$581 Find Cheap Flights to California – Compare and Save

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Cheap Flights to California

Cheapest return prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
Los Angeles
Los Angeles1 stop$1,159
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$1,322
San Diego
San Diego1 stop$1,740
Palm Springs
Palm Springs2 stops$34,241
San Jose
San Jose2 stops$1,876
Los Angeles
Los Angeles1 stop$1,159
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$1,322
San Diego
San Diego1 stop$1,740
Palm Springs
Palm Springs2 stops$34,241
San Jose
San Jose2 stops$1,876
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to California

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

What is the cheapest flight to California?

The cheapest ticket to California from New Zealand found in the last 5 days was to Los Angeles, at $1,131 return. The most popular route is Auckland (AKL) to San Francisco (SFO) and the cheapest return ticket found on this route in the last 5 days was $1,427.

What is the cheapest month to fly from New Zealand to California?

The cheapest month for flights from New Zealand to California is November, when tickets cost $810 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and July, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,195 and $1,075 respectively.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to California?

The cheapest time of day to fly to California is generally in the afternoon, when retur flights cost $1,927 on average. Morning departures are around 100% cheaper than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to California is generally at night, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $2,137.

How far in advance should I book a flight from New Zealand to California?

To get a below-average price on a flight from New Zealand to California, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 20% compared to booking last-minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 26 weeks before departure.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in California?

Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in California is Los Angeles Airport (LAX), with an average flight price of $1,191.

Good to know

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

$581
Best time to beat the crowds (9% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 4% lower on average.
Flight from Auckland to Los Angeles

Flights to California: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travellers who flew to California 
GregoryFlew with Air New Zealand-Nov 2024
If you can, and you’re a grown adult, pay the few extra dollars for premium economy. You won’t regret it
SidFlew with United Airlines-Jan 2024
wear layers as our flight over was freezing and return flight back was back sweat hot

FAQs - booking California flights

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from New Zealand to California?

    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 New Zealand to California.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from New Zealand to California?

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

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from New Zealand to California?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly from New Zealand to California with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from New Zealand to California?

    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 from New Zealand to California up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to California?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to California is Wednesday when return tickets can be as cheap as $2,087. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Friday, when return prices are $2,332 on average.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to California

  • Looking for cheap airfare to California? 25% of our users found return tickets to California for the following prices or less: From Auckland $3,016
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest California flight deals.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to California

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from New Zealand to California? 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.
8.5
Air Tahiti NuiOverall score based on 80 reviews
8.8Crew
8.5Boarding
7.4Entertainment
7.6Food
7.8Comfort
Airline reviews

It was a very pleasant return flight. Their crew took great care of us and seemed to have so much pride to represent their destination and airline. We were on a Boeing plane and it reminded me that I really prefer the Airbus. We were in coach and when the person in front of me decided to sit in my lap, I could hardly move. The most important thing to know is that at CDG in Terminal 2, the passport control/border crossing is past the shopping mall and restaurant area. We thought the line was for Starbucks, but there was a 45-50 minute wait to get to the entrance to passport control. It would have been great if the airline staff could have warned us about it when we checked in. Not having any knowledge of it, we stopped for a little breakfast and were caught totally by surprise by the length of the line. The CDG staff did an excellent job of triage, trying to identify those who might miss their flights. But what a stressful hour that was, and totally avoidable had we understood. On board the food was quite good but it's still airline food, and the menu on the flight services screen at our seats did not align with what was actually served for the main meal. Pilots made an extra effort to find good air for us so there was very little turbulence, unusual for a winter flight.

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Nov 2025
Read more Air Tahiti Nui reviews

It was a very pleasant return flight. Their crew took great care of us and seemed to have so much pride to represent their destination and airline. We were on a Boeing plane and it reminded me that I really prefer the Airbus. We were in coach and when the person in front of me decided to sit in my lap, I could hardly move. The most important thing to know is that at CDG in Terminal 2, the passport control/border crossing is past the shopping mall and restaurant area. We thought the line was for Starbucks, but there was a 45-50 minute wait to get to the entrance to passport control. It would have been great if the airline staff could have warned us about it when we checked in. Not having any knowledge of it, we stopped for a little breakfast and were caught totally by surprise by the length of the line. The CDG staff did an excellent job of triage, trying to identify those who might miss their flights. But what a stressful hour that was, and totally avoidable had we understood. On board the food was quite good but it's still airline food, and the menu on the flight services screen at our seats did not align with what was actually served for the main meal. Pilots made an extra effort to find good air for us so there was very little turbulence, unusual for a winter flight.

My daughter and I were seated together, but our TVs weren’t working. They moved us to different seats with working tvs, but we couldn’t be together anymore.

I hope you can influence the airport at Papeete. It is in need of upgrading. Only 1 plug to charge in the open area, only 2 once you have passed security. Security was extremely outdated. They had me turn on my computer, and my camera. 9/11 was a long time ago. There were only a few ceiling fans so the comfort level was really low while waiting for my flight.

The staff on the flight were very friendly and willing to assist in anything possible. The food was plentiful, and the trip went very smoothly with the flight, arriving an hour early. Very impressed with the flight attendance with Air Tahiti Nui!

There is no legroom for someone who is even a little taller than average. The woman in front of me leaned her seat back all the way, so that my knees were wedged up against her seat. When I asked her to adjust it, she flatly refused, and the flight attendant basically told me that I would have to put up with it - for an 11-hour flight! I will not use this airline again.

Booked family of 4. None of us were seated together. Desk agent would not make any seat adjustments. Gate agent would not make any seat adjustments. Had to negotiate once on board with other passengers to trade seats. Don’t understand why you would separate seating of family all booked on same reservation. Was not able to select seats on Kayak nor Air Tahiti prior to airport.

The sound system was so bad I could not watch movies.

The crew was very friendly and welcoming. Boarding was calm and organized. Take off and Landing was perfect and in time.

my luggage was damage. even if i put fragile in my bags. i was disappointed.

Great alternative to AF or Delta for nonstop flights from LA to Paris.

The flight was delayed and it was delayed on my trip from Seattle to San Francisco also, my luggage didn’t get to me 5 days later after my arrival.

Left on time , arrived on time. Staff was awesome!!!!! Great flight!!!!

A bit cramped in economy and the people in front wouldn’t put their seats up during meal service, crew did not help with that and I felt they could have done more about it.

The airline is ok, but it needs to improve it schedules.

In-flight entertainment options could use a refresh, Consider a tie-up with Spotify for more current music and with IMDB or other service for newer selections/movie ratings.

6 hour delay and they didnt try to make up any time during an over 10 hour flight

Entertainment was not good. Seems like liquor should’ve been advertised only beer and wine was even though I saw others getting liquor didn’t realize I could. And the food to me could’ve been a little bit.

Better connections, much better cabin crew, much cleaner cabin that Qantas, American and probably other carriers.

The flight attendants were extremely friendly and helpful. Everything ran on time. I highly recommend Fiji Airways.

Very clean aircraft. Friendly staff. New plane. Food quality was good. Not my flavor but I saw the effort.

Premium economy seats and food we're very nice although the price could be more affordable so we can do it more often.

The Premium Economy seats were very comfortable and the food was quite tasty. I did not use the entertainment system, but I was able to charge my phone and tablet with the seatback connection.

Air New Zealand over sold our flight and tried to bump us to yesterday. After several calls we got booked to United about 6 hrs before our original flight. No apologies!

Please add more Bollywood movies and recent movies to the entertainment.

Flight was delayed by 2 hours. Got lucky that i had a long connection, else would have certainly missed my connecting flight. Food is just okay, specially the breakfast is worse . Asked for water 30 mins before landing, the response is that we are landing so everything is packed . I guess traveling in economy that’s what we get. Probably business class passengers would get a different answer. Only good thing is that wifi service is available from auckland to lax for most part Next time will try united or American and then compare.

Great except paying $240 usd for 2 pounds over on a checked luggage. Outrageous.

Service was excellent and they’re very helpful and nice

Not a comfortable trip, the seats are not good, and they look old.

Sitting in an aisle seat equals getting hit by food cart and spilled on multiple times Food: gross and minimalistic Crew: frumpy and kurt Sound on multiple entertainment platforms poor Not an earplug problem, system soundboard poor

Wonderful Airlines…our American Airlines could learn from ANZ. From boarding to landing everyone was professional and gracious. Kiwi’s really are the nicest of all people! Thank you

Overall, it was a very good experience. I would have given it a 10/10, especially based on our flight from SFO to Melbourne. The cabin crew on that flight were wonderful and incredibly attentive. They took extra care when setting up our beds so we could sleep comfortably without being disturbed. Dinner was served promptly and smoothly. I woke up quite late, when the flight was already preparing for landing, and the crew still made sure I was taken care of. They brought me English tea in a proper cup, and when it was time to prepare the cabin for landing, they thoughtfully transferred it into a takeaway cup so I could continue enjoying it along with some breakfast. Those small, thoughtful gestures made the long flight feel much more comfortable and special. The service from the SFO to Melbourne crew was truly excellent.

Loved the food and beverages available, spacious economy class, excellent entertainment

Very good overall. Highly recommend for all flying to Australia

We had bulkhead seats in a A380 in the upper deck in seats 31 D and E. Storage was very limited other than in overhead bin - which is not within reach when in seat. Yet paying same price as others in premium economy who have a lot more storage within arm’s reach. Seems very unfair.

We booked with Qantas instead of Delta and we instead flew on American Airlines. American is not our favorite to go on. No leg room and the width of seats are a joke. Your are packed like sardines on American flights.

When I originally booked this flight, I was expecting to travel on Qantas. When the itinerary changed and the long-haul segment was operated by American Airlines, we were disappointed but remained open-minded. Unfortunately, the overall service experience fell far short of expectations. This was a long-haul international flight. Getting up periodically to use the restroom or stretch is inevitable, especially on flights of this duration. However, each time we stood up, we felt as though we were inconveniencing the crew. The tone and body language often suggested that we were in the way or disrupting something simply by moving about the cabin. As a result, I avoided getting up as often as I needed to and was physically very sore upon arrival. Meal service was similarly impersonal. The options were presented in single words “beef or veggie,” “pasta or beef” without any description of what was actually being served. There was little engagement or courtesy beyond that. Even simple expressions of gratitude were often not acknowledged. I am accustomed to no-frills travel and do not expect luxury. What was disappointing was not the absence of extras, but the absence of basic warmth and professionalism. On a long-haul international flight, small moments of courtesy and humanity make a significant difference. In this case, the experience felt transactional and dismissive rather than welcoming. I hope this feedback is taken constructively, as there is a meaningful difference between efficient service and indifferent service.

Flight arrived late with no one to help over 30 people rebook. I slept at the airport.

Business seats not as comfortable or private as most competitors (e.g. Qantas was outstanding), and movie selection was much more limited than Qantas or United has been recently

Hard to move and get out of my seat when the passenger in front is in recline position.

I tried to check in online but was unable to do so. I stood in line for nearly two hours to check in. American Airlines was understaffed. When I finally got to the kiosk to check in, I was still unable to check in. No AA staff was available to help. Finally one of the airport security agents who was helping passengers became of lack of AA Staff told me: “I think the reason you can’t check in is that you are starting your name with an upper case letter when you write it. Just write it with all lower case letters.” That did allow me to check in. HOW COULD ANYONE POSSIBLY KNOW THAT IF THEY USE AN INITIAL UPPER CASE LETTER TO SPELL THEIR OWN NAME, AA WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO CHECK IN?????? Then I had to wait in line over half an hour again to drop off my baggage. Although I arrived at the airport 3 hours early, by the time I got to the gate, they had already started boarding.

I liked that 5 pound refreshment voucher was given for 1 hr delay. Staff were courteous and professional. I was expecting more for the 2nd meal (pizza). Usually for a long flight, the 2nd meal is something like eggs/sausage/potatoes/fruit/dessert.

The guy sitting in front of me kept pushing hard his sit against my legs… very uncomfortable

Food was horrid. In my opinion inedible. They did offer some sorbet and one small dish of fruit. Stewards were super stingy with water, coffee, etc.

On-time, direct flight is great. Having one bathroom out of order was unfortunate.

I am absolutely furious with American. they shut the door in my face when I was trying to board the flight and kicked me off of it. They made no attempt to call my name or contact me or anything. They just said they gave my seat away. The customer service response has been atrocious. I will never fly this airline again as long as I live.

The WiFi was out gr entire flight. Had to Diane for almost 1 hour to wait for a gate to open up for plane to dock. Very bad experience.

Not too much it was pretty good all the way around

American Airlines put the food on the wrong plane which had already taken off by the time we took off so we had no food on the plane.

I believe my father had a good flight. What was not good, was the associate who helped us during Step 2 of check-in. After getting his boarding passes and bag tags, we proceeded to Step 2 where we were met with Carol. This was around 3:15-20pm at Phoenix Sky Harbor. She weighed my father’s checked bag which was 2lbs over, she recommended removing a pair of jeans to correct this. My father asked/joked if “she could just let him go” and she fairly rudely responded something along the lines of, “I don’t own the airline so no I can’t do that”. From this point on I just want to assume she was having a bad day. I spent my life raised in a business and front-facing customer service so I understand previous clients can make you feel irritated. How she continued to act leads me to believe she was really careless about her job or racially biased/straight-up racist. After we moved the 2lbs to his other bag, she told us she believed he would need to claim his bag at his connecting flight in Hong Kong, before it could go to his final destination, Malaysia. This thoroughly confused us as we are fairly frequent international travelers and 95% of the time the bag is sent to its final destination without this requirement. Last time we traveled to Malaysia was less than a month ago, so again we’re fairly confused. Multiple times she used a fairly aggressive tone of “I know what YOU THINK, this is what I believe”. The multiple “YOU THINK” as if we didn’t understand what she was saying was rude and insulting, and her tone came along with a insincere smile, hence the feeling of she was racially biased. Despite the fact that she might have been having a bad day previously, it is AA’s airline’s duty to train their employee about international bag protocol, as clearly AA is a major partner of internationally traveling airlines. Carol made the experience overall unenjoyable sending my father off and made us both question AA’s training of their employees.

We were upgraded to Business Class. So comfortable with great service and food options

More options for your flight to California

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