ORD - SBA

$160 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara - Compare and Save

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara departing on 6/30. 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, 0 bags

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

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to Santa Barbara, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Chicago to Santa Barbara, as well as popular online travel agencies
Travelers love KAYAK
41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$309
Typical prices: $657-$422
United Airlines
Thu 7/2Tue 7/7
ORD - SBA • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$160
Typical prices: $281-$391
Alaska Airlines
Tue 6/30
ORD - SBA • 1 stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $289 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.4 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 4h 40m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $184 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 6h 34m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 7 weeks in advance save around 44% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 18% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Santa Barbara!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara (ORD-SBA)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara 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 round-trip flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Thu, Jul 2 - Tue, Jul 7
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 11:25 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 40mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
12:37 pm - 7:00 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 23mnonstop
$309United Airlines
Sat, Jun 27 - Mon, Jun 29
United Airlines Logo
6:10 am - 11:52 am
ORD
-
SBA
7h 42m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
2:00 pm - 8:23 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 23mnonstop
$319United Airlines
Tue, Jun 30 - Fri, Jul 3
American Airlines Logo
3:50 pm - 9:59 pm
ORD
-
SBA
8h 09m
2 stops
American Airlines Logo
7:15 pm - 6:25 am
SBA
-
ORD
9h 10m
1 stop
$324American Airlines
Tue, Jun 30 - Fri, Jul 3
American Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 11:45 am
ORD
-
SBA
8h 45m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
7:15 pm - 6:25 am
SBA
-
ORD
9h 10m
1 stop
$329American Airlines
Fri, Jul 3 - Fri, Jul 10
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 11:25 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 40mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
1:58 pm - 12:59 am
SBA
-
ORD
9h 01m
1 stop
$334United Airlines
Fri, Jul 3 - Fri, Jul 10
American Airlines Logo
3:49 pm - 9:58 pm
ORD
-
SBA
8h 09m
2 stops
American Airlines Logo
12:10 pm - 11:30 pm
SBA
-
ORD
9h 20m
1 stop
$339American Airlines
Thu, Jul 2 - Wed, Jul 8
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:20 am - 2:02 pm
ORD
-
SBA
9h 42m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:28 pm - 11:36 pm
SBA
-
ORD
7h 08m
1 stop
$344Alaska Airlines
Fri, Nov 6 - Tue, Nov 10
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:56 pm - 2:01 pm
ORD
-
SBA
20h 05m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 11:49 pm
SBA
-
ORD
15h 49m
1 stop
$345Alaska Airlines
Thu, Jul 23 - Sun, Jul 26
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:20 am - 2:02 pm
ORD
-
SBA
9h 42m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:34 am - 5:00 am
SBA
-
ORD
19h 26m
1 stop
$349Alaska Airlines
Fri, Jun 26 - Thu, Jul 2
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 11:25 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 40mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
12:37 pm - 7:00 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 23mnonstop
$351United Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Chicago to Santa Barbara flights

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

How much is a round-trip flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara departing in July.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to Santa Barbara on a Saturday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Monday is the most expensive day to fly from Chicago to Santa Barbara. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Wednesday and avoiding Mondays for the best deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara, 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 Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara is April, where tickets cost $364 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are August and May, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $586 and $512 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

No, with an average price for the route of $472, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara, 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 Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara, you should book around 7 weeks before departure, which saves you about 44% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 14 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$160
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 1% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 17% lower on average.
Flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara

When to book flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Chicago to Santa Barbara based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking Chicago to Santa Barbara flights

  • What is the cheapest flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara?

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara was $154 for a one-way ticket and $289 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Chicago and Santa Barbara?

    Even though you are not required to have a passport, keep in mind that an official ID is needed to board the airplane.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

    The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Chicago to Santa Barbara flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

    oneworld, and Star Alliance are the airline alliances operating flights between Chicago and Santa Barbara, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

    There are nonstop flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara, United Airlines or American Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara are United Airlines and American Airlines. With an average price for the route of $430 and an overall rating of 7.4, United Airlines is the most popular choice. American Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $495 and an overall rating of 7.1.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

    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 Chicago to Santa Barbara.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

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

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Santa Barbara with an airline and back to Chicago with another airline. Booking your flights between Chicago and SBA can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

    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 to Santa Barbara from Chicago up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $378 or less one-way and $429 or less round-trip.

Prefer to fly direct from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Chicago O'Hare Intl to Santa Barbara.
Find which airlines fly direct from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Chicago O'Hare Intl to Santa Barbara

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl

Monday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Tuesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Wednesday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Thursday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Friday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Saturday

United Airlines

United Airlines

Sunday

United Airlines

United Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top airlines flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. 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 Chicago to Santa Barbara? 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.
7.4
United AirlinesOverall score based on 9804 reviews
7.3Comfort
7.1Entertainment
8.1Crew
6.6Food
7.7Boarding
Airline reviews

Boarded early; and arrived home 40 mins early. After a long flight, it’s nice to be back home early. These flights have no amenities; no snacks. So need to bring your own

10.0 ExcellentJanice, Jun 2026
ORD - ILM
Read more United Airlines reviews

Boarded early; and arrived home 40 mins early. After a long flight, it’s nice to be back home early. These flights have no amenities; no snacks. So need to bring your own

A long delay. Don't travel late in the day.

Super friendly with lots of drink options an entertainment. Friendly crew.

The crew was great. Very friendly and responsive. The plane was old, small and tight. We ran out of overhead space and I had to check. Middle seat was particularly tight.

Several missed and almost missed connections. It felt like everything was being patched together last minute without enough resources and it ended up being an extremely stressful experience that basically ruined our weekend on the west coast. What a waste.

Crew was friendly. Seats are too narrow, particularly when a big person is in the adjacent seat, but I understand this is due to smaller planes usually flight into Lincoln. I have experienced several flight delays going out and coming into Lincoln airport, I say maybe 50% or higher of the flights I've taken out of this airport have been delayed.

Great flight. Boarded efficiently. Arrived early at CLT. There was no in flight entertainment on this aircraft. Great crew.

The seat was comfortable. There was a lot of turbulence. If it weren't for that,it would have been okay.

Poor communication, flight was delayed for preventable reasons. I missed my connection.

No meal service to the back of the plane as it started late or was too slow to get it out before it was time to land.

American Airlines II: Delay Boogaloo. Multiple gate changes, delays, boarded and then MORE delays. I hate to say this won’t matter, but posting stuff about major corporations in 2026 is a post-modern “scream into the void.” Was multiple hours late coming home, so there you go.

The airplane was an old model, the overhead didn’t have enough room for people’s items and made boarding and boarding disappointing and stressful. Crew allowed passengers to bring more than the permitted baggage sizes.

Original flight was on time, then late, then changed gates...4 times. Once our newest plane came in, it was fine.

I almost missed my flight and they helped me out enormously

Delays experienced in boarding/take off due to incoming plane delayed. However, the boarding time/depart time in the app was significantly delayed in providing these updates. Usually not updated until an hour after we should have already boarded. Poorly managed.

Moved to earlier flight which unexpectedly had maintenance issues initially indicated as quick fix to ultimately plane changes. Moved back to original flight, also delayed. In all cases customer updates and communication very unclear, no updates on drivers for delays.

Typical AA - late by 90+ mn. Gate changed twice... Changed the departure time 6 times No explanation, no communication on reasons for delay I travel with AA twice a year... and it is consistently very poor.. I will continue to use AA only when i have to.

The gate got changed several times and the flight was delayed over an hour. Awful experience

American continues to decline in their customer service and its beyond disappointing.

It was an older plane. First Class was not especially roomy or comfortable. It was a short flight so there were no meal but they did offer mixed nuts which used to be normal but now is rare. Crew member was very polite and professional.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Information on your arrival and departure airports