SJO

$1,401 Find Cheap Flights to San José – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
$2,058
Typical prices: $2,081-$3,164
Air Canada
Sun 25/11Sun 2/12
BNE - SJO • 2 stops
Cheapest one-way flight
$1,281
Typical prices: $1,252-$2,137
Multiple Airlines
Wed 31/1
MEL - SJO • 3 stops
Top airlines
Best reviews • 7.4 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
Top routes
Cheapest • 24% average savings
Most popular
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 26% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
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We hope you enjoy your trip to San José!
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Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to San José

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

Recent return flight deals to San José

Wed, 25 Nov - Wed, 2 Dec
Air Canada Logo
10:45 - 22:30Brisbane  Brisbane-San José San José Juan Santamaria Intl
51h 45m2 stops Vancouver Intl Toronto Pearson Intl
Air Canada Logo
09:20 - 08:45San José  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Brisbane Brisbane
31h 25m2 stops Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl Vancouver Intl
$2,058Air Canada
3+ days ago
Wed, 25 Nov - Tue, 1 Dec
Multiple Airlines Logo
13:10 - 23:51Brisbane  Brisbane-San José San José Juan Santamaria Intl
26h 41m1 stop Los Angeles
Multiple Airlines Logo
01:46 - 05:50San José  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Brisbane Brisbane
36h 04m1 stop Los Angeles
$2,059Multiple Airlines
3+ days ago
Sat, 14 Nov - Sat, 5 Dec
Air Canada Logo
10:45 - 23:50Brisbane  Brisbane-San José San José Juan Santamaria Intl
53h 05m2 stops Vancouver Intl Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl
Air Canada Logo
09:20 - 08:45San José  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Brisbane Brisbane
55h 25m2 stops Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl Vancouver Intl
$2,068Air Canada
3+ days ago
Sat, 14 Nov - Sat, 5 Dec
Air Canada Logo
10:45 - 23:50Brisbane  Brisbane-San José San José Juan Santamaria Intl
53h 05m2 stops Vancouver Intl Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl
Air Canada Logo
09:20 - 08:45San José  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Brisbane Brisbane
55h 25m2 stops Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Intl Vancouver Intl
$2,075Air Canada
3+ days ago
Sat, 14 Nov - Sat, 5 Dec
American Airlines Logo
09:40 - 20:50Brisbane  Brisbane-San José San José Juan Santamaria Intl
27h 10m2 stops Dallas/Fort Worth Miami
American Airlines Logo
15:00 - 06:30San José  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Brisbane Brisbane
23h 30m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
$2,115American Airlines
3+ days ago
Sat, 27 Feb - Tue, 2 Mar
American Airlines Logo
09:40 - 22:57Brisbane  Brisbane-San José San José Juan Santamaria Intl
29h 17m1 stop Dallas/Fort Worth
American Airlines Logo
15:35 - 06:30San José  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Brisbane Brisbane
46h 55m2 stops Miami Dallas/Fort Worth
$2,119American Airlines
1 day ago
Sat, 27 Feb - Tue, 2 Mar
American Airlines Logo
09:40 - 21:17Brisbane  Brisbane-San José San José Juan Santamaria Intl
27h 37m2 stops Dallas/Fort Worth Miami
American Airlines Logo
15:35 - 06:30San José  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Brisbane Brisbane
46h 55m2 stops Miami Dallas/Fort Worth
$2,119American Airlines
1 day ago
Sat, 5 Dec - Fri, 25 Dec
United Airlines Logo
11:50 - 06:25Sydney  Sydney Kingsford Smith-San José San José Juan Santamaria Intl
35h 35m2 stops San Francisco Los Angeles
United Airlines Logo
09:40 - 09:20San José  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Sydney Sydney Kingsford Smith
30h 40m1 stop San Francisco
$2,778United Airlines
3+ days ago
Sat, 5 Dec - Fri, 25 Dec
United Airlines Logo
11:20 - 06:25Sydney  Sydney Kingsford Smith-San José San José Juan Santamaria Intl
36h 05m1 stop Los Angeles
United Airlines Logo
09:40 - 09:20San José  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Sydney Sydney Kingsford Smith
30h 40m1 stop San Francisco
$2,778United Airlines
3+ days ago
Sat, 5 Dec - Fri, 25 Dec
United Airlines Logo
11:50 - 13:22Sydney  Sydney Kingsford Smith-San José San José Juan Santamaria Intl
42h 32m2 stops San Francisco Houston George Bush Intcntl
United Airlines Logo
09:40 - 09:20San José  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-Sydney Sydney Kingsford Smith
30h 40m1 stop San Francisco
$2,778United Airlines
3+ days ago
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for flights to San José

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

What is the cheapest flight to San José?

Brisbane to San José is the cheapest route at $2,058 return, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. Sydney to San José is the most popular connection with return deals from $2,119.

How much is a flight to San José?

On average, a return flight from Australia to San José costs $2,533, based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months. Return fares from Sydney average $2,104, while Brisbane runs a bit higher at $2,441.

What is the cheapest day to fly to San José?

Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly to San José at $2,195 return on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Friday is the most expensive at $2,748.

What is the cheapest month to fly to San José?

•May is the cheapest month to fly to San José with an average price of $1,871 return.
•December ($3,370) and September ($2,839) are the most expensive.
•Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to San José?

Evening flights to San José are the cheapest at $2,099 return on average. Night flights are the most expensive at $3,067.

What is a good deal for flights to San José?

Flights under $2,081 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found return flights to San José at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from:
•Sydney $1,972.

Key details for flights to San José

Low season

August

Cheapest flight

$1,281
Beat the crowds with an average 72% drop in traveller numbers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 100% increase in traveller numbers.
One-way flight from Melbourne Airport to San José

When to book flights to San José

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to San José 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 San José, answered

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

  • How do I know if a flight to San José is a good deal?

    A good deal on a flight to San José is around $2,081 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.

  • What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at San José?

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

  • Does San José Airport have any lounges?

    There are two pay-at-the-door lounges available for passengers departing from San José Airport. The Santa Maria VIP Lounge is close to Gate 5 and has a sports bar and newspapers and magazines for entertainment. In the VIP Lounge Costa Rica you can enjoy a sushi restaurant and conference facilities for an entry fee from ₡ 19.275 (A$ 49) for 3h.

  • How can I get to San José from the airport using public transport?

    There is a public bus connection from San José to various places in the city centre, and with tickets for about ₡ 567–1.134 (A$ 1.50–3.00) per ride, it is also the cheapest means to travel. To get to the bus, walk for about 5min from the terminal building to the stop. Buses depart frequently and it takes about 15–30min, depending on traffic, to reach the city centre.

  • Are there any hotels close to San José Airport?

    If you arrive late and need a room to stay for the night, there are various airport hotels to choose from. Big chains like Hilton and Holiday Inn Express have hotels just a few minutes on foot from the main terminal building. There are also hotel shuttles available.

  • Where can I find the car hire centre at San José Airport?

    A car hire gives you the most flexibility during your stay and you can choose from a range of car hire providers at San José Airport. Situated in the Arrivals Hall of the main passenger terminal, just after customs, you find companies like Budget, Economy, and Alamo, among many others.

  • Where are the stopovers on the flight to San José?

    Each airline has a different choice on where to have the stopover, so it depends on how many stops you have and which airline you are flying to San José with. United Airlines has most stopovers on this connection in Houston, and Delta stops at Los Angeles Airport (LAX).

Your guide to booking San José flights

From booking to airport arrival, find tips to help you plan your flight with more confidence.
  • For flights to San José, a good return fare is around $2,081. If you find a fare below that, you're getting a strong deal.
  • If your travel dates are flexible, consider flying to San José in May. Return fares historically average $1,871, making May the cheapest month to travel based on KAYAK data from 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 afternoon to save up to $968 on a return flight. Afternoon flights to San José average $2,099 compared to $3,067 for evening flights.
  • Although there are no direct flights from Australia to San José Juan International Airport (SJO), you can opt for flying with Delta or United Airlines for a one-stop flight. Delta flies with just one stopover from Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne for example, and United Airlines is also an option from Sydney.
  • While the city of San José is conveniently close to the airport with only 30min of driving, many tourists fly to the area for the nearby beaches and national parks. Coastal destinations like Playa Herdurra and Punta Arenas are about 1h 30min from the airport by car and the Irazu Volcano is about 2h by car from the airport.
  • If you feel hunger gnawing at your stomach upon arriving in San José Airport, there is a restaurant and cafeteria called Deli Malinche in the Arrivals Area, close to Gate 10. It has indoor and outdoor seating, sells bottled beverages as well as meals. It is open daily from 5:00 to 20:00. The Café Lavazza on the mezzanine level is open 24/7.
  • There is a 24h car park for both long- and short-term parking just in front of the main terminal building, spread over two levels. Rates lie at approximately ₡ 19.842 (A$ 52) per day and around ₡ 113.384 (A$ 294) per week.
  • Travellers who opt for continuing their journey by cab should note that the official taxis are orange and have a serial number and logo on the side. It is advised to only take these taxis, as they have regulated, metered fares. Nevertheless, ask the approximate price before going to your destination.
  • Travellers should note that San José Airport is a non-smoking airport and there are no smoking areas pre- or post-security. If you need a smoke upon arrival, wait until you have left the airport area to avoid any trouble.

Reviews of the top airlines flying to San José

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to San José? 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 10362 reviews
8.1Crew
6.7Food
7.1Entertainment
7.3Comfort
7.7Boarding
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.

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

My experience on this United Airlines flight was highly uncomfortable, primarily due to two issues: Cabin Temperature: The temperature on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was unacceptably high, feeling consistently around 80 degrees throughout the flight. This made sleeping impossible and significantly detracted from the experience. Seating Arrangement: Being stuck in a middle seat for a six-and-a-half-hour overnight flight compounded the discomfort. Moving forward, I will always purchase a seat assignment to avoid this situation.

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

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

Flight departed owing to SFO TSA delays as well as incoming flight running late I know these delays are commonplace but when you’re flying long haul international the least that could be done is priority being given to customers in this situation I raced to the gate the plane was still there but NO UNITED AIRLINES STAFF in the surrounding area could seemingly provide effective support This coloured my view of flying with UA The actual flights were good

Crew seemed annoyed by the fact we were there. Very unpleasant

I had very little time to change planes originally in Denver after my flight from Omaha. I had an hour and a half layover in Denver originally and my flight leaving Omaha was delayed an hour because they had to change a tire, which I can understand. When I reached Denver my other flight was late, fortunately, but I still had only 10 minutes to run about a mile through the airport to get to my flight. Again, fortunately, I am a healthy 71-year-old and was able to accomplish this feat. However, the stress was more than necessary to bear.

Due to a cancelled flight the day before this flight only had 44 people. Best flight ever on international route. Food getting better. Can United provide fruit ex apples and bananas for snacks? Crew fantastic.

The plane was comfortable but the crew wasn’t friendly.

I was traveling alone abroad for the first time and the staff was not helpful and rude at times.

Delayed 24 hours. Should have called it much earlier They provided quality accommodations, food vouchers etc. FINALLY The issues started at 8 AM and they cancelled the flight at 11:30 PM, with no plans for a new flight.

The flight attendants as well as the gate agent were out to lunch. Nothing extraordinary about their service. American just keeps getting worse every year.

Overall, my last three trips on American Airlines have all been either delayed or "rescheduled" due to mechanical issues. At least on delay caused me to miss two possible connecting flights each later than the first. My last option for my last connection required the assistance of the onsite service desk (O'Hare Airport). The wait time for the service desk was such that it jeopardized getting booked on the last connecting flight available for the night. Suffice it to say, my latest experiences with American Airlines have caused me extensive loss of productive business and personal time and can therefore be classified as significantly less than satisfactory.

I have been flying with American most of my professional career. But the airline seems tired and becoming more and more subpar with older planes than other airlines, dirtier and less comfortable seating, and less and less amenities. Their WiFi seldom works and their food is becoming more and more mediocre. How do you fly from LAX to PHL with only being offered one drink and as a platinum customer. I am exploring delta here on out for more of my flying.

American Airlines canceled the flight twice and was unable to facilitate a change of city for us after our travel plans became affected. We lost alot of money due to this and it seems like the airline was trying their best not to facilitate this. Mind you, I am a very loyal member.

A much better flight than our previous. The flight attendant took care of us and regularly checked in to see if we needed anything. Brought us drinks prior to the departure and then a couple more times. Totally makes the difference in how you travel when the crew is checking on their passengers. Great job on this leg of our trip.

Flight was a delayed a few minutes but nothing crazy, everything went extremely well

Our seats were better than i had anticipated. They provided nice pillows and blankets as well as a kit with ear plugs, sleep mask and headphones which made the long haul flight better. Their food selection and service was good. I appreciated that they came through the cabin with water a few times. We were ahead of schedule which was nice!

Travelling to a place near San José?

Book flights to San José if you plan to visit one of these locations
Manuel Antonio
Jacó
Alajuela
Monteverde

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