SEA - DSM

$157 Find Cheap Flights from Seattle to Des Moines

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Seattle to Des Moines departing on 12/12. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Seattle to Des Moines.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Seattle to Des Moines.
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Seattle to Des Moines (SEA-DSM)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Seattle to Des Moines that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Seattle to Des Moines

Thu, Nov 20 - Sun, Nov 23
Frontier Logo
1:01 pm - 6:38 pmSEA-DSM
27h 37m1 stop
Frontier Logo
8:19 pm - 11:56 amDSM-SEA
17h 37m1 stop
$247Frontier
Find Deal
Thu, Nov 20 - Sun, Nov 23
Frontier Logo
1:01 pm - 6:38 pmSEA-DSM
27h 37m1 stop
Frontier Logo
8:19 pm - 8:58 pmDSM-SEA
26h 39m2 stops
$299Frontier
Find Deal
Mon, Nov 17 - Fri, Nov 21
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:43 am - 10:40 pmSEA-DSM
8h 57m1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:46 pm - 11:56 amDSM-SEA
18h 10m1 stop
$340Multiple Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Nov 24 - Wed, Dec 3
Delta Logo
11:10 pm - 9:41 amSEA-DSM
8h 31m1 stop
Delta Logo
6:50 am - 10:54 amDSM-SEA
6h 04m1 stop
$347Delta
Find Deal
Tue, Mar 3 - Wed, Mar 4
Delta Logo
6:05 am - 3:41 pmSEA-DSM
7h 36m1 stop
Delta Logo
10:57 am - 2:52 pmDSM-SEA
5h 55m1 stop
$351Delta
Find Deal
Sun, Nov 16 - Thu, Nov 20
Multiple Airlines Logo
12:58 pm - 1:47 pmSEA-DSM
22h 49m2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
8:30 am - 1:22 pmDSM-SEA
30h 52m1 stop
$369Multiple Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Dec 1 - Mon, Dec 8
American Airlines Logo
11:59 pm - 10:40 amSEA-DSM
8h 41m1 stop
American Airlines Logo
6:00 pm - 11:38 pmDSM-SEA
7h 38m1 stop
$414American Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, Nov 25 - Tue, Dec 2
United Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 8:45 pmSEA-DSM
11h 45m2 stops
United Airlines Logo
5:15 pm - 9:46 pmDSM-SEA
6h 31m1 stop
$417United Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Mar 2 - Wed, Mar 4
American Airlines Logo
12:59 am - 10:46 amSEA-DSM
7h 47m1 stop
American Airlines Logo
3:15 pm - 10:52 pmDSM-SEA
9h 37m1 stop
$423American Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, Apr 22 - Tue, Apr 28
United Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 5:33 pmSEA-DSM
8h 33m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 9:59 amDSM-SEA
5h 59m1 stop
$427United Airlines
Find Deal

Everything you should know

Top airlines
Frontier
Cheapest • from $247 (round-trip)
Southwest
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
3 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 39% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
October
Cheapest • 18% price drop
April
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Cheapest round-trip
$247
Overall average: $441
Frontier
Thu 11/20Sun 11/23
SEA - DSM • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$157
Typical prices: $253-$488
Multiple Airlines
Fri 12/12
SEA - DSM • 2 stops
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Des Moines!
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Seattle to Des Moines flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Seattle to Des Moines to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Seattle to Des Moines?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Seattle to Des Moines clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to Des Moines on a Wednesday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Sunday is the most expensive day to fly from Seattle to Des Moines. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Tuesday and avoiding Sundays for the best deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Seattle to Des Moines?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Seattle to Des Moines, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Seattle to Des Moines is October, where tickets cost $363 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and March, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $599 and $481 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Seattle to Des Moines?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Seattle to Des Moines, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Seattle to Des Moines, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 39% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 16 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$157
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 11% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 9% lower on average.
Flight from Seattle to Des Moines

When to book flights from Seattle to Des Moines

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Seattle to Des Moines based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Seattle to Des Moines

  • Can I upgrade to first class after booking my Seattle to Des Moines flight ticket?

    We highly recommend upgrading your flight, given the long hours your flight will take. American Airlines offers upgrade options to first class at a reduced fee after you have booked your ticket. American Airlines first class features priority airport check-in, extra baggage allowance, better seat selections, priority boarding, and free meals.

  • What facilities are available with airlines on this route for travelers with disabilities?

    Most airlines on this route feature dedicated assistance personnel to aid passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. United Airlines features armrest release systems to help those with mobility challenges. Also, you can bring scooters, walkers, or electric wheelchairs on board.

  • Can I access airport lounges on this route if I'm not a frequent flyer?

    You can access airline lounges if you purchase their first class or business class option. If you are a Delta One passenger, you can access the Delta Air Lines Delta Sky Club at SEA for free. Similarly, first class travelers on United Airlines will enjoy premium amenities at United Airlines United Club during a layover at ORD.

  • Which alternative airports in Seattle can I use to fly out to Des Moines?

    You can also fly from Snohomish County Airport (PAE) in Seattle to Des Moines, also known as Paine Field Airport. This is a smaller airport compared to SEA, which means shorter lines, less crowded terminals, and potentially quicker check-in and security procedures.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Seattle to Des Moines?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Seattle to Des Moines was $157 for a one-way ticket and $247 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Seattle and Des Moines?

    No, a passport isn't needed to fly from Seattle to Des Moines. However, local authorities might ask for an official ID.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Seattle to Des Moines?

    We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Seattle to Des Moines?

    SkyTeam, oneworld, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Seattle and Des Moines, with SkyTeam being the most commonly used for this route.

  • What is the most popular layover when flying to Des Moines from Seattle?

    Denver is the most popular layover city among KAYAK users traveling from Seattle to Des Moines.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Seattle to Des Moines, Southwest or Alaska Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Seattle to Des Moines are Southwest and Alaska Airlines. With an average price for the route of $444 and an overall rating of 8.0, Southwest is the most popular choice. Alaska Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $599 and an overall rating of 8.0.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Seattle to Des Moines?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Seattle to Des Moines.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Seattle to Des Moines?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Des Moines from Seattle is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Seattle to Des Moines?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Des Moines with an airline and back to Seattle with another airline. Booking your flights between Seattle and DSM can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Seattle to Des Moines?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Des Moines from Seattle up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Seattle to Des Moines

  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is easily accessible from downtown Seattle. The Link Light Rail provides a fast and frequent connection, with trains departing approximately every 10 minutes. The journey lasts for about 38 minutes and is available from 5 am to 1 am on weekdays and from 6 am to midnight on Sundays and holidays.
  • When traveling with a pet from Seattle to Des Moines, your airline may have specific policies. Frontier allows passengers to add a pet to their reservation. Although there's no cap on the number of pets allowed in the cabin, Frontier allows one pet per passenger on board, put inside a pet carrier. Note that the pet carrier needs to be no more than 8 x14 x 8 inches in size.
  • You can book your minor for unaccompanied minor services for a flight from Seattle to Des Moines. United, American, and Frontier Airlines have this service which ensures the safety and comfort of young travelers. Trained staff escorts the children through security checks and assists them during boarding, connecting flights, and arrival procedures.
  • To fly eco-friendly, choose an airline that is committed to reducing carbon emissions and implementing eco-friendly initiatives. Frontier and Delta are the eco-friendly airlines on this route that actively participate in sustainable practices to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the flight route.
  • With a flight of over 6 hours, you want to consider a layover so as to break up the fight and enjoy exploring the layover point. Common layover cities for this route include Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) for a flight with Delta and Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) with United Airlines, American Airlines, or Alaska Airlines. Also, American Airlines has an alternative layover at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Seattle to Des Moines

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Seattle to Des Moines. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Seattle to Des Moines? 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.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4240 reviews
7.5Entertainment
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
8.6Crew
8.0Comfort
Airline reviews

Ever since Southwest starting charging for bags, passengers don't want to pay to check their bags, so the gate agents have to beg people to check their roller bags now because there's "not enough space". This was a terrible business move by Southwest.

8.0 ExcellentGreg, Oct 2025OAK - BUR
Read more Southwest reviews

Ever since Southwest starting charging for bags, passengers don't want to pay to check their bags, so the gate agents have to beg people to check their roller bags now because there's "not enough space". This was a terrible business move by Southwest.

Full cans of soda would be nice. A choice between two snacks would be appreciated.

Tried watching free movie and it kept freezing so I couldn’t finish.

All was good. I just had a hard time getting connected to the WiFi/internet during the flight

Sacrament staff are always polite and helpful. Airport is easy to maneuver and boarding is straightforward.

Great flight. Outstanding Service. Southwest was able to put us on a direct flight to Denver when the connection could have been affected by a later arrival to Baltimore. The direct flight was less expensive that the flight with the connection in Baltimore.

Delays delays delays. Late taking off, late landing, wait for a gate, etc.

Boarded on time but once we were ready for take off, the crew determined that, although every seat was taken, somehow someone was on the wrong flight. Delay, delay delay, announcements and ended up with one person checking EVERY ID against their passenger Manifest only to figure out it was a "clerical error." We departed 54 minutes late causing me to run in the St. Louis Airport to make my connection and lose the priority boarding spot I had paid for. Unnecessary delay.

I was re-booked onto another flight because my original flight was delayed and I would have missed my connector. I ended up in the “C” group after paying extra to be in the “A “ group on the original flight. At least if you’re going to re-book people, re-book them into the same group.

Flight was delayed due to plane not passing inspection And one of the crew had to time out and we had to wait for another one A 3 hour delay

I truly love flying with Delta. They have always treated me with the upmost respect

Our flight attendant in FIRST CLASS was one of the worst I’ve ever had. She was not at all pleasant, nor particularly good at her service.

Everything went well and was good. Nothing exceptional, but no complaints either. Cheap seats are pretty comfortable.

Staff were friendly and happy. Delta could make sure passengers that don't have the app know of changes. Without Kayak I would not have known about the change of gate or the delay. Kayak was faster to notify me.

They ended up paying for the bag twice, but the counter wouldn't take my baggage receipt. Left it to me to resolve. Not sure how to resolve the issue.

The customer service before board was very rude and when I expressed my concerns about making the connecting flight she laughed and told me I bought the wrong ticket. I explained once it showed the flight was delayed it no longer let me change seats or anything. I was trying to upgrade to make sure I would get to the next gate on time.

Non stop on long haul is the way to go. Great experience

The flight used a B767 with a very old interior from before 2014. The entertainment system did not work at all during the flight despite attempts to reset the system. It was like they flew this route just to be competitive.

They changed planes and the new plane couldn’t carry enough fuel to fly across the country so we had to stop in Kansas City to refuel. Flight was delayed .

Flight was too crowded and seats are too small, especially since passengrs are getting larger. Having a middle seat is ALWAYS tough! Woman on my left was large & kept creeping in to my space. Flight personnel were great! Have more savory rather than sweet snacks please.

7 hours delayed due to operational issues on United’s end. Basically laziness.

Short flight but an "eager to help" crew made the journey more enjoyable!

Flight was delayed only slightly before takeoff due to traffic control. However, the flight arrived early to ORD. Good flight. United has been very reliable for me.

The person I bought the ticket for didn’t make the flight.

Lately I like the planes have been exceptionally filthy. There’s lines of dust and dirt all across the ceiling in the vents, and the cracks in between the seats are literally full of food. It’s definitely not the quality of service that I was used to with United. I’m also very disappointed with the Wi-Fi! All I wanna do is knock out a few work jobs while I’m trapped in my seat And it spools so bad. They did provide me with a refund, but the process of getting that refund is so complicated. It’s unfortunate.

Another delayed flight. When the delays exceed the duration of the flight, it’s a problem.

Excellent flight. Smooth, efficient boarding. Quick flight. Arrived early at STL.

After boarding the plane in Chicago, the passengers were told that there was a technical problem with the plane. Passengers remained on the plane as they tried to fix the problem. After what was probably an hour passengers were told that there was a need to change planes as the problem was not solved. Passengers disembarked and boarded another plane. After taxing to the runway and waiting for takeoff, passengers were told that owing to the thunderstorm the flight was unable to take off but would try and reroute. After some time passengers were told there wasn't enough fuel for the new route and the plane had to return to the gate for additional fuel. after another log delay the flight got underway. On the plane there was food, drinks, ice or entertainment. We were a glass of water, which appeared rationed. Flight arrived about 5 hours late. The pilot was fantastic and communicated with the passengers throughout the ordeal.

The flight attendants were great, I joked with one I can’t remember her name, a blond, really sweet. I thought it was run well very professional. This was great i survived Spirit, I know for which I speak.

During booking, I kept trying submitting my payment from the Mexican website and it didn't work. After I had the idea to change it to the Canadian website, it worked but I had to be charged the equivalent of 50 CAD more. I received the clear instruction that I would only be able to check-in at the airport and that it was impossible to select a seat 24 hours before departure, that I had to pay 144 CAD to do so, although not only was I able to check-in 24 hours before departure, but I could have selected my seats for free then. All in all, I almost threw $200 out the window due to misleading information. Besides, the app kept crashing, the information to get to the gate on the app was inaccurate, my gate was switched and I was only informed once in the air (luckily I had noticed the departure pannel), I was not addressed in my language beforehand and even if I tried I was immediately answered in English (which meant the crew understood but didn't want to answer accordingly), there was only one snack & beverage service on my medium haul flight and no beverage service on my short haul flight. To be fair, the planes were comfortable, the crew apart from the language issue was helpful, dynamic and engaging, the plane was clean and the directions were clear and direct. United has a lot of potential to be one of my favourite airlines, but the devil is in the details and a lot of them missed the target.

We loved the steward on the plane. He made the night enjoyable

I enjoyed the extra leg room compared to other airlines. The first stewards made my daughter’s birthday special by giving her an extra snack. Then the last one coming home from Chicago to Appleton made our night really enjoyable Thanks for making our trip enjoyable

The flight was smooth, the pilot kept us informed about delays and we arrived more of less on time

Flight delay was communicated before leaving for airport which caused it to be a non-event. Great flight and crew!

Did not get any refreshments. Crew was very nice but limited. Small seats

Wish some foods provided rather than just biscuit/cookie for flight more than 2 hours

Wish a flight with more than 2 hours with some snack rather than just cookie/biscuit.

The flight attendant, a black woman with curly hair who sat near Row 21, was wonderful and kind.

It was good..clean, comfy seat. Friendly warm welcoming crew. Was able to check my cabin luggage at the gate which I was able to pickup in a decent time from baggage claim. The app gave all updates from delays to baggage claim info. Overall smooth flight.

Flight was delayed leaving Dallas. Arrived about 2 hours later than scheduled.

Terrible. Flight cancelled with no reasoning and no flights to rebook. Employees were useless and did nothing to help. Did not even know where to retrieve luggage from the cancelled flight. Flyers beware.

No fault of Frontier staff: plane was very late, reached Orlando at 1 am, took a while to get luggage. Weather, gov financial shutdown impact on TSA, air controllers seemed to have multiple flights backed up. Frontier staff seemed to cope as gracefully as possible. It did reassure me that I and my new hip could adapt to travel challenges. Food/entertainment were irrelevant to my trip.

Terrible. The canceled my entire flight when I requested a refund for a trip frontier canceled trip one way.

Boarding was on time and plane departed as scheduled. There are obviously no amenities (food, drink, entertainment) on Frontier, but there also didn't seem to be any issues with luggage space either.

Inbound plane was on time and flight departed on time with no issues while boarding.

I knew going into this that Frontier, being a low cost carrier, would be pretty bare bones and charge for most extras but this was made up for by the fact that the airplane was a reasonably new Airbus, every employee was great and best of all, Everett Washington is an amazing airport - thanks Frontier for flying there!!!

i was unable to check in the flight. refund requested

It was well done. It was my first time flying with them and I was nervous b/c I have heard of many cancelled and/or delray flights. Everything went smoothly.

Just know that everything, and I mean everything is “ala cart”. 60$ just to put something in the overhead bin. I will never fly Frontier again nor do I recommend them to anyone else.

The single worst check in experience I could imagine. I’ll never do any business with Frontier or any affiliated company

Everything you need to know for your flight from Seattle to Des Moines

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