SBA - SAN

$60 Find Cheap Flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego - 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 San Diego departing on 9/8. 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 San Diego

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Santa Barbara to San Diego, 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 San Diego, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$119
Typical prices: $386-$240
Alaska Airlines
Tue 8/18Wed 8/19
SBA - SAN • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$60
Alaska Airlines
Tue 9/8
SBA - SAN • Non-stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $119 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with Alaska Airlines and Southwest. Average duration is 1h 04m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
When to travel
Cheapest • 100% price drop
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 San Diego!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego (SBA-SAN)

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

Tue, Aug 18 - Wed, Aug 19
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:04 am
SBA
-
SAN
1h 04mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:30 pm - 11:50 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 20mnonstop
$119Alaska Airlines
Mon, Aug 31 - Tue, Sep 1
Southwest Logo
12:30 pm - 1:25 pm
SBA
-
SAN
0h 55mnonstop
Southwest Logo
4:10 pm - 5:05 pm
SAN
-
SBA
0h 55mnonstop
$128Southwest
Tue, Oct 27 - Wed, Oct 28
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:50 pm - 3:55 pm
SBA
-
SAN
1h 05mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:30 pm - 11:42 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 12mnonstop
$129Alaska Airlines
Mon, Aug 31 - Tue, Sep 1
Alaska Airlines Logo
3:26 pm - 4:30 pm
SBA
-
SAN
1h 04mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
1:30 pm - 2:47 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 17mnonstop
$130Alaska Airlines
Mon, Aug 31 - Tue, Sep 1
Southwest Logo
12:30 pm - 1:25 pm
SBA
-
SAN
0h 55mnonstop
Southwest Logo
3:25 pm - 9:20 pm
SAN
-
SBA
5h 55m
1 stop
$138Southwest
Mon, Oct 19 - Thu, Oct 22
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:08 am - 7:12 am
SBA
-
SAN
1h 04mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
1:00 pm - 2:13 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 13mnonstop
$141Alaska Airlines
Mon, Aug 31 - Tue, Sep 1
Southwest Logo
12:30 pm - 1:25 pm
SBA
-
SAN
0h 55mnonstop
Southwest Logo
1:45 pm - 9:20 pm
SAN
-
SBA
7h 35m
2 stops
$143Southwest
Fri, Aug 7 - Mon, Aug 10
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:04 am
SBA
-
SAN
1h 04mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:32 pm - 11:44 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 12mnonstop
$152Alaska Airlines
Tue, Oct 27 - Wed, Oct 28
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:50 pm - 3:55 pm
SBA
-
SAN
1h 05mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:30 pm - 11:42 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 12mnonstop
$157Alaska Airlines
Thu, Oct 8 - Sun, Oct 11
Alaska Airlines Logo
2:50 pm - 3:55 pm
SBA
-
SAN
1h 05mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
1:00 pm - 2:13 pm
SAN
-
SBA
1h 13mnonstop
$159Alaska Airlines
Booking Insights

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

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego 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 San Diego?

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 San Diego departing in August.

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

The average price of all round-trip flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to San Diego on a Wednesday and more expensive on a Sunday. On your return trip to Santa Barbara, you should consider flying back on a Thursday, and avoid Fridays for better deals.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego, 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 San Diego is January, where tickets cost $0 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are November and August, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $476 and $327 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

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 $207, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

Good to know

Low seasonMarch
Cheapest flight$60
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 41% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 31% lower on average.
Flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego

When to book flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego

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

  • Can I reserve a long-term parking spot at SBA?

    No, SBA Parking does not accept reservations. The Long-Term Parking Lot is located across the street from the terminal, but it tends to have limited space. If this lot is full, use the Economy Lot on Lopez Road, where you can catch a shuttle to the Santa Barbara Airport terminals about every 15 minutes.

  • Does SBA have private facilities for nursing moms?

    Yes, if you are a traveling mom who would like to breastfeed in private or who needs to pump before your flight to San Diego, you can use the Mamava lactation suite located airside at Gate 2 of the SBA terminal. This freestanding unit features seating, a table, a USB port, an electrical outlet, a coat hook, and a mirror.

  • Can I rent a car at the San Diego Airport?

    Yes. You will find all rental car agencies are housed outside the airport in the Rental Car Center, in a separate building. When you exit baggage claim at the Arrivals curb, you can get a free shuttle to your car agency. Some agencies at SAN are Enterprise, Budget, Hertz, Avis, Alamo, Firefly, and others.

  • Where is the USO at the San Diego Airport?

    The USO at the San Diego Airport is located landside in Terminal 2. This military lounge offers its services and facilities free of charge to active duty members of the US military and their families. Some amenities of this lounge are refreshments, comfortable seating, TV, showers, unlimited domestic telephone calls, and more.

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

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego was $60 for a one-way ticket and $119 for a round-trip.

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

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

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

    Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and JetBlue offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Santa Barbara to San Diego flight route.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego are Alaska Airlines and United Airlines. With an average price for the route of $200 and an overall rating of 7.9, Alaska Airlines is the most popular choice. United Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $338 and an overall rating of 7.4.

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

    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 San Diego.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San Diego 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 San Diego?

    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 San Diego with an airline and back to Santa Barbara with another airline. Booking your flights between Santa Barbara and SAN 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 San Diego?

    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 San Diego 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 San Diego

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $188 or less one-way and $207 or less round-trip.
  • Located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is located in the city of Goleta, California, just north of Santa Barbara. The San Diego International Airport (SAN) is also located on the Pacific coast, but further south in California, just a few miles north of the US-Mexican border. (SAN) serves as a hub for Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and others.
  • Flying from SBA to SAN, it's unlikely that you will find a non-stop flight. However, you can find several flights with one stop. For instance, an American Airlines flight stops in Phoenix, United flights often stop in San Francisco, and Alaska Airlines flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego often stop in Seattle.
  • If you want to stay overnight near the Santa Barbara Airport before your flight to San Diego, consider booking into the Super 8 by Wyndham Santa Barbara / Goleta or the Residence Inn by Marriott Santa Barbara / Goleta. Under 5min from SBA, these hotels feature free breakfast, a restaurant, wheelchair accessibility, a business center, gym, and pool.
  • If you want to relax and unwind before you head out into San Diego, you can visit one of the Be Relax Spas at SAN. You can find these spas at Gate 26 and 36 in Terminal 2. these retail spa outlets are open daily from 7 am to 8 pm.
  • The volunteer organization Traveler’s Aid is available at SAN every day from 8 am to 11 pm in baggage claim. Travelers Aid can assist passengers who unexpectedly need someplace to stay, need transportation, have had money lost or stolen, or other calamities.

Prefer to fly direct from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

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

Direct departures

Santa Barbara to San Diego

Monday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Friday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San Diego to Santa Barbara

Monday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Tuesday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Wednesday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Thursday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Friday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Saturday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Sunday

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

Alaska Airlines,Southwest

See more direct flights

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

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Santa Barbara to San Diego. 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 San Diego? 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.
7.9
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 12480 reviews
7.0Entertainment
8.5Crew
8.1Boarding
7.0Food
7.8Comfort
Airline reviews

Not able to get boarding pass for domestic connection flight when check in at international airport. I was told I need to get connection flight boarding pass after I entered US. It us very inconvenient.

6.0 GoodVI, Jun 2026
SFO - SAN
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

Not able to get boarding pass for domestic connection flight when check in at international airport. I was told I need to get connection flight boarding pass after I entered US. It us very inconvenient.

I was very impressed at how Alaska Airlines handles people with medical needs.

Everything went smoothly from the transfer from Orlando to a quick board. Flight was not full and we were able to get underway a little early. My only critique is that in Orlando, they offered active duty service members and veterans to board ahead of their zones in the initial boarding process. They did not offer to veterans in San Diego. Both flights were comfortable

Good flight overall. Lots of bumps during flight but pilot kept searching for smooth air

The gate agents begged us to check our carryons. They BEGGED us, over and over, and said that the flight was completely, totally full, and said that if we don't check our bags, it will cause huge delays. They finally said that "group suchandsuch will be required to check bags!" So I checked mine. Well, the flight wasn't close to being full, and many of the overhead compartments were *empty*! Moreover, my bag was delayed at the carousel, and it wasn't on the carousel that was posted. COME ON, AIRLINE, you can look at the seating for the flight on your computer and decide whether it's really necessary to beg and beg and beg people to go through the hassle of checking their bags! This is annoying as hell and makes me not want to use your crummy airline ever again.

A gluten free option I could actually eat would have been nice.

Good. I didn’t order food and there was no entertainment available.

It is a hassle to not have entertainment screens on the backs of the seats.

The seat on the plane out was broken and would not lean back. I have back problems and sitting up straight was hard on my lower back and caused pain for over half the flight. Since I paid extra for First Class so I would not have these issues. This needs to be addressed.

No headphones provided. No gf food. Only 1 beverage cart run sAN to HNL. Rarely saw crew members

Packed flight, which makes it tough on crew and boarding staff (and the customers of course). But this was great boarding, clear instructions, etc. Traveling on the weekends are always fraught with danger as you have families and less frequent flyers thus more confusion. But this flight went as planned.

Destroyed my suitcase. Tired of talking about it. Cancelling my unite mileage plus account.

New plane was lovely. Crew customer service is always lax but expected. Kraft on time and arrived safely.

Seat pitch is horrible especially on the 15 hour flight. Gate crew at SFO was Outstanding. The flight crew was also great.

6 1/2 hours from Tampa to SFO on a Boeing 737. Cramped. No Service. No real food. One pass for coffee at the beginning and a second pass THREE hours later. And check-in in Tampa was nasty even by United standards. And I am at almost TWO million miles on United. It's a non-stop. But terrible service.

First class ticket gets you no seat back entertainment? I have to bring my own laptop to see a movie? And most of their movies have ADS? No thank you. Worse: Tiny snacks only on a 2 hr flight?

Late plane. Only one crew on the ground so we b had to wait for Denver flight to come in, board, and depart. At 78 yrs of age I was not pleased trying to get my connection. What really made me angry was the notification you sent me to hurry up or I would miss my connection. Why tell me to hurry up when you got me in late. It was not a good way of treating customers.

No complaints other than luggage carousel was incorrectly guiding passengers to the wrong carousel on the screen.

Outstanding service, efficient & friendly crew, flight was safe, comfortable & on time

The crew was great. Very friendly and responsive. The plane was old, small and tight. We ran out of overhead space and I had to check. Middle seat was particularly tight.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports