Flying from Denver to Los Angeles doesn’t have to drain your travel budget. This popular route between Colorado’s Mile High City and the sprawling California coast offers savvy travelers numerous opportunities to score incredible deals on airfare. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway to catch some rays, a business trip, or a longer adventure exploring Southern California’s diverse attractions, understanding the insider secrets to finding cheap flights can save you hundreds of dollars.
The Denver to Los Angeles corridor is one of the most competitive flight markets in the United States, which means airlines constantly adjust their pricing to stay competitive. This volatility creates golden opportunities for budget-conscious travelers who know when and how to book. With the right strategies, timing, and flexibility, you can often find round-trip fares for significantly less than the standard rates quoted on airline websites.
Let’s dive into the proven tactics that will help you secure the best possible prices on flights from Denver to Los Angeles and make your travel dreams more affordable than ever before.
Best Times to Book Denver to LA Flights
Timing is everything when hunting for cheap flights from Denver to Los Angeles. Industry experts consistently recommend booking domestic flights between 1 and 3 months in advance for optimal pricing. This window allows you to capture early-bird discounts before prices spike closer to departure dates, yet still provides enough lead time to monitor price fluctuations and pounce on flash sales.
The absolute best day to book is typically Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. Airlines release their lowest fares early in the week, often on Tuesday evenings after analyzing competitor pricing. By Wednesday morning, these deals are still fresh, and fewer travelers have snapped them up. Avoid booking on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday when prices tend to be highest as leisure travelers plan weekend trips.
For the Denver to LA route specifically, booking 60 days in advance typically yields better results than waiting until the last minute. However, if you’re flexible with dates, you can often find even better deals by setting up price alerts on multiple platforms and being ready to book within 24 hours of a significant price drop. Some travelers have reported saving 40-60% by being this proactive.
Consider booking your outbound and return flights separately rather than as a package deal. Sometimes one airline offers a better rate for your departure while another carrier provides superior pricing for your return journey. This approach requires more research but frequently results in meaningful savings on the Denver to Los Angeles route.
Day of Week and Seasonal Strategies
The day of the week you choose to fly dramatically impacts your airfare costs. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday departures are typically 10-20% cheaper than Monday, Friday, and Sunday flights. Most business travelers fly on these premium days, driving up prices. Leisure travelers should capitalize on mid-week flights when demand drops significantly.
Seasonality plays an enormous role in Colorado to California airfare pricing. The peak summer season (June through August) sees the highest fares as families vacation and tourists flock to Los Angeles. If you can avoid these months, you’ll find substantially cheaper options. Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) offer sweet spots with pleasant weather and lower prices.
Winter months (January-February and December) present mixed opportunities. Post-holiday January sees rock-bottom prices as travel demand plummets, but you’ll encounter crowded ski season weekends if you’re near those dates. December holiday travel is expensive, but the week between Christmas and New Year’s sometimes offers deals as many people have already booked.
Avoid booking flights around major holidays, spring break, and summer vacation periods. If you must travel during these times, book much earlier (4-6 months in advance) to secure reasonable rates. The Denver to Los Angeles route experiences particularly high demand during ski season and summer, so timing your travel to avoid these peaks can yield 30-50% savings.
The most budget-friendly approach is traveling during shoulder seasons with mid-week departures. A Tuesday flight in late April or early October will almost always be cheaper than a Friday flight in July.
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Comparison Tools and Booking Platforms
Never book directly on an airline’s website without first checking aggregator platforms that compare prices across carriers. KAYAK, Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Momondo all offer powerful search tools specifically designed to find the cheapest flights from Denver to Los Angeles. Each platform has unique advantages, so checking multiple sites takes only minutes and frequently saves significant money.
Google Flights excels at visualizing price trends over time. You can see exactly how fares change across different dates, helping you identify the cheapest travel windows. The platform also displays prices for nearby airports, instantly showing whether flying into Long Beach or Ontario instead of LAX might save you money.
Skyscanner’s strength lies in its “anywhere” search feature, allowing you to explore flights to all Southern California airports simultaneously. This flexibility often uncovers hidden deals at less popular airports that still serve the Los Angeles metropolitan area efficiently.
Set up price alerts on at least two platforms and enable notifications for the Denver to Los Angeles route. When fares drop significantly, you’ll receive immediate alerts, giving you time to book before prices rebound. Most platforms allow you to set your maximum acceptable price, triggering notifications only when truly exceptional deals appear.
Incognito mode is your friend when searching for flights. Airlines and booking sites track your searches and sometimes increase prices if they detect repeat visits from the same device. Clear your cookies or use private browsing to ensure you’re always seeing the lowest available rates.
Airline-Specific Deals and Loyalty Programs
Denver’s primary carriers—Southwest Airlines, United, and Frontier—frequently offer flash sales on the Denver to Los Angeles route. Subscribe to their email newsletters and follow their social media accounts for exclusive deals. Southwest is particularly known for generous sales, often offering 50% discounts on specific routes during promotional periods.
Frontier Airlines, based in Denver, frequently offers ultra-low fares on this route. While they charge for carry-ons and checked bags, their base fares are often so low that even with baggage fees included, your total cost remains cheaper than competitors. If you’re traveling light, Frontier can provide exceptional value.
Loyalty programs matter even for budget travelers. United’s MileagePlus, Southwest’s Rapid Rewards, and Frontier’s Ultra rewards programs offer points on every flight that accumulate toward free travel. Even occasional flyers can earn enough points for a free flight within 1-2 years of regular travel.
Many airlines offer companion passes and promotional awards. Southwest occasionally provides companion pass promotions where a second passenger flies free. These deals appear unpredictably but can represent enormous savings if you travel with a partner.
Credit card sign-up bonuses often provide enough miles for a free or heavily discounted flight. If you’re planning a Denver to Los Angeles trip, opening an airline credit card with a substantial welcome bonus might provide enough points to cover your entire flight.
Alternative Airports and Flexible Routing
Los Angeles has multiple airports, and flying into Long Beach, Ontario, or Burbank instead of the main LAX hub frequently yields significant savings. Long Beach Airport (LGB) is only 30 miles south of downtown LA, while Ontario (ONT) sits 35 miles east. Ground transportation to your final destination may cost slightly more, but the airfare savings often exceed these additional expenses.
Burbank (BUR) appeals to travelers heading to Hollywood or the San Fernando Valley. Southwest serves Burbank extensively, and you’ll often find cheaper fares there than LAX. The airport is smaller, less congested, and easier to navigate than LAX’s massive terminals.
When searching for flights from Denver to Los Angeles, explicitly search each alternative airport separately rather than relying on “all airports” searches. Sometimes booking to a secondary airport costs $80-150 less than LAX, making the slightly longer ground transfer worthwhile.
Consider flying into Los Angeles and out of San Diego or vice versa. This open-jaw routing allows you to explore multiple California destinations while sometimes reducing overall airfare. If you’re interested in exploring both LA and San Diego, this approach maximizes your experience while potentially minimizing costs.
Denver International Airport (DEN) is your only major option from Denver, but understanding that you have flexibility on the Los Angeles end gives you substantial negotiating power when searching for deals.
Money-Saving Hacks and Insider Tips
Book flights as early morning departures or late evening arrivals. Red-eye flights and early morning flights are less popular, so airlines discount them to fill seats. A 6 AM departure from Denver might be $50-100 cheaper than a convenient 10 AM flight to the same Los Angeles destination.
One-way flights sometimes cost less than round-trip bookings, particularly if you’re flexible about return dates. Search one-way options separately and compare the total to package deals. This approach requires more research but frequently uncovers better pricing.
If you’re comparing flights from Houston to Las Vegas or other routes, the same principles apply. The Denver to Los Angeles corridor offers particular advantages because of its competitive market, but these techniques work across all domestic routes.
Traveling during extreme weather windows sometimes yields deals. Flights departing during winter storms or extreme heat waves are unpopular, allowing airlines to discount them significantly. If you’re flexible and don’t mind potentially dealing with weather delays, booking during these windows can save substantially.
Use hidden city ticketing sparingly and cautiously. This controversial technique involves booking through a connecting city to a cheaper destination, then exiting at your actual destination. While technically possible, it violates airline terms of service and can result in ticket cancellation, so it’s not recommended for most travelers.
Incognito browsing, clearing cookies, and using VPNs to search from different locations can sometimes reveal different pricing. Some travelers report that searching from different geographic locations shows different fares, though this practice is becoming less common as booking platforms standardize pricing.
Avoiding Common Booking Mistakes
Don’t assume non-stop flights are always your best option. Connecting flights, particularly those with longer layovers, are often dramatically cheaper. A Denver to Los Angeles flight with a 2-3 hour layover in Phoenix or Las Vegas might cost $100-200 less than a direct flight, and you’ll still arrive the same day.
Avoid booking on your phone without checking desktop prices. Some platforms show different pricing on mobile versus desktop browsers. Always verify prices on both devices before committing to a purchase.
Don’t book flights without checking baggage policies. Budget carriers charge for bags, so a seemingly cheap flight might cost more after baggage fees. Calculate your complete trip cost including checked luggage, carry-ons, and any other fees before comparing airlines.
Avoid making flight changes unnecessarily. Most airlines charge substantial change fees, sometimes $75-150 per ticket. Only book dates you’re confident about, or choose airlines like Southwest that offer free changes.
Don’t ignore travel insurance for longer trips or expensive bookings. Travel insurance costs $15-50 but protects you if you need to cancel due to illness or emergencies. For a $300 flight, this protection is often worthwhile.
Similar strategies work when booking Dallas to Los Angeles flights or other domestic routes. The Denver market offers particular advantages due to its competitive carrier landscape, but these universal principles apply everywhere.
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FAQ
What’s the cheapest day to fly from Denver to Los Angeles?
Tuesday and Wednesday departures are typically 10-20% cheaper than weekend flights. Mid-week travel offers the best pricing because business travelers dominate premium days, leaving budget-friendly slots during slower periods.
How far in advance should I book Denver to LA flights?
Book 1-3 months in advance for optimal pricing. The 60-day window typically offers the best balance between early-bird discounts and still having reasonable selection of flights and times.
Are budget airlines cheaper for the Denver to Los Angeles route?
Frontier Airlines often offers the lowest base fares from Denver to Los Angeles. However, factor in baggage fees and seat selection charges. Budget airline total costs can still be cheaper even with these add-ons, but calculate your complete trip expense before booking.
Should I fly into alternative Los Angeles airports?
Absolutely. Long Beach, Ontario, and Burbank often have significantly cheaper fares than LAX. Ground transportation costs slightly more, but airfare savings of $80-150 usually exceed these additional expenses.
What time of year is cheapest for Denver to Los Angeles flights?
January and late April through May offer the cheapest fares. Avoid peak summer (June-August), holiday periods, and ski season weekends when prices surge dramatically.
Can I save money with connecting flights?
Yes. Connecting flights through Phoenix or Las Vegas can cost $100-200 less than non-stop service. While journey time increases, you’ll still arrive the same day and save significantly.
Is it better to book round-trip or one-way flights?
Compare both options. Sometimes booking two one-way flights costs less than a round-trip package. Search each option separately and use whichever results in the lowest total cost.
Do airline loyalty programs help with cheap flights?
Yes. Accumulating miles through frequent travel or credit card bonuses can eventually earn free flights. Even occasional flyers can earn enough points within a couple of years for a free trip.
