one of meal

I found the staff to not be very attentive at all. When paying for Business Class you expect a certain type of service and that was not found. They were almost rude even

It was great, I’m very grateful for the pilots and crew flight attendants for everything.

Flight was great. Efficient boarding. Short flight. Early arrival. Friendly flight crew. The entertainment system did not work well. Could not access it until the aircraft reached 10K feet or more. Lots of glitches.

Great. Food going from Australia to the US was better than other way around, but still needs improvement in terms of quality and quantity!!!

No food service almost missed because of first flight delays

Travelling to a place near Des Moines?

Book flights to Des Moines if you plan to visit one of these locations
Clive
West Des Moines
Oskaloosa

More options for your flight to Des Moines