Flights to California Guide
How to find cheap flights & which airport to use
Finding affordable flights to California is one of the most important parts of trip planning. This guide covers which airports to use, the best booking strategies, when to fly for the lowest fares, and the budget airlines that serve California most affordably.
Which Airport to Fly Into
LAX (Los Angeles): The main hub for international and domestic flights. Often the cheapest option. Busy and large — allow extra time. SFO (San Francisco): Major international hub. Often expensive but well-connected. Consider OAK (Oakland) or SJC (San Jose) for cheaper fares to the Bay Area. SAN (San Diego): Smaller, easier to navigate, often cheaper than LAX for SoCal visits.
Best Time to Book Flights
For domestic US flights: book 4–8 weeks in advance for the best fares. For international flights: 3–6 months ahead. Avoid booking within 2 weeks of travel — prices spike. Tuesday and Wednesday flights are typically cheaper than weekend travel. Use fare alerts on Google Flights or Kayak to track price drops.
Budget Airlines to California
Southwest Airlines: No change fees, often cheapest for domestic flights. Spirit & Frontier: Ultra-low base fares but charge for bags and seat selection. Alaska Airlines: Great Pacific routes, strong loyalty program. JetBlue: Good East Coast–California routes with extra legroom options. All have hubs at LAX and SFO.
International Flights to California
LAX is a major international gateway with direct flights from Europe (10–11 hrs from London/Paris), Asia (10–12 hrs from Tokyo), and Latin America. SFO also has strong international service. Open-jaw tickets (fly into LA, out of SF) can save money and make logical sense for a north–south California trip.
Airport Transfer Tips
LAX: Rideshare pickups are at the LAX-it lot ($30–$45 to Hollywood). FlyAway bus to downtown is $9.75. SFO: BART train to downtown SF costs $10 and takes 30 minutes — the best option. SAN: Downtown San Diego is only 3 miles — a taxi/rideshare costs $15–$20.
🌴 Ready to Book?
Compare real-time prices and lock in the best deals before they sell out.
🔗 Useful Resources
* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.