SAN - SBA

$164 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara departing on 12/26. 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
1 adult, Economy

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 San Diego 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$287
Typical prices: $296-$486
United Airlines
Tue 11/18Tue 11/25
SAN - SBA • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$164
Typical prices: $238-$328
United Airlines
Fri 12/26
SAN - SBA • 1 stop
Top airlines
United Airlines
Cheapest • from $287 (round-trip)
Southwest
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to travel
August
Cheapest • 35% price drop
November
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
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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 San Diego to Santa Barbara (SAN-SBA)

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

Tue, Nov 18 - Tue, Nov 25
United Airlines Logo
7:50 pm - 11:59 pmSAN-SBA
4h 09m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
7:19 am - 10:21 amSBA-SAN
3h 02m1 stop
$287United Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, Dec 26 - Wed, Dec 31
Southwest Logo
9:50 am - 1:45 pmSAN-SBA
3h 55m1 stop
Southwest Logo
2:55 pm - 8:50 pmSBA-SAN
5h 55m1 stop
$290Southwest
Find Deal
Fri, Dec 26 - Wed, Dec 31
Southwest Logo
2:55 pm - 12:15 amSAN-SBA
9h 20m2 stops
Southwest Logo
2:55 pm - 8:50 pmSBA-SAN
5h 55m1 stop
$300Southwest
Find Deal
Fri, Nov 21 - Sat, Nov 22
United Airlines Logo
4:01 pm - 10:29 pmSAN-SBA
6h 28m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
7:19 am - 10:21 amSBA-SAN
3h 02m1 stop
$322United Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, Dec 26 - Wed, Dec 31
Southwest Logo
2:55 pm - 12:15 amSAN-SBA
9h 20m2 stops
Southwest Logo
5:50 am - 3:35 pmSBA-SAN
9h 45m2 stops
$324Southwest
Find Deal
Mon, Nov 17 - Mon, Nov 24
United Airlines Logo
4:01 pm - 10:29 pmSAN-SBA
6h 28m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
7:29 am - 10:21 amSBA-SAN
2h 52m1 stop
$327United Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Nov 17 - Mon, Nov 24
Southwest Logo
1:15 pm - 9:05 pmSAN-SBA
7h 50m2 stops
Southwest Logo
3:35 pm - 9:10 pmSBA-SAN
5h 35m1 stop
$342Southwest
Find Deal
Sun, Nov 9 - Tue, Nov 11
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 7:52 pmSAN-SBA
12h 52m1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:23 am - 2:35 pmSBA-SAN
7h 12m2 stops
$486Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Nov 17 - Mon, Nov 24
Alaska Airlines Logo
9:26 am - 7:52 pmSAN-SBA
10h 26m2 stops
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:32 am - 12:10 amSBA-SAN
13h 38m1 stop
$503Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Sat, Nov 8 - Fri, Nov 14
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:59 am - 7:52 pmSAN-SBA
12h 53m2 stops
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:23 am - 11:40 pmSBA-SAN
16h 17m2 stops
$569Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Diego to Santa Barbara flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara departing in November.

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

The average price of all round-trip flights from San Diego 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 Thursday and more expensive on a Friday. On your return trip to San Diego, you should consider flying back on a Tuesday, and avoid Saturdays for better deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Diego 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara is August, where tickets cost $257 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and March, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $586 and $506 respectively.

Good to know

Low seasonSeptember
Cheapest flight$164
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 13% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 18% lower on average.
Flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara

When to book flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Diego 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 San Diego to Santa Barbara

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara was $164 for a one-way ticket and $287 for a round-trip.

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

    A passport is not required to fly from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

    When flying out of San Diego you will be using San Diego. You will be landing at Santa Barbara, also known as Santa Barbara.

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

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

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

    Star Alliance is the only airline alliance operating flights between San Diego and Santa Barbara.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara, Southwest or United Airlines?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Diego to Santa Barbara are Southwest and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $441 and an overall rating of 8.0, Southwest is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $347 and an overall rating of 7.4.

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

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Santa Barbara from San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego with another airline. Booking your flights between San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Reviews of the top airlines flying from San Diego to Santa Barbara

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Diego 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 San Diego 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 4241 reviews
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
7.5Entertainment
8.6Crew
8.0Comfort
Airline reviews

Delays delays delays. Late taking off, late landing, wait for a gate, etc.

4.0 OkayJeff, Oct 2025MCI - SAN
Read more Southwest reviews

Delays delays delays. Late taking off, late landing, wait for a gate, etc.

Connecting flight is on time and boarding was a breeze!

Very smooth checking in our luggage with a super pleasant SW agent. I enjoyed a fun entertaining movie.

No trays in our seats, we sat in first row, purchased a business class fare. Had to hold our drinks and snack in our hands. No plugs for our cell phones. Had to pay for it a drink cocktail each. Seats so uncomfortable.

First time traveling on Southwest since bag fees were implemented. Usual good service. Just more expensive now.

It was a perfect flight in all aspects! Both legs!

Boarding process, crew were good. But the seats were so uncomfortable that was all I could focus on. I literally had to sit forward so that all 3 of us could fit in row. I will try to avoid Southwest in the future for any flights over 60 minutes.

Great flight, 47 passengers on a 180 seat plane. Stewardess was pleasant and cheerful.

Great experience flying Southwest. The crew was really kind and helpful, and very friendly with our toddler.

Plane late from DC to Austin 30 minutes. Crew made up much of the time enroute to San Diego.

Flight was timely, relatively comfortable, with decent entertainment and food served. Only problem encountered was with the free messaging which I highly appreciate, but it did not work from iphone to non-iphones.

The internet service I paid for didn’t work at all and the flight crew was not very friendly.

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.

I was in first class. The outlets at my seat did not work. The plane was shabby and run down. I had prepurchsed a day subscription for internet that was not redeemable. I had to repurchase the internet for my flight and then it didn’t work anyway. Quite disappointed in what was supposed to be the launch of a great vacation.

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

The flight was comfortable with the exit row and great service

Plane was crowded and even when we hit altitude, the plane was hot, not enough air flow.

1. when we went to check in, our 2 first class seats had been CANCELED and the flight was sold out. This was done without our prior knowledge. It was all we could do to restore one first class seat for my wife and I flew economy. 2, Our flight home was scheduled to leave at 10:30 pm. Due to tsunami warnings, the roads were closed and our flight status was uncertain as to whether it would leave as scheduled. It was announced that it would now leave at 11:20 pm and the roads were now open since the tsunami had come and gone. We made a mad dash to the airport and checked in. Delays were announced at 12:30 pm, 1:30 am, 2:30 am and at 3:30 am it was canceled. Since this was a flight due to natural (tsunami) causes, there was no compensation. We were told to return at 1:00 pm the next day and our baggage would be kept on the plane since the same plane was going to leave at 1:00 pm. We had to return to our hotel for the rest of the night. The same plane did not leave at 1:00 pm and our baggage was gone! All in all, it was a miserable performance by UA. Information was hard to obtain and no one knew what was going on and what was going to happen. Hundreds of passengers slept on the floor, chairs, etc. No food and no water was made available to the passengers. It was a situation where UA could care less what was going on. As a one million mile flyer, I had not experienced anything like this before and it was hugely disappointing!

Boarded plane and then delayed 1.5 hours while on the plane

Horrific. They missed my connecting flight to San Diego. I didn’t get there until Monday at 9am when I had a mandatory court settlement conference scheduled at 6am since we had parties on the east coast. This caused many issues. All because United apparently forgot to hold the doors open until my flight landed that only had a 10 minute delay. This was the last flight to Southern California. So I couldn’t even rent a car to finish the trip. United cannot be trusted when traveling on specific days and times since weather didn’t have anything to do with the delays.

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara

Information on your arrival and departure airports

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