NYC - SBA

$162 Find Cheap Flights from New York 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 New York to Santa Barbara departing on 11/12. 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 New York 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 New York to Santa Barbara, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$287
Typical prices: $700-$361
American Airlines
Thu 8/20Wed 9/2
JFK - SBA • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$162
Typical prices: $373-$401
Alaska Airlines
Thu 11/12
JFK - SBA • 1 stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $287 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between New York and Santa Barbara. You'll need at least 1 connection.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $347 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 8h 03m (one-way)
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
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Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from New York to Santa Barbara (NYC-SBA)

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

Thu, Aug 20 - Wed, Sep 2
American Airlines Logo
12:55 pm - 6:03 pm
JFK
-
SBA
8h 08m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
12:15 pm - 11:58 pm
SBA
-
JFK
8h 43m
1 stop
$287American Airlines
Thu, Aug 20 - Wed, Sep 2
American Airlines Logo
12:55 pm - 6:03 pm
JFK
-
SBA
8h 08m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
9:45 am - 11:00 pm
SBA
-
JFK
10h 15m
2 stops
$292American Airlines
Thu, Aug 20 - Wed, Sep 2
American Airlines Logo
9:59 am - 6:03 pm
LGA
-
SBA
11h 04m
2 stops
American Airlines Logo
9:45 am - 11:44 pm
SBA
-
LGA
10h 59m
2 stops
$298American Airlines
Tue, Sep 22 - Mon, Sep 28
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 11:57 am
JFK
-
SBA
8h 57m
1 stop
Delta Logo
12:37 pm - 11:40 pm
SBA
-
JFK
8h 03m
1 stop
$305Delta
Tue, Sep 22 - Mon, Sep 28
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 11:57 am
JFK
-
SBA
8h 57m
1 stop
Delta Logo
4:52 pm - 10:15 am
SBA
-
JFK
14h 23m
2 stops
$310Delta
Thu, Oct 22 - Mon, Oct 26
Alaska Airlines Logo
9:59 am - 4:59 pm
JFK
-
SBA
10h 00m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
5:36 pm - 7:25 am
SBA
-
JFK
10h 49m
1 stop
$313Alaska Airlines
Thu, Aug 20 - Wed, Sep 2
Southwest Logo
6:30 am - 5:45 pm
LGA
-
SBA
14h 15m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
5:45 am - 4:55 pm
SBA
-
LGA
8h 10m
2 stops
$327Southwest
Thu, Sep 17 - Tue, Sep 22
Alaska Airlines Logo
4:29 pm - 11:50 pm
JFK
-
SBA
10h 21m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:17 pm - 7:27 pm
SBA
-
JFK
26h 10m
1 stop
$366Alaska Airlines
Tue, Sep 15 - Sat, Sep 19
United Airlines Logo
11:20 am - 7:42 pm
LGA
-
SBA
11h 22m
2 stops
United Airlines Logo
1:11 pm - 11:35 pm
SBA
-
LGA
7h 24m
1 stop
$394United Airlines
Tue, Sep 15 - Sat, Sep 19
United Airlines Logo
12:34 pm - 7:42 pm
LGA
-
SBA
10h 08m
2 stops
United Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 5:25 pm
SBA
-
LGA
9h 25m
2 stops
$399United Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for New York to Santa Barbara flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from New York 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 New York 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 New York to Santa Barbara departing in August.

What is the cheapest month to fly from New York to Santa Barbara?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from New York 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 New York to Santa Barbara is August, where tickets cost $216 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and January, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $328 and $287 respectively.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$162
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 21% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 1% increase in price.
Flight from New York John F Kennedy Airport to Santa Barbara

When to book flights from New York to Santa Barbara

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from New York 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 flights from New York to Santa Barbara

  • What flight options do I have when flying from New York to Santa Barbara?

    When flying from New York to Santa Barbara, you can only opt for connecting flight options as there are no direct or nonstop flight services. You can opt for American Airlines and United Airlines, which offer shorter layovers with stops at different airports such as PHX, SFO, LAX and DEN airports.

  • Which ground transportation option is the most ideal in Santa Barbara?

    There are many ground transportation options that you can opt for upon arrival at SBA airports, such as taxis and shuttles. However, you should consider booking car rentals if you are in town for adventure and exploration. You can decide to hire Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, Dollar, Hertz Avis and National are some of the car rental agencies found onsite at the airport near the baggage claim area.

  • Can I have access to family services at any of the New York airports?

    New York airports have heavily invested in developing family amenities and services to ensure that families flying through the airport can be comfortable before boarding their flights. At EWR, you will have access to family washrooms and nursing suites located in terminals A, B and C, while at LGA, baby care facilities are situated in Terminals A, B and C. On the other hand, if you fly through JFK, you will find family washrooms and baby care amenities on the Airside.

  • Are there USO lounges at New York Airports?

    JFK features a USO lounge on terminal 5, while at EWR, the lounge is located in terminal B. These military lounges offer free amenities and services to active US military and their families flying through the airports. LGA is the only airport in New York that doesn’t have a USO lounge.

  • What is the cheapest flight from New York to Santa Barbara?

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from New York to Santa Barbara was $162 for a one-way ticket and $287 for a round-trip.

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

    No

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from New York to Santa Barbara?

    When flying out of New York you will be using one of these airports: Newark, New York John F Kennedy Intl, or New York LaGuardia. You will be landing at Santa Barbara.

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

    We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from New York to Santa Barbara?

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

  • What is the most popular layover when flying to Santa Barbara from New York?

    Phoenix is the most popular layover city among KAYAK users traveling from New York to Santa Barbara.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from New York to Santa Barbara, Delta or Southwest?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from New York to Santa Barbara are Delta and Southwest. With an average price for the route of $488 and an overall rating of 7.9, Delta is the most popular choice. Southwest is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $538 and an overall rating of 7.9.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from New York 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 New York to Santa Barbara.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Santa Barbara from New York 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 New York 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 New York with another airline.

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

  • If you are flying from New York to Santa Barbara and wish to leave your car, the departure airports offer several onsite and offsite parking spaces that you can choose to use. These parking spaces range from hourly and daily to extended stays parking options. But, if you want to save on costs while traveling, you should opt for offsite parking rather than onsite as they are more affordable.
  • If you need a hand with your luggage upon arrival at Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), you can take advantage of the baggage carts available within the airport. The baggage carts are found in the airport’s baggage claim area.
  • Passengers flying through any of the New York airports with pets can use the pet relief facilities at the airports for their pet’s potty service, drinking water and stretching legs. At EWR, the pet relief areas are located outside and inside the terminals across gates 29, 28 and C, while at JFK, the pet relief facilities are found at terminal 5 and Concourse B. On the other hand, you will find at least a pet relief area in each terminal.
  • While at SBA and needing any specific information, you should go to the information desk available at the airport and ask for assistance. You can find any information about the local area and the airport from the volunteers found on these counters.
  • When flying from New York to Santa Barbara, you should book an airline according to your preferences and budget. This is because not all airlines operating along this route offer the same services. For instance, Alaska Airlines flying from New York to Santa Barbara offer assorted meals and seats with enough legroom and allows pets onboard.

Reviews of the top 4 airlines serving from New York to Santa Barbara

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from New York 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 New York 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.
7.9
SouthwestOverall score based on 4237 reviews
8.0Comfort
7.0Food
8.6Crew
8.1Boarding
7.5Entertainment
Airline reviews

The first time I flew in the extra legroom section. It was difficult to notice a difference. I had bad luck with my neighbors. The crew was okay. Southwest has reduced the live TV options.

4.0 OkayAnonymous, May 2026
MDW - LAX
Read more Southwest reviews

The first time I flew in the extra legroom section. It was difficult to notice a difference. I had bad luck with my neighbors. The crew was okay. Southwest has reduced the live TV options.

No gluten free snacks. Seats felt worn or bare bones even though it was a new 737 MAX 8.

Plane was clean and comfortable. Flight attendants and gate staff were professional, friendly and efficient. Boarding and deplaning were orderly and efficient. All in all, the typical excellent Southwest experience.

Not having a five hour delay with little notice! The crew was very kind, though, and just as tired as we passengers were. The flight didn't depart until nearly 1 am...and no reason was ever given.

This leg was much better, but we did have to have a 3 hour lay o er after coming from a very exhausting hiccup with our flight from BNA to Den

The Air hostess were very rude on my flight from Houston to Austin . Their regular communication itself felt a they are shouting at people.

Boarding was easy. The seats are small and fairly uncomfortable

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

No food or entertainment, just a quick 40 minute flight. A little bumpy due to Santa Ana winds but pilot has no control over that. Good flight and landing!

Good but I prefer choose your own seat. With the new assigned seats they should board from the back I see no advantage to this new boarding. Just like every other airline

On time! There were plenty of airport employees who were able to keep us moving in the right direction. The crew on the plane were professional.

I continue to be satisfied with Delta’s excellent service out of LGA. The digit id works well and gets me through security in no time. Whenever possible, I choose Delta.

Was revoked with Jet Blue due to delay from Kenya Air

WiFi didn’t work. Flight delayed 3 hours Crew members were illiterate Seat lean back did not work.

Transparency from pilots, quick boarding and exiting the plane, staff greeted to each and everyone,

WiFi didn’t work most of the time. The usb chargers would work only occasionally for 5 mins and wouldn’t charge after that. Had to keep trying repeatedly at each of the seats in the row.

The crew bent over backwards to thank us for flying and make us comfortable. The food service was quick and efficient. The Captain communicated and said goodbye and thank you as we departed. They really stood out!

Flight delayed. Air broken. Cabin was hot enough to pass out. Delta shuttle’s becoming worse and worse.

my mom urmila patel needed a wheelchair which was not available on the curbside. she needed to walk almost 50 meters inside (at the risk of falling) and then had to wait in line to get a wheelchair (this is not ok). Once obtained she had to seat in it for 30-45 minutes for someone to take her in thru the checkin process (which was fairly smooth and easy). the lady who helped her with her checkin process was very courteous and helpful

This was the worse experience. They delayed our flight twice and we still had to find another flight to get home sooner which was alos delayed. Also, the flight attendant named Ginny on DL9890 leaving at 4:13pm on 3/23/26 was extremely rude.

I'm a United 1K member and have ben for 10 years. The gate agent had no control over the boarding process and had us passengers queued for hours as delays were announced. On the plane, the overhead air nozzle was broken so col over was powering through on me and the passenger next to me. Not a great experience for a million miler on United. Feel free to contact me. Josh Smigel - DM426089

Check in was chaotic with only one counter for business class and first class. The luggage conveyor belt at JFK airport was broken so the flight departure was delayed which made the flight stressful as I had a tight connection. Although the captain said they could make up the delay, they didn’t do so.

As I wrote earlier, poor planning and/or communication. At least twice, we were told that we would be boarding in less than ten minutes, only to have the flight again delayed at least another hour.

Flight left on time, arrived early, pleasant staff provided water, coffee, etc. access to bathrooms was reasonable and were well maintained. blankets were available, lots of entertainment options. LUGGAGE SERVICE WAS GREAT. I got my one checked bag quickly and was able to make a bus connection for a 2 hour bus ride saving me from waiting another 1.5 hours.

I had a good time. However, I paid for the wifi and it was in and out the whole flight.

They promise free wi-fi prior to boarding and then once on board you are informed you have to purchase wifi even after being a mileagePlus member.

3 hour delay…. Nearly 2 hours sitting on tarmac. Do better, United. Or at least have the sense to not say “we hope you enjoyed your flight with us” upon disembarking.

Both our flights were delayed. Almost didn’t get in the second flight. Staff was rude to the bone.

Everything went well except the turbulence what no one have a control of but pilot and crew handled very good!

Much better than Spirit. I was please by the easy fast check in and boarding

Crew were professional and kind. The flight was smooth. But... The internet, which we paid 35 dollars for, did not work for most of the flight. This made providing media for our child an uncomfortable hassle.

Overall fine. Seemed like one of the older model planes? Crew was mostly very kind, though some of the female attendants were a rather abrupt during the food service.

Leave on time. We waited on the plane for hour hours and it was hot and smelly

The flight attendant on my side of business class seemed like a novice and did not provide good service. Otherwise the flight was good and the entertainment system was very good. No free WiFi.

Flying in the United States with the major airlines has become so underwhelming. A 2-3hr flight in most other parts of the world with the major carriers of the area comes with newer, CLEANER aircraft and significantly better in flight service in terms of both staff attitude and a actual meal service.

I am writing to share detailed feedback regarding my recent journey with American Airlines on the New York (JFK) to New Delhi (DEL) sector, which was ultimately diverted to Jaipur (JAI) due to weather conditions. At the outset, I would like to acknowledge that this was a full long-haul flight of approximately 14–15 hours, and while the journey fulfilled its primary transport objective, several aspects of the experience warrant both recognition and constructive feedback. 1. Cabin Crew Conduct and Service Consistency While the majority of the cabin crew maintained a polite and professional demeanor, one flight attendant’s conduct was notably inconsistent with expected service standards. The tone was often directive and lacked the warmth and guest-centric engagement typically associated with long-haul service. This created a perceptible imbalance in the cabin experience. Although other crew members acknowledged and apologized for the behavior, it highlighted a gap in service standardization and supervisory oversight. 2. Inflight Experience (IFE & Comfort) The inflight entertainment system was unreliable, with content failing to load consistently throughout the journey. Seating comfort in economy class was below expectations when compared with other international long-haul carriers. Cabin environment management at times felt unsettled, with noticeable noise and movement in the aisles. 3. Disruption Handling and Communication (DEL Diversion to JAI) The diversion to Jaipur due to weather was understandably beyond the airline’s control. However, the handling of post-diversion communication and guest management was an area of concern: Information during and after the diversion was fragmented and lacked clarity Limited guidance was provided upon disembarkation regarding next steps (transport, accommodation, onward travel) Ground coordination appeared inconsistent, with hotel partners and passengers receiving incomplete or delayed updates Communication the following morning remained unclear, including last-minute changes to transfer timings This resulted in avoidable uncertainty during a critical disruption phase. 4. Positive Acknowledgment – Ground Recovery Arrangements It is important to recognize that despite the initial communication gaps, the overall recovery framework was eventually well executed: Hotel accommodation was arranged efficiently Meal vouchers were provided appropriately Transfers between airport and hotel were organized in a structured manner Given the sudden and large-scale disruption, these arrangements were commendable and reflect the airline’s ability to operationally recover once systems were in place. 5. Recommendations for Improvement In the interest of strengthening the overall customer experience, I would respectfully propose the following: Service Delivery Reinforce consistent cabin crew service standards, particularly for long-haul sectors Enhance supervisory presence to address outlier behaviors in real time Inflight Product Improve reliability of inflight entertainment systems Reassess economy seating comfort for ultra-long-haul routes Disruption Management Establish a more visible “Care & Coordination Team” during irregular operations Ensure clear, centralized communication (single source of truth) for passengers and ground partners Provide structured briefing points to hotel and transport vendors to avoid information gaps Introduce proactive guest engagement (clear next steps, timelines, reassurance) Closing Reflection: While the journey was impacted by both controllable and uncontrollable factors, the overall experience would have been significantly enhanced through greater consistency in service delivery and more structured communication during disruption. I appreciate the efforts made by the broader team in arranging accommodation and onward logistics under challenging circumstances. With improved coordination and alignment, the experience can be elevated to match the expectations of a global long-haul carrier. Thank you for your attention to this feedback. I trust it will be received constructively and contribute to ongoing service improvement. Warm regards, Soosnata Chowdhury Convert effective for airlines) Or tailor tone

Wifi was spotty. Tray table was very dirty when I sat down.

Flight was extremely hot and they made us check our bags when the space was nowhere near full

Same plane as RDU to LGA — internet not working. Pilot issue of some sort at end of prior flight - I was on same plane for my connection. Late/delayed —

For an international flight the seats were smaller than most flight I have been on in economy. I don’t know the size of the seats or perhaps it was the size of the seat dividers that made the seats feel smaller and little amount of space to even turn your body if you needed to

Everything you need to know for your flight from New York to Santa Barbara

Information on your arrival and departure airports