SBA - ORD

$117 Find Cheap Flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago departing on 5/6. 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 Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Santa Barbara to Chicago, 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 Santa Barbara to Chicago, as well as popular online travel agencies
Travelers love KAYAK
41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

Save 23% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Bundle and saveSave money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$223
Typical prices: $356-$454
Alaska Airlines
Sat 5/16Wed 5/20
SBA - ORD • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$269
United Airlines
Sat 4/18Wed 4/22
SBA - ORD • Non-stop
Top airlines
Alaska Airlines
Cheapest • from $223 (round-trip)
Southwest
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to travel
January
Cheapest • 23% price drop
August
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Chicago!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago (SBA-ORD)

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

Sat, May 16 - Wed, May 20
Alaska Airlines Logo
3:56 pm - 11:41 pm
SBA
-
ORD
5h 45m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
9:00 am - 3:19 pm
ORD
-
SBA
8h 19m
1 stop
$223Alaska Airlines
Sat, Apr 18 - Wed, Apr 22
United Airlines Logo
12:15 pm - 6:15 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 00mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 11:13 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 28mnonstop
$269United Airlines
Mon, Apr 6 - Mon, Apr 13
United Airlines Logo
12:15 pm - 6:15 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 00mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:03 pm - 12:36 am
ORD
-
SBA
6h 33m
1 stop
$279United Airlines
Sat, Apr 18 - Wed, Apr 22
Delta Logo
12:39 pm - 9:18 pm
SBA
-
ORD
6h 39m
1 stop
Delta Logo
7:15 am - 4:12 pm
ORD
-
SBA
10h 57m
2 stops
$280Delta
Sat, Apr 18 - Wed, Apr 22
United Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 2:52 pm
SBA
-
ORD
7h 52m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
8:40 am - 1:49 pm
ORD
-
SBA
7h 09m
1 stop
$284United Airlines
Sat, Mar 7 - Tue, Mar 10
United Airlines Logo
2:10 pm - 11:38 pm
SBA
-
ORD
7h 28m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
6:20 pm - 11:32 pm
ORD
-
SBA
7h 12m
1 stop
$289United Airlines
Wed, Apr 8 - Thu, Apr 16
United Airlines Logo
12:15 pm - 6:15 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 00mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 11:13 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 28mnonstop
$303United Airlines
Fri, Apr 17 - Mon, Apr 20
Delta Logo
12:39 pm - 9:18 pm
SBA
-
ORD
6h 39m
1 stop
Delta Logo
12:46 pm - 9:55 pm
ORD
-
SBA
11h 09m
2 stops
$312Delta
Sat, Mar 7 - Tue, Mar 10
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:38 pm - 12:11 pm
SBA
-
ORD
19h 33m
2 stops
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 1:47 pm
ORD
-
SBA
8h 47m
1 stop
$315Alaska Airlines
Mon, Mar 2 - Fri, Mar 6
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:38 pm - 2:11 pm
SBA
-
ORD
21h 33m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
3:54 pm - 1:47 pm
ORD
-
SBA
23h 53m
1 stop
$321Alaska Airlines
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Santa Barbara to Chicago flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a round-trip flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport departing in May.

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

The average price of all round-trip flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

For Santa Barbara to Chicago, Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Tuesday is the most expensive. Flying from Chicago back to Santa Barbara, the best deals are generally found on Sunday, with Thursday being the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport, 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 Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport is January, where tickets cost $343 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and August, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $588 and $508 respectively.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$117
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 24% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 13% increase in price.
Flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago

When to book flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Santa Barbara to Chicago 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 Santa Barbara to Chicago flights

  • What is the cheapest flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport was $117 for a one-way ticket and $223 for a round-trip.

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

    No, a passport isn't needed to fly from Santa Barbara to Chicago. However, local authorities might ask for an official ID.

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

    On your way to Chicago, you’ll fly out from Santa Barbara. You’ll be landing at Chicago O'Hare Intl.

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

    The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Santa Barbara to Chicago flight route.

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

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

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago are Southwest and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $474 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 $445 and an overall rating of 7.4.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    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 Santa Barbara to Chicago.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Chicago from Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    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 Chicago with an airline and back to Santa Barbara with another airline. Booking your flights between Santa Barbara and ORD 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 Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    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 Chicago from Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $174 or less one-way and $321 or less round-trip.

Prefer to fly direct from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl.
Find which airlines fly direct from Santa Barbara Airport to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

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

Direct returns

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

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

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Santa Barbara to Chicago. 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 Santa Barbara to Chicago? 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 4271 reviews
8.6Crew
7.5Entertainment
8.1Boarding
8.0Comfort
7.0Food
Airline reviews

The wifi on the plane is great. The only issue that I have is that I prefer an aisle seat and on my trips this week, I was either in the middle or window. If we can work to secure aisle seating, I will be thrilled. Nice trip.

8.0 ExcellentJoseph, Jan 2026
LGB - PHX
Read more Southwest reviews

The wifi on the plane is great. The only issue that I have is that I prefer an aisle seat and on my trips this week, I was either in the middle or window. If we can work to secure aisle seating, I will be thrilled. Nice trip.

All good except once again bags took an hour at Midway Airport Happens all the time. Ridiculous

Great flight but super high price. Glad it was a business trip and not personal

The seats were comfortable, and the boarding process was pretty smooth.

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

We got exit row seats both flights. Everything was running on time

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.

It was rough. The staff was unprofessional, the choice of on board drinks terrible, it was cramped in space at every airport, they always ran out of overhead bin space so they pressured people to check bags for free or we couldn’t leave on the plane— so I did check my bag to help, and they nearly lost my bag. My bag did not arrive on the luggage belt, another man on my flight and I had to waste our time going to the baggage office to search for our bags. I would only fly southwest again if it was my last choice. Also, my flights were consistently delayed over and over again— at one point they straight up told us we were waiting for the pilot to arrive.

Seated dude next to me even though lots of empty rows. But main thing was we sat on the tarmac after landing for 30 minutes because of, in the words of the dude who sat next to me, “operational incompetence”. We got changing directions about where to pick up gate checked bags. Pilot and flight attendant were awesome though.

It was a pretty standard flight... until the almost hour and a half spent on the taxi way. I get that the weather has been poor but the delay had nothing to do with the weather and more to do with a plane with several issues tying up the gate. I get that that happens from time to time but this has been EVERY flight I've been on for the past 5 years and I fly 3 to 5 times a year. This isn't just United... it's American, it's Delta. It's an issue with the entire industry. I work for UPS and packages on a cargo plane get better service than people do these days. Anymore I HATE flying.

Perfect flight. Smooth flight. Arrived 20 minutes early at destination. Excellent service.

The flights were on time which was great give. It was holiday travel season and there’d been some weather issues. The only complaint and this is every time with United is the terrible seat design. The head rest is not built for comfort and having my neck bent forward for a cross country trip reminded me while I try not to take United flights as a rule.

Everything was absolutely wonderful from check in to baggage claim. Staff was very professional and sweet. Will definitely recommend United to family and friends.

They did the one thing that really matters - got to Chicago early.

The flight was on time. I generally don’t drink or eat on short flights and the seats were good and the flight attendants were friendly. That’s all I expect

It was nice to have gotten up upgraded to first class with a meal on a three hour flight

Very bad! They kept delaying my flight and wouldn’t do anything about it

Door to door, the crew and staff were amazing. It was a stressful travel day with delays, but they were focused on customers and doing what they could to get us to our destinations.

Update to handle the delay was very bad, crews no smiles or welcome or thanks. Don’t care attitude

Pilot navigated severe weather/snow storm with skill. Described his intentions clearly

Little warm on the plane and delayed for an hour

So excited very proud first of all I wanna thank kayak all updates very professional and fast alart And amazing cabin crew so nice to me they deserve big salute

The boarding process needs to be fixed. The zone don't work, especially when there is hardly anyone in zones 3, 4,and 5, leaving the majority of the passengers backed up in the aisle, especially because passengers seated near the front are blocking passengers who are seated in the rear of the plane. It would also help if the size of carry on bags was more strictly enforced.

Awful. They won’t help me with anything. I booked on American but they abdicated to Iberia. The ticket was overpriced. Everything negative

I enjoyed the extra leg room compared to other airlines. The first stewards made my daughter’s birthday special by giving her an extra snack. Then the last one coming home from Chicago to Appleton made our night really enjoyable Thanks for making our trip enjoyable

It was good..clean, comfy seat. Friendly warm welcoming crew. Was able to check my cabin luggage at the gate which I was able to pickup in a decent time from baggage claim. The app gave all updates from delays to baggage claim info. Overall smooth flight.

It was a typical flight. We had a delay which seems to be the normality now. And we had no in flight service due to conditions.

After we landed we sat on the tarmac for 1.5 hours waiting to get to our gate. Ridiculous.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports