Save Big on Flights to san diego

Flights To San Diego (SAN)

The cheapest months to fly to San Diego are January, February, May, and September; the round-trip flight fares often range from $200 to $254 (based on flights from New York City (NYC) to San Diego (SAN)).

The most expensive month to fly to San Diego is July, primarily due to peak summer vacation demand and events like Comic-Con International. A round-trip flight can range from $539 to $637 if traveling from Atlanta to San Diego. Even during the winter holidays (late December to early January), flight fares increase by roughly 15% compared to the low season. A round-trip flight fare from New York to San Diego ranges from $228 to $528.

If we compare the one-way flight fares to SAN, for the three top routes, here's the data

SFO to SAN

• Winter Fare: $60 to $70
• Summer Fare: $56 to $104

DEN to SAN

• Winter Fare: $28 to $43
• Summer Fare: $65 to $155

ORD to SAN

• Winter Fare: $59 to $89
• Summer Fare: $119 to $174

San Diego International Airport (SAN) serves more than 17-20 airlines and connects to over 87-88 nonstop destinations worldwide, making it the 3rd-busiest airport in California.

Details on San Diego International Airport (SAN)

• Distance from San Diego Downtown: 3 miles
• Airport terminals: 2 passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and 2
• Annual passengers: 25.32 million travelers per year
• Airport Area: over 661-663 acres of land
• Features: 1 runway
• Operating base for: Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines
• Daily Departures: 500 daily flights (per recent data)

Airport statistics show that San Diego Airport (SAN) handled over 500 to 520 flights in a single day in January 2026.

Top Airlines Flying to San Diego

Here is a breakdown of popular routes served by the major carriers operating flights to San Diego.

American Airlines

• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to San Diego (SAN)
• Philadelphia (PHL) to San Diego (SAN)
• Chicago (ORD) to San Diego (SAN)
• Charlotte (CLT) to San Diego (SAN)
• Miami (MIA) to San Diego (SAN)

Southwest Airlines

• Las Vegas (LAS) to San Diego (SAN)
• Denver (DEN) to San Diego (SAN)
• Phoenix (PHX) to San Diego (SAN)
• Sacramento (SMF) to San Diego (SAN)
• Honolulu (HNL) to San Diego (SAN)

Delta Air Lines

• Atlanta (ATL) to San Diego (SAN)
• Seattle (SEA) to San Diego (SAN)
• Minneapolis St. Paul (MSP) to San Diego (SAN))
• Salt Lake City (SLC) to San Diego (SAN)
• Detroit (DTW) to San Diego (SAN)

United Airlines

• Denver (DEN) to San Diego (SAN)
• San Francisco to San Diego (SAN)
• Chicago (ORD) to San Diego (SAN)
• Houston (IAH) to San Diego (SAN)
• Newark (EWR) to San Diego (SAN)

Alaska Airlines

• Seattle (SEA) to San Diego (SAN)
• Portland (PDX) to San Diego (SAN)
• San Francisco (SFO) to San Diego (SAN)
• New York (JFK) to San Diego (SAN)
• San Jose (SJC) to San Diego (SAN)

Airline Comparison

• American Airlines: 35-50 daily flights, full-service carrier. Operates from Terminal 2.
• Delta Air Lines: 40-55 daily flights, full-service carrier. Operates from Terminal 2.
• United Airlines: 40-60 daily flights, full-service carrier. Operates from Terminal 2.
• Southwest Airlines: 150-170 daily flights, low-cost carrier. Operates from Terminal 1.
• Alaska Airlines: 120-140 daily flights, full-service carrier. Operates from Terminal 2.

The Las Vegas (LAS)- San Diego (SAN) flight route has the highest frequency, with 15 flights observed on a single day. This route is served by all major airlines: Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.

Fare Comparison: Las Vegas (LAS) - San Diego (SAN)

(One-way flight, fares based on 3 months from now)

• Southwest Airlines: $93
• Alaska Airlines: $94
• Delta Airlines: $113
• Frontier Airlines: $137
• United Airlines: $107

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FAQs About Flights to San Diego

Which is the cheapest month to fly to San Diego?

January and February usually offer the lowest airfare prices. One- way flights from major U.S. cities often start around $28 to $43 during these months (DEN to SAN).

Which airlines fly nonstop to San Diego (SAN)?

Major carriers include Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways. Frontier Airlines also operates a limited service. Note: Spirit Airlines discontinued SAN service in 2025.

How far is San Diego International Airport from Downtown San Diego?

SAN is located about 3 miles (5 km) northwest of Downtown San Diego. Travel time is typically 10 ,15 minutes by car or rideshare.

Which major U.S. cities currently have nonstop flights to San Diego (SAN)?

Nonstop service connects SAN to Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Las Vegas, New York (JFK/EWR), San Francisco, Boston, Miami, Washington D.C., Houston, Orlando, and more than 80 other destinations.

What terminals serve major airlines at SAN?

SAN has two terminals:

• Terminal 1: Southwest, Frontier.
• Terminal 2: Alaska, American, Delta, United, JetBlue, and international carriers.

Which are the cheapest airlines to fly to San Diego?

Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines generally offer the lowest fares to SAN.

Does any foreign airline fly to San Diego and from which places?

Yes. British Airways (London Heathrow), Lufthansa (Munich), Japan Airlines (Tokyo Narita), ANA (Tokyo Haneda), Air Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal), WestJet (Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto), Volaris (Mexico City, Guadalajara), and Aeromexico (Mexico City) all serve SAN.

What are the landmarks of San Diego to visit?

Popular attractions include Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum, Old Town San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter, and La Jolla Cove.

Which is the nearest airport to San Diego International Airport?

Nearby alternatives include Tijuana International Airport (TIJ, approx. 20 miles south), John Wayne Airport in Orange County (SNA, approx. 85 miles north), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX, approx. 120 miles north).

How early should I arrive at the airport?

Arrive 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international flights.

Should I use Incognito Mode to search?

Incognito mode can prevent websites from tracking repeated searches, but it does not guarantee lower fares.

Pet friendly flights to SAN?

Southwest, Alaska, American, Delta, United, and JetBlue all allow pets on board and operate flights to San Diego.

Are last minute deals a real thing?

Yes, but availability is limited. Airlines and OTAs occasionally release discounted seats close to departure.

Can I store my luggage at the airport?

SAN does not provide on site luggage lockers. Off site storage options are available nearby via providers like Bounce and Stasher.

Cheapest day to fly to San Diego

Flights are generally cheapest on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when demand is lower.

Mid week San Diego flight deals

Flying Tuesday, Thursday often yields lower fares, especially on Southwest and Frontier.