Cheap flights to Los Angeles (LAX)

Search and compare fares to Los Angeles across KAYAK, Expedia, and hundreds of airlines. No fake prices. No fake countdowns.

Trip type

We search

Why fly to Los Angeles?

Los Angeles spreads across a sun-soaked basin where movie studios, ocean piers, taco trucks, and hiking trails all sit within an afternoon's drive of one another. Travelers come for Hollywood and the Walk of Fame, but the real city is in its neighborhoods: the murals and galleries of the Arts District, the boardwalk energy of Venice and Santa Monica, the Getty's hilltop views, and the food scene in Koreatown and Boyle Heights that rivals anywhere in the country. As the West Coast's busiest leisure gateway, LAX sees relentless competition from legacy and budget carriers, which keeps coast-to-coast fares among the lowest in the nation if you book on the right days. Greater LA also has alternative airports worth a look: Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), and Orange County (SNA) sometimes undercut LAX and put you closer to where you're actually staying. A car is genuinely useful here given how far apart neighborhoods sit, so factor rental and gas costs into your budget rather than assuming transit alone will do it.

Best months to fly to Los Angeles

Late September through November is the sweet spot, with warm, dry weather, thinner summer crowds, and fares that dip well below the peak July and August prices.

FAQs: cheap flights to Los Angeles

Is it cheaper to fly into LAX or a smaller LA airport?
Compare LAX against Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), and Orange County (SNA). The smaller airports occasionally beat LAX on fares and skip its notorious traffic and crowds. Pick the one that's both cheaper and closest to your hotel to save on the drive afterward.
When are flights to Los Angeles cheapest?
Fall, from late September through November, and again in the post-holiday window of January and February, tend to have the lowest fares. Summer is the priciest stretch because of school breaks and peak beach season, so shifting your trip a few weeks can mean real savings.
Do I need a rental car in Los Angeles?
For most visitors, yes. LA is sprawling and its transit, while improving, is slow between major attractions. A rental car or budgeting for rideshares makes the difference between seeing the coast, the hills, and downtown comfortably versus spending your trip in traffic on a bus.
How far in advance should I book a flight to LA?
For domestic coast-to-coast travel, booking one to three months out usually lands the best fares. Set a price alert as soon as your dates firm up, since LAX fares fluctuate a lot and jumping on a dip beats waiting for a last-minute drop that rarely comes.
What's the cheapest way to get from LAX into the city?
The free LAX Shuttle to the Metro station connects you to rail and bus lines for a couple of dollars. The LAX FlyAway bus runs to Union Station and Van Nuys for a flat fare. Both beat rideshare surge pricing, though a rental car still makes sense for longer stays.

Other popular destinations

Compare cheap flights to these top destinations too.

Flight tips & guides

Practical advice for booking cheap flights to Los Angeles and beyond.