SBA - ORD

$175 Find Cheap Flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago - 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 Santa Barbara to Chicago departing on 7/15. 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
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41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$329
Typical prices: $373-$691
United Airlines
Sat 7/11Wed 7/22
SBA - ORD • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$175
Typical prices: $303-$364
Alaska Airlines
Wed 7/15
SBA - ORD • 1 stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $329 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.4 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 4h 23m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $218 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 6h 14m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 34% price drop
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, Jul 11 - Wed, Jul 22
United Airlines Logo
12:37 pm - 7:00 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 23mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 11:25 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 40mnonstop
$329United Airlines
Sat, Sep 5 - Wed, Sep 9
United Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 3:00 pm
SBA
-
ORD
8h 00m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
8:49 am - 11:31 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 42mnonstop
$335United Airlines
Wed, Sep 16 - Mon, Sep 21
United Airlines Logo
12:33 pm - 6:52 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 19mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
5:52 pm - 9:56 pm
ORD
-
SBA
6h 04m
1 stop
$339United Airlines
Sat, Sep 5 - Thu, Sep 10
United Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 3:00 pm
SBA
-
ORD
8h 00m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
5:52 pm - 9:56 pm
ORD
-
SBA
6h 04m
1 stop
$344United Airlines
Wed, Aug 26 - Mon, Aug 31
Delta Logo
12:34 pm - 9:30 pm
SBA
-
ORD
6h 56m
1 stop
Delta Logo
7:48 am - 11:54 am
ORD
-
SBA
6h 06m
1 stop
$349Delta
Tue, Aug 25 - Tue, Sep 1
Delta Logo
12:34 pm - 9:30 pm
SBA
-
ORD
6h 56m
1 stop
Delta Logo
8:28 am - 4:07 pm
ORD
-
SBA
9h 39m
2 stops
$354Delta
Tue, Sep 1 - Wed, Sep 9
Delta Logo
5:50 am - 6:49 pm
SBA
-
ORD
10h 59m
2 stops
Delta Logo
12:29 pm - 10:08 pm
ORD
-
SBA
11h 39m
2 stops
$359Delta
Tue, Aug 18 - Wed, Aug 19
Alaska Airlines Logo
1:42 pm - 11:36 pm
SBA
-
ORD
7h 54m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:01 am - 2:47 pm
ORD
-
SBA
10h 46m
1 stop
$362Alaska Airlines
Fri, Jul 3 - Sat, Jul 11
United Airlines Logo
12:37 pm - 7:00 pm
SBA
-
ORD
4h 23mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 11:25 am
ORD
-
SBA
4h 40mnonstop
$364United Airlines
Tue, Aug 18 - Wed, Aug 19
Alaska Airlines Logo
1:42 pm - 11:36 pm
SBA
-
ORD
7h 54m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:01 am - 2:47 pm
ORD
-
SBA
10h 46m
1 stop
$366Alaska 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 July.

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 Sunday is the most expensive. Flying from Chicago back to Santa Barbara, the best deals are generally found on Wednesday, with Monday 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 April, where tickets cost $289 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are August and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $624 and $592 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport?

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.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 1 stop layover the cheapest option at $429 on average.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$175
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 22% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 7% lower on average.
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 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport was $175 for a one-way ticket and $329 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 airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    Only American Airlines offers inflight Wi-Fi service on the Santa Barbara to Chicago flight route.

  • 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?

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

  • On which days can I fly direct from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    There are nonstop flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago on a daily basis.

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago are United Airlines and American Airlines. With an average price for the route of $414 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 $575 and an overall rating of 7.1.

  • 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 $270 or less one-way and $387 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 airlines flying 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.
7.4
United AirlinesOverall score based on 9865 reviews
7.7Boarding
6.6Food
8.1Crew
7.3Comfort
7.1Entertainment
Airline reviews

Very easy ! Use the kiosk and bag drop and right to security within 10 min

10.0 ExcellentJoanne, Jun 2026
DEN - ORD
Read more United Airlines reviews

Very easy ! Use the kiosk and bag drop and right to security within 10 min

Over 5 hour delay with minimal updates or ability to standby for alternative flights. During boarding and 1 hr+ wait for takeoff, seats were drenched w water from air conditioning condensation and always leftover crumbs on carpet and seats

Boarded early, left early, arrived 40 mins early! A win win for me!

These airplanes should be illegal. The seats are two tight, it is a safety issue. Wheelchair support was ridiculously slow. We almost missed our flight.

This flight is a quick way to get to Chicago, but a bit expensive.

O’hsre taxi and deboarding took 40 minutes. Needed 20 minutes extra time between connecting flights to avoid running through terminal.

Standard flight with a drinks and a snack- overall very quick flight. The flight attendants were very strict, bordered on rude.

Delayed - weather wasn't bad at either end. Also sat on tarmac in ORD.

boarded early to only find out that flight would sit at gate for 45 min to an hour. Landed in chicago and sat on runway for over an hour before got to gate. Total delay was extensive for a 45 min flight door to door.

The flight was significantly delayed. The inbound flight from EWR was delayed departing because of mechanical problems. My original departure from CLT was 5:28 pm but due to the delay of the inbound flight, after arrival, deplaning, cleaning, boarding, we did not push back from the gate until 9:00 pm. Once in the air, the flight was smooth and what was originally supposed to be an arrival in ORD at 7:30 pm local time turned out to be 9:35 pm.

We had a mechanical delay which made us 90 minutes late (9:30 PM) then land and put into the penalty box because a plane was in our gate? What the hell! We should get priority.Damn American.

The seats were extremely cramped, with very little legroom or personal space. There was no room left in the overhead bins for a backpack, and the space under the seat in front was so limited that I could barely fit my bag underneath. Overall, the seating arrangement felt very uncomfortable and overcrowded.

weather delay of almost 2 hours then we landed and our gate wasn't available so we waited another 30 min

Delayed flight more than I hour. When boarding we spent some additional time on the plane before takeoff ....

The flight was delayed significantly and we sat on runway after landing for awhile. Best thing was the flight attendant, Jenny, in first class, who was very professional and attentive. She was excellent - the rest of the flight was not.

The flight attendants were extremely sourly and borderline rude. I did not feel appreciated as an AA customer once.

The flight from LA to Chicago was smooth and service was very good overall.

The Mario was so helpful and provided amazing customer service however l have being waiting for a callback for almost a week now and have not heard anything further after l informed them l wanted to change my date of traveling because of my hospital appointment even send them proof and l was unable to use manag your booking on their website is a bit frustrating and l would appreciate an update on My request as soon as possible. And have called them times without numbers no response

Awful, tons of delays, I got into Chicago multiple hours late meaning I hit the very traffic I tried so desperately to avoid. Just empty apologies from American Airlines text alerts. Trash behavior from a trash airline.

They lost my baggage and I am still struggling to the information and update

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports