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ORD - SBA

Find cheap flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara from $147

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 4/26. 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
0 bags
Thu 4/18
Thu 4/25

Search 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
In the last 7 days travelers have searched 47,600,107 times on KAYAK, and here is why:

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Cheap flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara

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.
8:00 am - 5:22 pmORD-SBA
11h 22m1 stop
6:17 pm - 5:45 amSBA-ORD
9h 28m1 stop
$282Alaska Airlines
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Tue, Apr 23 - Wed, Apr 24
6:00 am - 5:32 pmORD-SBA
13h 32m1 stop
6:17 pm - 5:45 amSBA-ORD
9h 28m1 stop
$293Alaska Airlines
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Sat, May 4 - Tue, May 7
6:00 am - 5:32 pmORD-SBA
13h 32m1 stop
6:17 pm - 4:45 amSBA-ORD
32h 28m2 stops
$328Alaska Airlines
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Sat, May 4 - Tue, May 7
7:23 pm - 5:32 pmORD-SBA
24h 09m1 stop
6:17 pm - 5:45 amSBA-ORD
9h 28m1 stop
$337Alaska Airlines
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Fri, Apr 26 - Mon, Apr 29
11:16 am - 3:33 pmORD-SBA
6h 17m1 stop
7:15 pm - 5:22 amSBA-ORD
8h 07m1 stop
$418American Airlines
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Wed, Apr 24 - Sun, Apr 28
12:55 pm - 9:21 pmORD-SBA
10h 26m1 stop
6:00 am - 8:02 pmSBA-ORD
12h 02m2 stops
$423United Airlines
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Tue, Apr 23 - Wed, Apr 24
5:00 pm - 9:56 pmORD-SBA
6h 56m1 stop
4:11 pm - 12:18 amSBA-ORD
6h 07m1 stop
$432American Airlines
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Sat, Jun 1 - Tue, Jun 11
5:00 am - 9:21 pmORD-SBA
18h 21m1 stop
4:59 pm - 9:32 amSBA-ORD
14h 33m2 stops
$435United Airlines
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Fri, May 3 - Mon, May 6
6:00 am - 12:18 pmORD-SBA
8h 18m2 stops
1:20 pm - 9:56 pmSBA-ORD
6h 36m1 stop
$471Delta
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Wed, Jun 26 - Tue, Jul 2
12:40 pm - 8:55 pmORD-SBA
10h 15m1 stop
7:25 am - 7:01 pmSBA-ORD
9h 36m1 stop
$506Delta
Find Deal
Thu, Aug 1 - Mon, Aug 5

Flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara - Travel Insights & Trends

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.

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

The average price of all flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.
Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to Santa Barbara on a Wednesday and more expensive on a Saturday. On your return trip to Chicago, you should consider flying back on a Wednesday, and avoid Mondays for better 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 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 October, where tickets cost $454 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and July, where the average cost of tickets is $663 and $555 respectively.

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

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for 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 month.
To get a below average price on the flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara, you should book around 1 week before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 67 days before departure.

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

The cheapest price for the route for each airline clicked by KAYAK users in the last 72 hours.
In the last 3 days, Alaska Airlines offered the best one-way deal for that route, at $147. KAYAK users also found Chicago to Santa Barbara round-trip flights on Alaska Airlines from $282 and on American Airlines from $418.

How long does a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara take?

Flying to Santa Barbara from Chicago requires at least one layover, as there are no direct flights for this route. The shortest flight duration is 6h 09m.

Good to know

Low season

May

High season

July

Cheapest flight

$147
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 11% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 1% increase in price.
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 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Santa Barbara was $147 for a one-way ticket and $282 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?

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

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

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

  • 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 $503 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 $520 and an overall rating of 7.3.

  • 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.

See more FAQs

Top airlines flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara

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 KAYAK reviews.
7.4
United AirlinesOverall score based on 11618 reviews
67food
72comfort
71entertainment
77boarding
74overall
81crew
Airline reviews

I was not able to buy food in the flight. They refer to include your Credit card in the APP, and if you are not from USA (i have a credit card form Canada) it is not possible

Read more about United Airlines

I was not able to buy food in the flight. They refer to include your Credit card in the APP, and if you are not from USA (i have a credit card form Canada) it is not possible

The flight from Ottawa to Chicago took a lot longer due to DC in Ottawa. We got to Chicago and went to our gate to catch our flight. We only had nine minutes I found that very stressful.

Good boarding. Crew started quick with drinks and food. They came around several times for trash which I really liked. Other than turbulence due to storms in the area, flight was great.

The control panel for the seat back screen did not work at all after takeoff.

Plane was so old it had cigarette butt trays in the seat

Everything was good, hard to really comfortable on a flight that long.

Unfortunately our flight was delayed by 45 minutes due to Kate arriving aircraft. Once we stated everything was great.

For some strange reason I was put in zone 5 for boarding even though I had paid premium price for a premium seat right behind business class. This must have been a flaw because everyone else around me in the same zone (row) had been placed in zone 3.

Nothing bad to say about the actual crew or airline. It was nice to have a complimentary FULL can of soda, as well as a snack. Blankets and earbuds were also provided at no cost for this red eye flight. I especially appreciated the free WiFi and movie selection with the Bluetooth option. It helped the flight pass more quickly. No matter who you fly, boarding and disembarking are always SUCH a pain. As I mentioned, this is on the passengers and not the crew!!

Food choice was poor and we had to buy on board snacks.

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.

Excellent- plan was barely populated. I cannot remember a flight where I was able/encouraged to stretch out!

Great flight. Boarding was efficient and quick. On time departure and smooth flight. Flight arrived early at destination. Good experience.

Had technical issue which delayed the flight period. Flight crew knew there was 5 passengers that the connecting flight was within 15 minutes once at the gate. Rather than identify the 5 passengers to assure they got first. The flight attended mentioned it but didn't assist to assure passengers with connecting flights off first. This caused a hardship and our party of 3 missed the connecting flight.

I don't like that I have to pay if I want extra leg room. The seats are so expensive; I sit in normal seats and my legs and knees cramp the entire flight. I never feel comfortable on AA flights.

Flight was delayed at departure due to weather and the need for de-icing. The flight was smooth but there was a delay at arrival due to weather. We were in a hold for 20 minutes or more. The flight arrived more than 30 minutes late. Airlines have no control over the weather and I'm glad that they follow all safety procedures. Had to wait a long time for my checked luggage. Whole process was slow and the bags arrived wet due to the rain. The onboard wifi and entertainment access was spotty and the signal was dropped several times. Otherwise the crew was great and friendly. They tried to get everyone's bags stowed and seated so we could take off.

Regarding the boarding: it needs more efforts to make it more convenient

Deicing in Denver took forever and I almost missed my connection. De-ice faster! Not Americans fault.

I had first class itinerary, yet they put me boarding group 5 from FNT to ORD! I spoke with the gate agent though, and she let me board in Group 1 like I should have been assigned. Would've liked water on that flight. I'm glad that I asked about food on the flight from ORD to DALLAS. If I fly United from ORD to any city in Texas, they always offer a hot meal and regardless if it is a time in between meal times. The excuse was that it was not dinner time yet. It was almost 6pm?? And the flight was over 2 hours. There were some healthy snack options at least, but fresh snacks like apples or something would be nice. At least offer cheese plates or similar. Please bring seatback screens like United is doing. The flight attendant in first class was wonderful.

Flight departed on time. Boarding was easy and efficient. Arrived on time.

Book cheap flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Recent one-way flight deals

 
Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.
4/26Fri
1 stopAlaska Airlines
24h 09mORD-SBA
$147
4/26Fri
2 stopsAlaska Airlines
28h 39mORD-SBA
$193
4/26Fri
1 stopAmerican Airlines
7h 25mORD-SBA
$219
6/4Tue
1 stopUnited Airlines
6h 41mORD-SBA
$244
9/2Mon
1 stopAmerican Airlines
7h 11mORD-SBA
$253
6/4Tue
2 stopsUnited Airlines
16h 37mORD-SBA
$255
6/7Fri
2 stopsDelta
8h 18mORD-SBA
$258
6/17Mon
1 stopDelta
6h 52mORD-SBA
$293
6/5Wed
3 stopsAvianca
34h 16mORD-SBA
$998
6/5Wed
3 stopsAvianca
34h 16mORD-SBA
$1,098

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Last minute flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

 
These last-minute flight deals are the cheapest flights found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours for flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara that are departing in the next 10 days.
3/20Wed
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
7h 39mORD-SBA
3/24Sun
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
5h 34mSBA-ORD
$766
3/20Wed
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
10h 53mORD-SBA
3/24Sun
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
7h 32mSBA-ORD
$771
3/20Wed
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
10h 53mORD-SBA
3/24Sun
multi-stopAmerican Airlines
9h 20mSBA-ORD
$961

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Chicago - Santa Barbara Flights

Departure:

Chicago (ORD)United States

Destination:

Santa Barbara (SBA)United States

Return flight deals:

Santa Barbara - Chicago

Cabin classes: