Award flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)
In the last 30 days AwardTool saw award space on 2 programs for DSM→LAX. Lowest economy: 9,500 miles + $5.60 (American Airlines AAdvantage). Lowest first class: 25,000 points + $25.60 (Alaska Atmos Rewards).
In economy, the lowest award seen was a nonstop for 9,500 miles + $5.60 with American Airlines AAdvantage, against 12,500 points + $25.60 with Alaska Atmos Rewards, the next-lowest program. With Alaska Atmos Rewards, first class started at 25,000 points + $25.60, about 2 times the points of its lowest economy award (12,500 points + $25.60).
Prices observed – ; newest observation .
Page regenerated from the Nov 12, 2026 data snapshot (normally daily). Summary last changed . Seats change quickly.
Compare programs by cabin
The lowest one-way award each program showed in each cabin, sorted by points.
Economy
| Program | Points + taxes | Stops | Airlines seen | Seats | Dates seen | Newest observation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines AAdvantageLowest observed | 9,500 pts + $5.60 | Nonstop |  AA AS | — | 28 | See dates | |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | 12,500 pts + $25.60 | Nonstop | AA | 9+ | 12 | See dates |
First Class
| Program | Points + taxes | Stops | Airlines seen | Seats | Dates seen | Newest observation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Atmos RewardsLowest observed | 25,000 pts + $25.60 | Nonstop | AA | 5 | 9 | See dates | |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 25,500 pts + $5.60 | Nonstop | AAAS | — | 28 | See dates |
Premium economy: not seen in the last 30 days.
Business class: not seen in the last 30 days.
Not seen means AwardTool hasn't observed this cabin on this route in the last 30 days. It doesn't mean the airline has no seats. Dates seen counts departure dates with an open award in that cabin at any price; newest observation is the latest time AwardTool saw one of them. Seats is the count the program reported when we observed it; some programs report at most 9.
Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX) at a glance
- From
- Des Moines International, Des Moines, Iowa, United States (DSM)
- To
- Los Angeles International, Los Angeles, California, United States (LAX)
- Programs with award space seen
- 2 of 2 programs tracked on this route
- Nonstop award space seen
- Yes, in economy and first class, via American Airlines AAdvantage and Alaska Atmos Rewards
- Airlines seen on these awards
- American Airlines (AA), Alaska Airlines (AS)
- Departures with open awards
- Nov 2026 to Aug 2027
- Most dates with space
- 28 of 28 departure dates checked (American Airlines AAdvantage, economy)
- Latest departure with space
- Observation window
- Awards observed in the last 30 days
- Distance
- 1,444 miles (2,324 km), great-circle
- Destination guide
- Award flights to Los Angeles (LAX)
Observed award examples
| Departure | Cabin | Program | Points + taxes | Seats | Stops | Observed (UTC) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | American Airlines AAdvantage | 9,500 pts + $5.60 | — | Nonstop | Check this date | ||
| First | Alaska Atmos Rewards | 25,000 pts + $25.60 | 5 | Nonstop | Check this date |
Prices are one-way per traveler: the program's points or miles plus taxes and carrier fees in USD, as AwardTool observed them in the observation window. Award space changes constantly. A seat we saw may be gone, and space we haven't seen may exist. Always confirm with a live search before transferring points; most transfers can't be reversed.
Nonstop award space
- Economy: nonstop from 9,500 miles + $5.60 via American Airlines AAdvantage, which showed nonstop space on 25 dates (2 programs had nonstop space).
- First class: nonstop from 25,000 points + $25.60 via Alaska Atmos Rewards, which showed nonstop space on 6 dates (2 programs had nonstop space).
Best months to fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX) on points
| Month | Economy | First |
|---|---|---|
| 9,500 pts + $5.60 (9 dates)AAdvantage | 25,000 pts + $25.60 (5 dates)Atmos | |
| 9,500 pts + $5.60 (10 dates)AAdvantage | 25,000 pts + taxes not reported (4 dates)Atmos | |
| 10,500 pts + taxes not reported (2 dates)AAdvantage | 25,500 pts + $5.60 (2 dates)AAdvantage | |
| 9,500 pts + taxes not reported (1 date)AAdvantage | 25,500 pts + taxes not reported (1 date)AAdvantage | |
| 9,500 pts + taxes not reported (1 date)AAdvantage | 25,500 pts + taxes not reported (1 date)AAdvantage | |
| 9,500 pts + taxes not reported (4 dates)AAdvantage | 25,500 pts + taxes not reported (4 dates)AAdvantage | |
| 10,500 pts + taxes not reported (1 date)AAdvantage | 25,500 pts + taxes not reported (1 date)AAdvantage |
A month's taxes are those of an award AwardTool recorded at that month's lowest price for a departure that month. “Taxes not reported” means the data has none for that month; the award still has taxes and fees.
Points that transfer to these programs
| Program | Amex | Bilt | Capital One | Chase | Citi | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | — | 1:1 · ~1 day | — | — | — | — |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | — | — | — | — | 1:1 · Instant | — |
Check current transfer bonuses. Most transfers can't be reversed.
Search, calendar and alerts from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)
Route calendar
Every departure date with open award seats on DSM→LAX for American Airlines AAdvantage and the other programs: a limited window on the free plan and 365 days with Pro.
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Search one date across programs to see current flights, seats and taxes before you transfer points.
Search Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)How many miles or points you need from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- In economy, American Airlines AAdvantage had the lowest observed award, 9,500 miles + $5.60; see how many miles you need with American Airlines AAdvantage.
- In first class, Alaska Atmos Rewards had the lowest observed award, 25,000 points + $25.60; see how many points you need with Alaska Atmos Rewards.
Questions about award flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)
How many points does it take to fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
The lowest economy award AwardTool has seen was 9,500 miles + $5.60 with American Airlines AAdvantage. Seen Oct 29, 2026, 02:41 UTC for a Dec 24, 2026 departure. American Airlines AAdvantage showed economy award space on 28 departure dates at any price (newest observation Nov 9, 2026, 21:05 UTC). Search live before transferring points.
Which loyalty programs had award space from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
2 programs in the last 30 days: American Airlines AAdvantage (economy 28 dates, first class 28 dates); Alaska Atmos Rewards (economy 12 dates, first class 9 dates). Dates count departure dates with an open award.
Can you fly nonstop from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX) on points?
Yes. AwardTool observed nonstop award space in economy and first class, bookable via American Airlines AAdvantage and Alaska Atmos Rewards. The lowest nonstop award in economy was 9,500 miles + $5.60 with American Airlines AAdvantage.
How much are taxes and fees on award flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
Taxes and fees on each program's lowest award ranged in economy from $5.60 with AAdvantage (9,500 miles + $5.60) to $25.60 with Atmos (12,500 points + $25.60). Amounts are one way per traveler in USD and can differ on other dates and routings.
Which credit card points can book awards from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
Bilt Rewards: Alaska Atmos Rewards (1:1). Citi ThankYou Points: American Airlines AAdvantage (1:1). These are US card programs; ratios come from AwardTool's transfer partner list. Check current bonuses first.
What's the best month to fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX) on points?
Counting only month prices from programs with award space on 2 or more dates that month, and leaving out unusually low outliers: in economy, the lowest award was for Dec 2026 departures, 9,500 miles + $5.60 with AAdvantage (10 dates); in first class, the lowest award was for Nov 2026 departures, 25,000 points + $25.60 with Atmos (5 dates). The month table shows every lowest price, including those. Based on dates we observed, not a forecast.
When do award seats open for flights from Des Moines (DSM) to Los Angeles (LAX)?
Booking windows before departure published by the programs with award space here (AwardTool's program data, reviewed Nov 6, 2026): American Airlines AAdvantage about 331 days and Alaska Atmos Rewards about 330 days. AwardTool saw award space on this route for departures as late as Aug 9, 2027; seats can open earlier or later, and released seats may already be booked. See award release dates by program.