SBA

$49 Find Cheap Flights from California 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 to Santa Barbara departing on 9/23. 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

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Cheap Flights from California to Santa Barbara

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

Thu, Aug 13 - Mon, Aug 17
Alaska Airlines Logo
12:49 pm - 2:02 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 13mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:04 am
SBA
-
SAN
1h 04mnonstop
$90Alaska Airlines
Wed, Aug 19 - Sat, Aug 22
Alaska Airlines Logo
1:30 pm - 2:47 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 17mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
3:26 pm - 4:30 pm
SBA
-
SAN
1h 04mnonstop
$97Alaska Airlines
Thu, Aug 13 - Mon, Aug 17
Southwest Logo
7:55 pm - 9:05 pm
OAK
-
SBA
1h 10mnonstop
Southwest Logo
6:35 am - 7:45 am
SBA
-
OAK
1h 10mnonstop
$97Southwest
Thu, Aug 13 - Mon, Aug 17
Southwest Logo
4:30 pm - 9:05 pm
SAN
-
SBA
4h 35m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
12:30 pm - 1:25 pm
SBA
-
SAN
0h 55mnonstop
$107Southwest
Thu, Aug 13 - Mon, Aug 17
Southwest Logo
7:55 pm - 9:05 pm
OAK
-
SBA
1h 10mnonstop
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 9:00 am
SBA
-
OAK
3h 30m
1 stop
$107Southwest
Wed, Aug 26 - Thu, Aug 27
United Airlines Logo
9:24 pm - 10:45 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 21mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
9:35 am - 10:49 am
SBA
-
SFO
1h 14mnonstop
$117United Airlines
Wed, Aug 19 - Wed, Aug 26
Alaska Airlines Logo
5:28 pm - 11:50 pm
LAS
-
SBA
6h 22m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 12:04 pm
SBA
-
LAS
6h 04m
1 stop
$117Alaska Airlines
Wed, Aug 12 - Mon, Aug 17
United Airlines Logo
9:24 pm - 10:45 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 21mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:14 am
SBA
-
SFO
1h 14mnonstop
$137United Airlines
Tue, Aug 18 - Thu, Aug 20
United Airlines Logo
6:50 pm - 8:11 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 21mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
2:30 pm - 5:42 pm
SBA
-
SFO
3h 12m
1 stop
$147United Airlines
Fri, Sep 11 - Mon, Sep 14
United Airlines Logo
6:50 pm - 8:11 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 21mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
9:35 am - 10:49 am
SBA
-
SFO
1h 14mnonstop
$152United Airlines
Useful Info

Good to know

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$49
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 3% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 11% lower on average.
Flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara

FAQs for booking flights from California to Santa Barbara

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

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

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

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from California 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 California up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Reviews of the top 3 airlines serving from California to Santa Barbara

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from California 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.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4233 reviews
7.5Entertainment
8.0Comfort
8.6Crew
8.1Boarding
7.0Food
Airline reviews

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

8.0 ExcellentCheryl, Apr 2026
DEN - SBA
Read more Southwest reviews

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

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.

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

The charges were ridiculous for an hour flight and the turbulence was very scary.

3 hour delay. Had to change plans and was still delayed.

The boarding and seat assignment system no longer works for me, but I know it is being replaced. Otherwise, I am good with the overall experience.

The lead steward kept singing about "San Francisco" and hotel California---more annoying than humorous....needs work. Flight was smooth and on time.

San Diego airport is brand new, spacious, airy and very smooth checkin at SW baggage drop.

Crew was great but because of fog they diverted us to Ontario instead of our Santa Barbara destination. Instead of cancelling the flight as soon as we landed in Ontario, they instead held us in Ontario for almost 4 hours before cancelling the flight. I had to rent a car in Ontario to get back to ventura on time to get an elderly relative his medication and take over his caretaking… otherwise if I had taken the buses you offered from Ontario I wouldn’t have even arrived to Santa Barbara till at least midnight (according to southwest airlines employees at Ontario), and then would have had to drive back down to ventura. At least renting the car I could get up to ventura by 10 pm to take care of my loved one.

The plane was freezing. A few other customers mentioned how they can’t get their temperature right on their flights lately.

Flight was canceled in good weather due to mechanical issue. Rebooked to flight to different airport in area that landed 7 hours after initially planned arrival. We had to jump through hoops to get taxi reimbursement given flight landed in different airport at 12:45 am.

Our flught was rerouted to another airport 60 minutes from our destination. We were told we would get Lyft vouchers to get us to our original destination. We did get vouchers, but when we arrived at the rerouted airport, we realized the vouchers were for a Lyft ride from the starting airport to our original destination. We were lead to believe that once we arrived at the rerouted airport, we could use the voucher from there. Nope. So we got stuck with a $100, 1-hour Uber ride. The flight staff was annoying. We were seated near the rear, and for the entire flight, both attendants were gossiping about some drama on Facebook. And they weren't being quiet about it. The back dozen rows or so could easily hear their entire conversation. I've flown Alaska Airlines many times before and have never had problems. This was an awful experience.

delay was longer than the entire flight. I didn’t stop flying with delta for this.

They cancelled the 6am flight around 12:30 AM the day before. I was luckily able to book through another airline. I called for a one way fare refund, the new flight is much more expensive. I lost $$$ in the difference and this caused lots of stress. I intend to take action following my trip, really off to a bad start and I will never fly Alaskan again

My travel mate needed wheel chair assistance getting on and off, and it was excellent. Thank you!

The app booked me on a flight for July 1st as opposed to August 1st like it was supposed to be. No problem with Alaska Airlines, except they took a while to refund my money. But it was as taken instantly. So, yeah.

On time, good seats, not overly full, up beast positive crew.

Check-in was easy, I did it from the app. Boarding was easy, the crew was great. Santa Barbara airport had a disabled plane so we had to land in Burbank to refuel. They kept us well informed, and everyone was great. A very entertaining person from the Burbank airport got on and told a few jokes.

Had to show boarding pass twice. Otherwise flight was excellent.

It was a short, comfortable flight. It did leave an hour late due to the pilot having to be replaced (family emergency) but that didn’t inconvenience myself & my friend. The situation was explained, eventually.

UA594 was delayed multiple times. I ended up getting picked up so I can make it in time for work 6AM on Monday, 7/6/2026

Service was professional and quick. Premium economy seat was comfortable given the class

The staff was extremely helpful and friendly at all times! They went above and beyond to get us into an earlier flight in San Diego to make our connection in SFO possible, because our original flight did actually not make it! I did so much appreciate the UA team and how they made this possible. We also didn’t have seats together on the long flight to Singapore, but they found us seats together last moment with no additional cost! Nobody sat next to us, so that we were able to sleep! Thanks to UA for improving their service and Underpricer for booking this trip! Please be careful: 1,5 hrs for transfer in San Francisco might not be enough time in the future

Seat pitch is horrible especially on the 15 hour flight. Gate crew at SFO was Outstanding. The flight crew was also great.

Late plane. Only one crew on the ground so we b had to wait for Denver flight to come in, board, and depart. At 78 yrs of age I was not pleased trying to get my connection. What really made me angry was the notification you sent me to hurry up or I would miss my connection. Why tell me to hurry up when you got me in late. It was not a good way of treating customers.

Outstanding service, efficient & friendly crew, flight was safe, comfortable & on time

Flight delayed for more than 16 hrs and no effort was spent to provide an alternate

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

Serving a coffr Or a Drink would have been nice.

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