San Diego International to Los Angeles International
109 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 37m with 8 airlines operating direct service from San Diego International (SAN) to Los Angeles International (LAX). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $79 return), with peak prices in August (around $237). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from San Diego International
San Diego International is the busiest single-runway commercial airport in the United States, sitting 3 miles from downtown San Diego. MTS Route 992 runs from the terminals directly to downtown in around 15 minutes for $2.50; the future Trolley extension (planned 2027) will provide direct light rail. Southwest and Alaska have the largest schedules; American, Delta and United add full-service capacity. Limited international long-haul — British Airways and Lufthansa serve London and Frankfurt direct.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International serves the broader LA basin from its central position near El Segundo, 18 miles southwest of downtown LA. Ground transfers depend on Metro K Line shuttle to Crenshaw, FlyAway buses to Union Station ($9.75) or rideshare via the LAX-it lot. Fares to LAX from US East Coast bases run cheapest in January–February and September–October; June through August see Pacific-summer demand peaks tied to Asia connection traffic.
Who flies SAN to LAX?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 37m | Economy |
| Alaska Airlines | AS | 37m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 37m | Economy |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 37m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 37m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 37m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 37m | Economy |
| Hawaiian Airlines | HA | 37m | Economy |
8 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly SAN→LAX
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
San Diego to Los Angeles FAQs
Direct flights from San Diego International (SAN) to Los Angeles International (LAX) take approximately 37m for the 109-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $79. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
8 carriers operate direct service from San Diego International (SAN) to Los Angeles International (LAX): Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and 3 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — Southwest Airlines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
Los Angeles International (LAX) is the primary international airport for Los Angeles. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.