$399 Find Cheap Flights from Los Angeles to San José – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Los Angeles to San José:

• Earliest: departs at 12:37 and lands at 18:22
• Latest: departs at 23:27 and lands at 05:12.

The flight takes about 5h 45m.

Only Economy class is available on flights from Los Angeles to San José.

A direct flight from Los Angeles to San José takes 5h 45m, covering 7,048 km.

Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

Return flights from Los Angeles to San José range from $634 to $984, with an average of $809 over the past 12 months. Anything below $634 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 2% above the $809 route average. Book 18 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $567 return via Monterrey Gen Mariano Escobedo (MTY), compared with $868 for direct.

Alaska Airlines is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while United Airlines has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Los Angeles to San José flights are:

• Alaska Airlines: 90% on time
• United Airlines: 84% on time
• Delta: 74% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 87% of the time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $43–$142 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by United Airlines and American Airlines. Other aircraft seen on the route include Boeing 737 variants.

Afternoon is the busiest departure period on Los Angeles to San José flights, with 50% leaving in that window. Night departures account for 50%, Morning flights for 0%, and Evening flights for 0%.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, return flight prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $800 to $5,767. That means the highest observed fare was about 7x higher than the lowest one.

Three airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi on Los Angeles to San José flights:

• Alaska Airlines
• Delta
• JetBlue

Pricing varies by airline and fare class. Some plans are included with the ticket or loyalty programme, while others are paid add-ons priced by flight length.

One-way fares from Los Angeles to San José are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $441, which is 16% above the typical average for this route.

San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $2 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Priceless
• Avis
• Budget
• Routes Car & Truck Rentals
• Payless

Flights from Los Angeles to San José usually depart from Los Angeles (LAX) and arrive at San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO).

Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route, while night departures tend to have the most.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Los Angeles to San José route, 13% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 1h 57m.

One-stop flights from Los Angeles to San José most commonly connect through:

• San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL) – 46% of one-stop connections
• Guatemala City La Aurora (GUA) – 24% of one-stop connections
• Panama City Tocumen Intl (PTY) – 10% of one-stop connections
• Houston George Bush Intcntl (IAH) – 8% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 15% on flights from Los Angeles to San José. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at $740 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at $861, a difference of $121.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

3 airlines operate flights between Los Angeles and San José. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• Alaska Airlines
• United Airlines
• Delta

Flying via Guatemala City La Aurora (GUA) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 8h 03m, compared to 8h 17m via San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL) and 9h 27m via Houston George Bush Intcntl (IAH).

San José is 1 hour ahead of Los Angeles (Central Time vs Pacific Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Among airlines operating Los Angeles to San José flights:

• Alaska Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• United Airlines: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• American Airlines: offers free seat selection
• Delta: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection
• Avianca: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Alaska Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• United Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• American Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

If you are a smoker, it is important to keep in mind that there are not currently any smoking rooms anywhere at Juan Santamaria International Airport. To have a cigarette or use your electronic device, you will have to leave security and smoke outside the doors of the Arrivals terminal.

The Hotel Santamaria is a mere 6-minute walk from the Juan Santamaria Cultural Historical Museum and a 12-minute drive from the Juan Santamaria International Airport. The Courtyard by Marriott is a casual choice that is a 5-minute drive from the Juan Santamaria Park and a 9-minute drive from the airport.

Los Angeles International Airport is home to a variety of stores that sell local goods, souvenirs, and gifts. Travel + Leisure is a popular shop that focuses on suitcases and travel accessories, while DFS Duty Free has liquor, clothing, beauty items, and food products.

If you enjoy planes, make sure to pay a visit to the Observation Deck, which is located in the main terminal of Los Angeles International Airport. If you are an art-enthusiast, take a look at the rotating exhibits done by local artists that can be found throughout the different terminals.