ORD - SBA

$161 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 8/14. 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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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$329
Typical prices: $439-$732
United Airlines
Thu 8/6Fri 8/14
ORD - SBA • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$161
Typical prices: $228-$398
Alaska Airlines
Fri 8/14
ORD - SBA • 1 stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $329 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.4 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 4h 40m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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Direct flights
Direct flights
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Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $403 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 6h 39m (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 48% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 20% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
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Good to know
Good to know
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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, Aug 6 - Fri, Aug 14
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 11:25 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 40mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
12:33 pm - 6:52 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 19mnonstop
$329United Airlines
Tue, Sep 1 - Sat, Sep 5
United Airlines Logo
8:49 am - 11:31 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 42mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 3:00 pm
SBA
-
ORD
8h 00m
1 stop
$335United Airlines
Sat, Aug 8 - Fri, Aug 14
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 11:25 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 40mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
2:30 pm - 11:05 pm
SBA
-
ORD
6h 35m
1 stop
$339United Airlines
Sat, Aug 15 - Sat, Aug 22
United Airlines Logo
3:48 pm - 7:54 pm
ORD
-
SBA
6h 06m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 3:00 pm
SBA
-
ORD
8h 00m
1 stop
$344United Airlines
Thu, Aug 20 - Tue, Aug 25
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:01 am - 2:47 pm
ORD
-
SBA
10h 46m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
3:26 pm - 1:22 pm
SBA
-
ORD
19h 56m
1 stop
$349Alaska Airlines
Thu, Aug 20 - Mon, Aug 24
Delta Logo
7:48 am - 11:54 am
ORD
-
SBA
6h 06m
1 stop
Delta Logo
4:47 pm - 9:23 am
SBA
-
ORD
14h 36m
2 stops
$354Delta
Wed, Aug 19 - Fri, Aug 21
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:01 am - 11:50 pm
ORD
-
SBA
19h 49m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
3:26 pm - 11:59 pm
SBA
-
ORD
6h 33m
1 stop
$356Alaska Airlines
Thu, Aug 20 - Mon, Aug 24
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 11:54 am
ORD
-
SBA
7h 54m
2 stops
Delta Logo
4:47 pm - 9:23 am
SBA
-
ORD
14h 36m
2 stops
$359Delta
Wed, Aug 19 - Tue, Aug 25
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:18 pm - 11:50 pm
ORD
-
SBA
11h 32m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 1:22 pm
SBA
-
ORD
29h 22m
1 stop
$363Alaska Airlines
Mon, Aug 10 - Mon, Aug 17
United Airlines Logo
4:45 pm - 11:44 pm
ORD
-
SBA
8h 59m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
12:33 pm - 6:52 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 19mnonstop
$372United 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 August.

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 $635 and $529 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 $464, 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 48% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 16 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low season

January

Cheapest flight

$161
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 3% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 20% 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 $161 for a one-way ticket and $329 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 $431 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 $457 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 $278 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 10006 reviews
7.7Boarding
8.1Crew
7.3Comfort
7.1Entertainment
6.6Food
Airline reviews

Know that the movies that you are going to be offered are the oldest be rated movies they could possibly get. They may have one or two new movies that they keep advertising but when you’re flying 15 hours, there is nothing to see past the first new movie.

2.0 Mediocremary kay, Jul 2026
ORD - LAX
Read more United Airlines reviews

Know that the movies that you are going to be offered are the oldest be rated movies they could possibly get. They may have one or two new movies that they keep advertising but when you’re flying 15 hours, there is nothing to see past the first new movie.

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.

Terrible, if possible won't be flying again anytime soon!

Subject: Formal Complaint: Discriminatory and Unprofessional Conduct – Request for Immediate Action & Compensation Dear [Airline Customer Relations Team], I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding my recent travel experience with [Airline], which was by far the worst I have ever encountered. What occurred was not only unprofessional, but in several instances discriminatory, unsafe, and unacceptable. On the first leg of my trip, I arrived only four minutes past check-in. Instead of making any attempt to resolve the matter, your representative flatly denied me boarding and made me wait while she attended to passengers who arrived after me. By the time a manager intervened, it was too late to board, costing me time, money, and unnecessary frustration. The second leg of my trip (Chicago–San Francisco) raised even more serious concerns. From the outset, it was apparent that the staff—particularly two attendants—prioritized Caucasian passengers while dismissing African American and minority passengers. • When a Caucasian passenger in the exit row refused to comply with federal safety requirements, I, as a first responder, immediately offered to switch seats and assume the responsibility. My offer was blatantly ignored, and instead, a Caucasian passenger seated further up was chosen. This was discriminatory and deeply insulting, especially as I was actively de-escalating the situation that could have delayed the flight further. • During a lengthy tarmac delay of over 90 minutes, passengers were given conflicting and unreasonable instructions that created unnecessary distress and tension. • Throughout the flight, a visibly intoxicated passenger directly in front of me was disruptive, rude to others, failed to comply with seatbelt and electronic device rules, and yet faced no enforcement from the crew. In stark contrast, I was singled out for repeated compliance checks even though I was following every rule. This unequal treatment was so obvious that multiple passengers around me spoke up in my defense. This pattern of behavior demonstrated a clear lack of professionalism, disregard for passenger safety, and discriminatory treatment. I expect far better from an airline of your stature. As a paying customer subjected to this unacceptable treatment, I am formally requesting: 1. A full investigation into the conduct of the staff on both flights. 2. A written apology acknowledging the discriminatory and unprofessional behavior I endured. 3. Appropriate compensation for the distress, inconvenience, and mishandling of my travel. If this matter is not addressed promptly and thoroughly, I will have no choice but to escalate my complaint further, including filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation and sharing my experience through other channels. I trust [Airline] will take this complaint seriously and provide a timely resolution.

Check in was quick and easy during early hours. Flight was on time, and customer services was a plus.

A bit rush for transit. Food and entertainment are not available

We arrived early and finally made it to our gate almost an hour after.

Was a pain having to leave the plane and reboard but glad the plane was fixed

My flight was delayed for a whole day, so I lost a day of my vacation.

It was so much better than expected, Ohare is not such a pleasant experience but American Airlines with the new, clean aeroplane and free Wi-Fi was outstanding and the crew so pleasant and helpful.

Delayed flight that lead to a missed connection and a 5-hour trip became a 12-hour flight 🙄

Amazing food, great staff, with one noticable detail missing ...but no seat entertainment in any of aircraft ...I am not a fan

My boarding pass wouldn't pull up in the app very easily and had to really dig through my email. That caused a delay in TSA..

Baby cried a lot. Nothing anyone could do about it. Just part of flying.

The flight crew was fantastic! Which the seats had a small TV.

My husband and I pre-ordered our food, but they did not have my husband’s order, and my cheese plate was very average. I asked for a blanket and was told they don’t carry blankets on domestic routs. The flight was on time and smooth!

5 hour flight - full flight - not enough room to use my computer - slightly delayed - Admirals club was excellent quality food, drink made up for flight seating. No food offerred on flight, you ahd to prebook.

Boarding was a mess - the agent basically called every group in rapid succession, so there was no organization at all. The economy seats are a joke, and main cabin extra seats were sold out when I purchased my flight. As such, I was locked in the same position for four hours. Being 6’6”, it was impossible to get my bag out from under the seat in front of me, and I couldn’t have used my laptop even if my bag were accessible due to the minuscule seat pitch. Also the wifi was broken. American is a joke - can’t wait until they merge with Spirit.

Horrible scam. Make you pay extra for more leg room then switch your seat as you’re boarding to a regular seat. Never fly American!

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports