$591 Find Cheap Flights to California

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from New Zealand to California departing on 19/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to California

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to California
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to California
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Flights Deals

Best California Flight Deals

Cheapest return prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours
Los Angeles
Los Angeles1 stop$1,114
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$1,236
San Diego
San Diego2 stops$1,690
San Jose
San Jose3 stops$1,946
Los Angeles
Los Angeles1 stop$1,114
San Francisco
San Francisco1 stop$1,236
San Diego
San Diego2 stops$1,690
San Jose
San Jose3 stops$1,946

Book Cheap California Plane Tickets

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights to California that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to California

Wed, 20 Aug - Sun, 24 Aug
Fiji Airways Logo
14:10 - 12:55AKL-LAX
17h 45m1 stop
Fiji Airways Logo
23:55 - 22:45LAX-AKL
27h 50m1 stop
$1,114Fiji Airways
Find Deal
Fri, 7 Nov - Sat, 29 Nov
Fiji Airways Logo
08:00 - 11:50AKL-LAX
24h 50m1 stop
Fiji Airways Logo
22:45 - 13:40LAX-AKL
17h 55m1 stop
$1,117Fiji Airways
Find Deal
Fri, 7 Nov - Sun, 30 Nov
Air Canada Logo
06:15 - 11:33AKL-LAX
26h 18m2 stops
Air Canada Logo
18:30 - 22:20LAX-AKL
30h 50m2 stops
$1,235Air Canada
Find Deal
Wed, 22 Oct - Sat, 1 Nov
Air Canada Logo
06:50 - 13:28AKL-LAX
26h 38m2 stops
Air Canada Logo
18:10 - 19:00LAX-AKL
28h 50m2 stops
$1,249Air Canada
Find Deal
Tue, 9 Dec - Wed, 7 Jan
Qantas Airways Logo
15:50 - 06:55AKL-LAX
12h 05mdirect
Qantas Airways Logo
22:50 - 22:15LAX-AKL
26h 25m1 stop
$1,325Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Tue, 8 Jul - Sun, 21 Sep
Qantas Airways Logo
06:10 - 07:00AKL-LAX
19h 50m1 stop
Qantas Airways Logo
23:10 - 14:05LAX-AKL
19h 55m1 stop
$1,330Qantas Airways
Find Deal
Mon, 11 Aug - Mon, 18 Aug
Air New Zealand Logo
17:15 - 12:45WLG-LAX
14h 30m1 stop
Air New Zealand Logo
21:10 - 08:40LAX-WLG
16h 30m1 stop
$1,340Air New Zealand
Find Deal
Tue, 29 Jul - Tue, 26 Aug
Air New Zealand Logo
20:15 - 13:20AKL-LAX
12h 05mdirect
Air New Zealand Logo
22:10 - 06:00LAX-AKL
12h 50mdirect
$1,348Air New Zealand
Find Deal
Tue, 2 Dec - Wed, 10 Dec
United Airlines Logo
06:00 - 08:25CHC-SFO
23h 25m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
23:25 - 10:35SFO-CHC
14h 10mdirect
$1,462United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 4 Nov - Mon, 17 Nov
United Airlines Logo
15:50 - 07:05AKL-SFO
12h 15mdirect
United Airlines Logo
22:45 - 09:10SFO-AKL
13h 25mdirect
$1,480United Airlines
Find Deal
Useful Info

What is the cheapest flight to California?

These are the best return prices found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.

The cheapest ticket to California from New Zealand found in the last 72 hours was to Los Angeles, at $796 return. The most popular route is Auckland (AKL) to San Francisco (SFO) and the cheapest return airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $821.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from New Zealand to California, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from New Zealand to California is February, when tickets cost $1,220 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are April and July, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,642 and $1,636 respectively.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to California, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below-average price on the flight from New Zealand to California, you should book around 9 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 17 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 San Francisco Airport (SFO), with an average flight price of $993.


Good to know

Low seasonMarch
High seasonDecember
Cheapest flight$591
Best time to beat the crowds (8% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 0% 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 
Verified travelerFlew with Air New ZealandAKL-LAXNov 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 AirlinesAKL-SFOJan 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 $1,978. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Saturday, when return prices are $2,143 on average.

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

    The cheapest time of day to fly to California is generally in the morning, when round-trip flights cost $825 on average. Morning departures are around 30% cheaper than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to California is generally in the afternoon, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $1,737.

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 Christchurch $1,975, from Auckland $2,550
  • 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

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying to California. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline from New Zealand to California. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
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.
8.0
Fiji AirwaysOverall score based on 202 reviews
7.5Entertainment
8.1Boarding
8.5Crew
7.9Comfort
7.5Food
Airline reviews

They will look to squeeze every penny they can out of you!! Pick your seat$$...bring luggage$$$$... if they could charge you for the air on the plane they would!!

4.0 OkayChristopher, Jun 2025NAN - SYD
Read more Fiji Airways reviews

They will look to squeeze every penny they can out of you!! Pick your seat$$...bring luggage$$$$... if they could charge you for the air on the plane they would!!

.very good and as I needed wheelchair assistance all staff excellent.. only suggestion is get rid of those plastic chairs hard to ride in and staff have trouble compared to others. Everything else very good experience. Will use Fiji Air again.

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.

See previous comments. Didn’t take this flight because my other flight was so delayed. Ending up on two other flights as a result and was more than a day late.

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

Very good; seat made ready for bed after meal, a plus since one airline covered the seat at the start.

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.

Food choices perhaps not the best. Only offered beer and wine, when it appeared other liquor was available. Entertainment wasn’t so good.

They charged me over a $1000 dollars to bring two surfboard bags as check baggage. Inappropriate and I would avoid flying sgain

The experience on Fiji Airways was absolutely amazing. Streamlined. All staff was amazing. Pleasant. Friendly. Extremely helpful.

The 10hr flight was a comfortable as it could be in row 57. The food was just very bad….bland and soggy!

The business class upgrade meant a good sleep on the way home after a long week away. Excellent service, great food, and comfortable seat/bed for the journey.

I love the “boarding from the back” idea - it’s so much better than the “Zones” idea that many others use. Also, the inflight wifi was a first for me! Very nice to have on a 13-hour flight!

Again, Air New Zealand was great. They kept bathrooms clean, food was actually very good, New Zealand wines a big hit

The issue was with getting our boarding pases. There were issues with our arrangements that were made through Kayak. I am sorry to say that we will not use you again because of this. The flight itself was good and the flight attendants excellent.

Arriving at Coolangatta, rows 20 forward, took the airbridge across to the terminal. It was suggested to those from rows 21 back, that we take the rear stairs and to be careful crossing the tarmac. That was all well and good. However, when we got across to the terminal we then had to climb three large flights of stairs to meet up with those coming across the airbridge. No elevator! There were people carrying babies and elderly carrying hand luggage that needed assistance from others.. There was no option to turn back.

It was good for a short domestic flight. As no food ar entertainment provided, there should be a n/a rating available for those.

USB charging ports did not work on any of Air New Zealand flights

At Coolangatta International it is difficult to hear voice boarding announcements when away from screen announcements.

Flew premium economy, well worth the extra. Much better seat size & space. Meals & snacks were lovely. Crew really pleasant. Internet is not great, not really useful for anything. Couldn't even send messages.

The Emerits/Qantas flight was cancelled to Wellington. We need a refund. Had to buy another airline ticket. How do we get the refund. Still not in Wellington.

Touch screens were very difficult to use, generally being laggy and unresponsive- it was quite an art to get it to play the thing you wanted rather than some thing at random. Selection of films and Tv was good when touchscreen decided to finally respond.

Their aircraft are old and amenities lack way behind other international carriers leaving from BNE. Even in economy

Friendly staff, surprisingly good premium economy seats allowing good sleep/ snooze opportunity and very good menu.

I liked the service, the menu, and the comfort of the seats! Even tho we were seated by the bathrooms, the reclining seats and movie selection was very good, my husband and I didn’t mind at all

It’s a two prop flight so I had problems with my ears on re- entering ! But otherwise fine

Complaint is with American Airlines which delayed our flight from salt lake to Dallas reaulting in us missing our connection to Brisbane. Had to spend 24 hours in Dallas to wait for the next flight. Awful experience and ruined my wife’s birthday.

The food was terrible. And the flight attendants were very rude. One flight attendant wouldn’t help a passenger lift their carry-on. Another flight attendant wouldn’t give a man an extra blanket. And they walked by not even looking at the passengers to see if they needed a glass of water.

Our baggage didn’t arrive with us on the plane. Need I say more?

I got upgraded from economy to business, and the experience was outstanding

Horrific. They missed my connecting flight to San Diego. I didn’t get there until Monday at 9am when I had a mandatory court settlement conference scheduled at 6am since we had parties on the east coast. This caused many issues. All because United apparently forgot to hold the doors open until my flight landed that only had a 10 minute delay. This was the last flight to Southern California. So I couldn’t even rent a car to finish the trip. United cannot be trusted when traveling on specific days and times since weather didn’t have anything to do with the delays.

My flight was delayed a very short period of time but they did not hold my connecting flight to San Diego, also through United. So they closed the doors before we got off our plane. They would only have to help the door open for another five to ten minutes. So I missed a court deadline for a manditory mediation settlement conference for my client. I had to get an associate to be there in person and be on the phone with him relaying what he needs to do the entire time. The court was very upset with me and so was my client. United cannot be trusted.

We were given vouchers we couldn’t use with a 5.5 hour delay

Really good 😊 the woman at the gate entrance was a little rude checking in our carry-on but i dont think she worked for the airline, she worked for the airport at sacramento, other than that amazing.

Boarding was mayhem. Late boarding by 15 minutes because of lack of staff (missing 1 flight attendant. We had to wait for an arrival of another plane before we could board). Flight was a little rough, but cannot blame on airlines.

Great experience…left a bit behind schedule but made up fir that in the air and landed 10 minutes early 😁

Airbus plane, nice and polite staff, entertainment even as it was a short flight.

United out of SFO is having issues with catering so none of our meals were loaded on the plane and no offer of compensation for our tickets purchased was offered.

Its good expeince but in enternteiment please be like you tube the music i like or movie

I needed to make changes to my flights. When I called customer service, they assisted me with care professionalism.

Good flight, friendly crew and overall - good service on United Airlines.

Somebody either kayak or Air Canada booked my flight under my preferred name Betty instead of my legal name and I almost was denied boarding my flight

Short flight so no food or entertainment. Good landing at SFO and on time. We were told no carryon luggage yet lots of people were puting bags in overhead compartments. The rules need to be made more clear. I was on the first leg of an international flight and this is the first time I could not have carryon luggage.

Comfortable seats and movies entertainment available. Better experience than the flight from Toronto to Denver.

Ensure prepaid food arrangements are appropriately understood by flight crew of who purchased and who did not

Mixed experienced. Nice staff. Spacious 787 better than cramped Airbus, though my seat was broken. The bad: Way overpriced ticket and charged for food despite 6 hr flight.

Terrible all around. Flight was late and airplane was very uncomfortable. The crew were unhelpful and hid in the back. Did zero work. No entertainment.

I booked and paid extra for exit door seats also pre paid for my luggage air Canada changed plains and I never got what I paid for and they made me pay for luggage again they also did this to my wife. They are the most unorganized company I have ever dealt with. I am sure I will never see the extra money I paid for the seats or the recharge for the luggage. They are subsidized by the taxpayers and don’t give a dam just a horrible way to do business

Overcharged by either United or Air Canada. Abuse of access to my credit/debit card.

Your crew was so so so wonderful Only thing sound be great if you kept some phone chargers and converters rest 👌👌👌👌

Everything you need to know for your flight to California

Cabin class types available on flights to California

Cabin classes available on flights to California. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.

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