At Alternative Airlines, it’s easy to search and book flights with all major carriers, and many of the smaller regional airlines, that operate flights to destinations along the West Coast.
To begin, use the search form at the top of the page to find flights on any route where the departure and/or arrival destination is within the West Coast.
The West Coast is the coastline along which the western states of the U.S. meet the North Pacific Ocean — it is also referred to as the Pacific Coast, or the Pacific states. These states include California, Oregon, and Washington.
The western coast of the U.S. draws many thousands of domestic and international tourists each year, looking to explore some of the many scenic natural landscapes and buzzing cities that can be found along the coastline. Many tourists fly direct to one of the West Coast's popular cities, which are enough to visit and explore in their own right, including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles.
Road trips or hikes along stretches of the western coast are also popular, and promise an unforgettable experience for adventurers looking to experience some of the most spectacular National Parks in the U.S. Highlights include Yellowstone National Park, California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, magnificent Redwood forests, and Big Sur.
Flights within the West Coast are flights that depart and arrive within either one or two of the states along the western coast of the U.S. These routes may be for travellers flying for business, to visit family, or as part of a multi-stop tour of some of the highlights along the western coast. For example, rather than driving for 12 hours between Seattle to San Francisco, a flight between the two cities takes approximately 2 hours.
Many of the biggest airline names in the U.S. operate flights within the West Coast, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, and Alaska Airlines.
Here are some of the most popular routes flying within the West Coast:
Seattle (SEA) ➡ San Francisco (SFO)
Portland (PDX) ➡ Seattle (SEA)
Los Angeles (LAX) ➡ Portland (PDX)
Every day, there are thousands of flights to destinations along the West Coast from other parts of the U.S. It’s easy to fly from any other city within the U.S., and, what’s more, many of these flights will be direct. Although, for a transcontinental flight (from the East Coast to the West Coast), a connection may need to be made at one of the major airports, such as New York, Philadelphia, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Boston.
If you’re in a state which is already close to the Western Close, you may be able to catch a short-flight to a smaller regional airport.
Top Tip: If you're flying to the West Coast from a destination already within America, take a look at our guide to domestic flights within the U.S. for lots more information, including an airline guide and FAQs.
Here are some of the most popular routes to the West Coast from elsewhere in the U.S.
New York (All airports) ➡ Seattle (SEA)
San Francisco (SFO) ➡ Chicago (All airports)
San Francisco (SFO) ➡ Las Vegas (LAS)
Anchorage (ANC) ➡ Seattle (SEA)
Each year, millions of visitors will fly internationally to visit one of the major, iconic, and majestic cities along the Western Coast, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
If you’re looking to fly to the West Coast, the largest airports are Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Seattle Tacoma International Airport, and Portland International Airport. These airports host many international flights to destinations around the world. As well as flights to Europe and South America, the West Coast is the U.S.’ gateway to Asia and Australia. Check out our guide on flights from Australia to the USA.
You can get international flights to the U.S.’s West Coast on many of the world's national carriers, as well as other major international airlines.
Shanghai (PVG) ➡ Seattle (SEA)
London, U.K. (LHR) ➡ Los Angeles (LAX)
Manila, Philippines (MNL) ➡ San Francisco (SFO)
There are hundreds of international, domestic, and regional airports within the states that constitute the Western Coast. You can easily fly to, from or between any of these destinations through Alternative Airlines. We offer competitive tickets on hundreds of airlines, including carriers that operate scheduled passenger flights to Western Coast airports.
Below is a list of some of the largest airports in each state.
Seattle Tacoma International Airport is one of the largest airports along the Western Coast, and serves the seaport city of Seattle - the largest city in the state of Washington. Surrounded by the sea and luscious parklands, Seattle is a hub for the tech industry in the U.S.
Portland International Airport is the largest airport in Oregon, and accounts for 90% of the state's passenger air traffic. The airport serves the city of Portland, a city which stands in the shadow of the snow-capped Mount Hood, and known for its eco-friendly initiatives.
Eugene Airport is the second largest airport in Oregon. It serves Eugene, a green university city, on the Willamette River.
Another major international airport is San Francisco International Airport, which serves San Francisco in Northern California. The city is a hotspot for many reasons, where tourists can visit the iconic Golden Gate bridge, which leads from the city to some of the most incredible ancient Redwood forests in the world.
Oakland International Airport serves Oakland, which is across from San Francisco on the other side of San Francisco Bay. The airport provides domestic flights to destinations across the U.S.
Los Angeles International Airport is one of the largest international airports along the west caost. Many tourists head to Los Angeles just to explore the Southern Californian city, which is perhaps best known for being the home of Hollywood - the heart of the U.S.’s film and television industry.
San Diego International Airport serves San Diego, a city on California's South-Western coast which is known for its beaches and warm climate. It is a domestic airport, with numerous flights operated to major cities across the U.S.
Book flights to California with Alternative Airlines - with 600+ airlines to book flights with and 40+ ways to pay, flights to and within California are readily available!
The major international airports serving the US West Coast include:
These airports serve as major departure and arrival points for both long-haul international travel and regional flights across the US.
Los Angeles International Airport consistently ranks as the busiest airport on the West Coast, and one of the busiest in the world. It serves over 80 million passengers annually and acts as a major connecting point for flights to Asia, Oceania and Latin America.
With nine terminals and connections across hundreds of global destinations, it’s a central hub for international travellers and US domestic flyers alike.
If you're looking to avoid the crowds at major airports, several smaller West Coast airports offer a smoother experience:
Smaller airports often mean shorter security lines, easier navigation and faster boarding.
The best airport for Silicon Valley is San Jose International (SJC). It's located right in the heart of the region, close to major tech hubs like Mountain View, Cupertino and Palo Alto. SJC offers a calm, modern experience and is well-connected with direct flights from major cities across the US.
For more flight options, nearby SFO is a solid alternative. Just be prepared for more traffic and longer airport queues.
San Francisco International’s code is SFO. It’s located about 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco and is a major hub for international travel.
With four terminals and dozens of airline lounges, SFO is well-equipped for both business and leisure travel.
It’s also known for sustainable airport initiatives and easy access via the BART train system.
Unlike some Canadian or Caribbean airports that offer US customs preclearance, West Coast airports don’t offer preclearance because they’re within the United States.
However, major hubs like LAX, SEA and SFO provide full customs and immigration facilities, including Global Entry kiosks, which speed up re-entry for pre-approved travellers. These airports are also well-equipped with multilingual staff and biometric entry options.
Flights to Hawaii are plentiful from the West Coast. The best airports for frequent, direct service include:
Many airlines, including Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines, operate flights to Hawaii. Booking with Alternative Airlines means you can compare all these options in one place and pay later if needed.
Yes! The West Coast is a hotspot for budget-friendly travel thanks to the presence of low-cost carriers like Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant and JetBlue.
Airports like OAK, LAX, SAN and LAS regularly offer deals on both domestic and international routes.
Use our flexible filters to search by price, travel dates and airline, and choose from over 40 payment options including Klarna, Affirm and PayPal Credit!
For jaw-dropping views, San Diego International stands out. The approach offers close-up views of the downtown skyline and Pacific coastline.
Portland International also provides stunning visuals - imagine snow-capped Mount Hood and lush forests.
Santa Barbara and Monterey are other lesser-known gems, offering dramatic coastal arrivals that rival any postcard.
Here are some of the key airport codes you'll see when booking West Coast flights:
If you're planning a multi-city itinerary or need to decode flight options quickly, knowing these codes is a big help.
