SAN - SBA

$69 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 3/4. 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 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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Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$97
Overall average: $347
Alaska Airlines
Sat 5/2Sat 5/9
SAN - SBA • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$69
Typical prices: $147-$153
Southwest
Wed 3/4
SAN - SBA • 1 stop
Top airlines
Alaska Airlines
Cheapest • from $97 (round-trip)
Southwest
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to travel
April
Cheapest • 33% price drop
April
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

Sat, May 2 - Sat, May 9
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:28 pm - 11:38 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 10mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:04 am
SBA
-
SAN
1h 04mnonstop
$97Alaska Airlines
Tue, Mar 3 - Wed, Mar 4
Southwest Logo
9:40 am - 2:20 pm
SAN
-
SBA
4h 40m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
6:00 am - 10:35 am
SBA
-
SAN
4h 35m
1 stop
$137Southwest
Tue, Mar 3 - Wed, Mar 4
Southwest Logo
5:25 pm - 9:10 pm
SAN
-
SBA
3h 45m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
6:00 am - 12:25 pm
SBA
-
SAN
6h 25m
2 stops
$142Southwest
Thu, Feb 12 - Mon, Feb 16
Southwest Logo
1:15 pm - 5:05 pm
SAN
-
SBA
3h 50m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
5:40 pm - 10:00 pm
SBA
-
SAN
4h 20m
1 stop
$157Southwest
Fri, Feb 13 - Fri, Feb 20
United Airlines Logo
6:10 pm - 11:52 pm
SAN
-
SBA
5h 42m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
5:48 pm - 11:40 pm
SBA
-
SAN
5h 52m
1 stop
$177United Airlines
Wed, Mar 4 - Wed, Mar 4
United Airlines Logo
7:45 am - 12:10 pm
SAN
-
SBA
4h 25m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
5:48 pm - 11:40 pm
SBA
-
SAN
5h 52m
1 stop
$178United Airlines
Thu, May 21 - Sun, May 24
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:14 pm - 11:34 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 20mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
3:12 pm - 4:15 pm
SBA
-
SAN
1h 03mnonstop
$197Alaska Airlines
Sat, May 2 - Sat, May 9
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:30 am - 6:19 pm
SAN
-
SBA
10h 49m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:04 am
SBA
-
SAN
1h 04mnonstop
$200Alaska Airlines
Wed, Feb 11 - Wed, Feb 18
United Airlines Logo
6:30 am - 1:15 pm
SAN
-
SBA
6h 45m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
6:23 am - 10:24 am
SBA
-
SAN
4h 01m
1 stop
$217United Airlines
Sat, May 2 - Sat, May 9
Southwest Logo
2:00 pm - 7:05 pm
SAN
-
SBA
5h 05m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 12:55 pm
SBA
-
SAN
7h 25m
2 stops
$222Southwest
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.

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 April, 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 $521 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from San Diego 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 $157, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$69
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 33% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 33% 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 $69 for a one-way ticket and $97 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 airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from San Diego to Santa Barbara?

    Only Alaska Airlines offers inflight Wi-Fi service on the San Diego to Santa Barbara flight route.

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

    The Embraer 175 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Diego to Santa Barbara flight 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 $436 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 $357 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.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from San Diego to Santa Barbara

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $141 or less round-trip.

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 4261 reviews
7.0Food
8.6Crew
7.5Entertainment
8.0Comfort
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

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

2.0 MediocreAnonymous, Jan 2026
SFO - SAN
Read more Southwest reviews

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

The flight crew was extremely rude and especially not helpful when our flight was 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.

Still a fan of open seating. Flight was on schedule and arrived on time. The 737 MAX is very comfortable.

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

Ever since Southwest starting charging for bags, passengers don't want to pay to check their bags, so the gate agents have to beg people to check their roller bags now because there's "not enough space". This was a terrible business move by Southwest.

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.

Yet another flight in which beverage and snack service was skipped. Other that that, firmly mediocre. Landed early, to gate late due to congestion at the gates. Airline's fault or airports fault: unknown.

Teeny tiny bathrooms, crew was not realistic about when we'd arrive.

Unbelievably poor service from flight attendants. They didn’t even do water service on a four hour flight. Just disrespectful.

Flight was late - I was downgraded from first class to coach

United needs to step up their game. Delayed flight leaving Seattle, San Francisco. Older aircraft, not very comfortable.

Plane boarded early a quickly, was mostly full. We left close to on time. And landed early.

7 hours delayed due to operational issues on United’s end. Basically laziness.

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.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports