LAX - SJO

C$ 265 Find Cheap Flights from Los Angeles to San José – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
C$ 679
Typical prices: C$ 586-C$ 938
Southwest
Fri 16/2Sat 24/2
LAX - SJO • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
C$ 825
Typical prices: C$ 629-C$ 1,025
Alaska Airlines
Sat 20/1Sun 28/1
LAX - SJO • Direct
Direct flights
You can fly direct with Alaska Airlines and United Airlines. Average duration is 5h 48m
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 89% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 21 weeks in advance save around 16% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 24% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg C$ 551 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 8h 09m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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KAYAK searches hundreds of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you enjoy your trip to San José!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Los Angeles to San José (LAX-SJO)

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

Recent round-trip flight deals from Los Angeles to San José

Tue, 16 Feb - Wed, 24 Feb
Southwest Logo
12:50 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.LAX  Los Angeles-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
10h 55m1 stop Houston Hobby
Southwest Logo
2:45 p.m. - 10:20 p.m.SJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-LAX Los Angeles
9h 35m1 stop Houston Hobby
C$ 679Southwest
Sun, 31 Jan - Mon, 8 Feb
Southwest Logo
12:50 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.LAX  Los Angeles-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
10h 55m1 stop Houston Hobby
Southwest Logo
2:45 p.m. - 10:50 p.m.SJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-LAX Los Angeles
10h 05m1 stop Houston Hobby
C$ 685Southwest
Wed, 4 Nov - Wed, 18 Nov
Southwest Logo
7:45 p.m. - 12:20 p.m.LAX  Los Angeles-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
14h 35m2 stops Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl Houston Hobby
Southwest Logo
1:20 p.m. - 7:55 a.m.SJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-LAX Los Angeles
20h 35m2 stops Orlando Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
C$ 690Southwest
Tue, 19 Jan - Tue, 26 Jan
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:02 a.m. - 11:59 p.m.LAX  Los Angeles-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
10h 57m1 stop Guadalajara Miguel Hidal
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:15 p.m. - 9:22 a.m.SJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-LAX Los Angeles
19h 07m1 stop Guadalajara Miguel Hidal
C$ 692Multiple Airlines
Tue, 9 Feb - Sun, 21 Feb
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:02 a.m. - 11:59 p.m.LAX  Los Angeles-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
10h 57m1 stop Guadalajara Miguel Hidal
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:15 p.m. - 9:22 a.m.SJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-LAX Los Angeles
19h 07m1 stop Guadalajara Miguel Hidal
C$ 703Multiple Airlines
Thu, 11 Feb - Thu, 25 Feb
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:02 a.m. - 11:59 p.m.LAX  Los Angeles-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
10h 57m1 stop Guadalajara Miguel Hidal
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:15 p.m. - 9:22 a.m.SJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-LAX Los Angeles
19h 07m1 stop Guadalajara Miguel Hidal
C$ 706Multiple Airlines
Tue, 27 Oct - Tue, 3 Nov
JetBlue Logo
9:59 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.LAX  Los Angeles-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
14h 01m1 stop Fort Lauderdale
JetBlue Logo
3:05 p.m. - 11:56 p.m.SJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-LAX Los Angeles
10h 51m1 stop Fort Lauderdale
C$ 707JetBlue
Wed, 27 Jan - Wed, 3 Feb
Southwest Logo
6:50 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.LAX  Los Angeles-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
16h 00m2 stops Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl Orlando
Southwest Logo
2:45 p.m. - 10:20 p.m.SJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-LAX Los Angeles
9h 35m1 stop Houston Hobby
C$ 710Southwest
Mon, 26 Oct - Wed, 4 Nov
Southwest Logo
5:05 a.m. - 7:40 p.m.LAX  Los Angeles-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
13h 35m1 stop Houston Hobby
Southwest Logo
2:15 p.m. - 10:35 p.m.SJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-LAX Los Angeles
10h 20m1 stop Houston Hobby
C$ 711Southwest
Tue, 27 Oct - Wed, 11 Nov
JetBlue Logo
9:59 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.LAX  Los Angeles-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
14h 01m1 stop Fort Lauderdale
JetBlue Logo
3:05 p.m. - 11:53 p.m.SJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-LAX Los Angeles
10h 48m1 stop Fort Lauderdale
C$ 714JetBlue
Booking Insights

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

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

How much is a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to San José?

Round-trip flights from Los Angeles to San José start at C$ 679. Prices are typical for this route right now, with typical round-trip fares ranging from C$ 586 to C$ 938. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was C$ 679 on Southwest.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Los Angeles to San José?

Tuesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Los Angeles to San José and is 10% cheaper than the average day. Sunday is the most expensive day with flight prices 8% higher than average. Based on deals found by KAYAK users in the last 12 months.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Los Angeles to San José?

  • February is the cheapest month to fly from Los Angeles to San José at C$ 570 round-trip.
  • December (C$ 1,032) and July (C$ 868) are the most expensive months.
  • The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 81% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are prices from Los Angeles to San José the cheapest?

Flights from Los Angeles to San José are cheapest 21 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 16% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Los Angeles to San José

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on LAX

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Expert on SJO

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer and public speaker with more than 30 years of experience. The 2019 winner of the NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award, Mark is the author of the book “Prepare for Departure” and has covered air travel for multiple top consumer and trade media outlets.

Key details for Los Angeles to San José flights

Low season

September

Cheapest flight

C$ 265
Best time to beat the crowds (19% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly (39% more expensive on average)
Flights from Los Angeles to San José

When to book flights from Los Angeles to San José

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Los Angeles to San José based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your Los Angeles to San José flight questions, answered

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

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Los Angeles to San José flights?

    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.

  • Which airlines are available on the route from Los Angeles to San José?

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

    • Alaska Airlines
    • United Airlines

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Los Angeles to San José?

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

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Los Angeles to San José flights?

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

    • Alaska Airlines: a carry-on bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
    • United Airlines: a carry-on bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
    • American Airlines: a carry-on bag and a checked bag in Economy Class

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

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from Los Angeles to San José?

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

  • How much can I save by taking a layover when flying from Los Angeles to San José?

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Layover fares average C$ 551 round-trip via Monterrey Gen Mariano Escobedo (MTY), compared to C$ 816 for direct.

  • What is the standard checked bag allowance on flights from Los Angeles to San José?

    There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge C$ 42–C$ 139 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from Los Angeles to San José?

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

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Los Angeles to San José pass through?

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

    • San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL) – 39% of one-stop connections
    • Guatemala City La Aurora (GUA) – 31% of one-stop connections
    • Panama City Tocumen Intl (PTY) – 12% of one-stop connections
    • Houston George Bush Intcntl (IAH) – 8% of one-stop connections

    San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL) handles the largest share of one-stop connections on this route.

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Los Angeles to San José?

    Yes. Being flexible with your travel dates can save you up to 17% on the Los Angeles to San José route. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at C$ 675 round-trip on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at C$ 806, a difference of C$ 131. KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed on the route from Los Angeles to San José?

    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 3 months, with delays averaging 1 hour 55 minutes.

  • How are flight departures from Los Angeles to San José spread across the day?

    Afternoon is the busiest departure period on Los Angeles to San José flights, with 100% leaving in that window. Morning departures account for 0%, Evening flights for 0%, and Night flights for 0%.

  • Which popular places can I visit in San José?

    Some of the most popular sights in San José are Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, Parque Nacional, and Parque Metropolitano La Sabana. These are among the most viewed places in San José on KAYAK.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Los Angeles to San José?

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

    • Earliest: departs at 11:49 am and lands at 5:37 pm
    • Latest: departs at 10:42 pm and lands at 4:30 am.

    The flight takes about 5h 48m.

  • How expensive are last-minute Los Angeles to San José flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 4% above the route average of C$ 745. Book 21 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How long does a flight from Los Angeles to San José take?

    A direct flight from Los Angeles to San José takes 5h 48m, covering 7,048 km.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Los Angeles to San José?

    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.

  • Have flight prices from Los Angeles to San José changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about C$ 679 to C$ 3,894. That means the highest observed fare was about 6x higher than the lowest one.

  • How are flight prices from Los Angeles to San José looking right now?

    One-way fares from Los Angeles to San José are currently in line with typical prices for this route. Average one-way fares are about C$ 328.

  • How does Alaska Airlines's on-time performance compare to other airlines on Los Angeles to San José flights?

    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: 89% on time
    • United Airlines: 83% on time
    • Delta: 74% on time

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

  • How do delay rates compare for morning and evening flights from Los Angeles to San José?

    Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route. Delays tend to pile up throughout the day as one late flight pushes the next, so earlier departures are usually more reliable.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport when travelling from Los Angeles to San José?

    Flying via Guatemala City La Aurora (GUA) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 8h 09m, compared with 8h 23m via San Salvador El Salvador Intl (SAL) and 9h 26m via Houston George Bush Intcntl (IAH).

  • What is the time difference between Los Angeles and San José?

    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.

  • What car rental options are available at San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO)?

    San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around C$ 1 for economy cars. Top options include:
    • Budget
    • Avis
    • Priceless
    • Routes Car & Truck Rentals
    • Payless

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Los Angeles to San José flight?

    Round-trip flights from Los Angeles to San José range from C$ 586 to C$ 938, with an average of C$ 745 over the past 12 months. Anything below C$ 586 counts as a good deal.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi on Los Angeles to San José flights?

    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 program; others are paid add-ons priced by flight length.

Your guide to booking Los Angeles to San José flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Tuesday departure instead of Sunday. On this route, Tuesday flights average C$ 675 – about C$ 131 less than Sunday (16% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 21 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 16% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Los Angeles to San José trip for February. Fares historically average C$ 570 round-trip in that month – typically C$ 463 less than the most expensive month, which is December (based on the last 12 months).
  • If arriving on time is high on your priority list, Alaska Airlines is the strongest pick on this route. 89% of Alaska Airlines flights from Los Angeles to San José arrived on time in the past 3 months, slightly above the route's average on-time arrival rate of 87%. When flights on this route do arrive late, the average delay is 1 hour55 minutes, so choosing a carrier with strong on-time performance can make a difference on tight schedules.
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Monterrey Gen Mariano Escobedo Airport (MTY) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages C$ 551 round-trip on this route – about C$ 265 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).

Prefer to fly direct from Los Angeles to San José?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Los Angeles Airport to San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Los Angeles to San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Monday

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Thursday

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Friday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Sunday

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines

See more nonstop flights

Direct returns

San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Los Angeles

Monday

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Thursday

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Friday

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

Alaska Airlines,United Airlines

See more nonstop flights

More options for your flight from Los Angeles to San José

Complete your trip to San José with a hotel stay or car rental