SBA - SFO

$49 Find Cheap Flights from Santa Barbara to San Francisco

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 Francisco departing on 11/11. 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 San Francisco

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

Cheapest round-trip
$134
Overall average: $325
United Airlines
Thu 11/6Sat 11/8
SBA - SFO • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$49
Typical prices: $160-$292
United Airlines
Tue 11/11
SBA - SFO • Non-stop
Top airlines
United Airlines
Cheapest • from $134 (round-trip)
United Airlines
Best reviews • 7.4 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
4 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 52% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
September
Cheapest • 27% 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 San Francisco!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Santa Barbara to San Francisco (SBA-SFO)

 
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 Francisco 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 Francisco

Thu, Nov 6 - Sat, Nov 8
United Airlines Logo
6:05 am - 7:17 amSBA-SFO
1h 12mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
8:30 am - 9:49 amSFO-SBA
1h 19mnonstop
$134United Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, Nov 5 - Mon, Nov 10
United Airlines Logo
6:50 pm - 8:05 pmSBA-SFO
1h 15mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
9:05 am - 1:49 pmSFO-SBA
4h 44m1 stop
$137United Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, Nov 5 - Mon, Nov 10
Southwest Logo
2:55 pm - 9:15 pmSBA-SFO
6h 20m1 stop
Southwest Logo
5:00 am - 10:05 amSFO-SBA
5h 05m1 stop
$151Southwest
Find Deal
Wed, Nov 12 - Thu, Nov 13
Southwest Logo
2:55 pm - 9:15 pmSBA-SFO
6h 20m1 stop
Southwest Logo
5:15 am - 12:35 pmSFO-SBA
7h 20m2 stops
$156Southwest
Find Deal
Thu, Nov 6 - Mon, Nov 10
United Airlines Logo
6:05 am - 7:17 amSBA-SFO
1h 12mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
10:38 pm - 11:59 pmSFO-SBA
1h 21mnonstop
$158United Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Nov 6 - Sat, Nov 8
Southwest Logo
3:35 pm - 8:10 pmSBA-SFO
4h 35m1 stop
Southwest Logo
12:40 pm - 7:15 pmSFO-SBA
6h 35m1 stop
$171Southwest
Find Deal
Thu, Nov 6 - Sat, Nov 8
United Airlines Logo
2:30 pm - 6:47 pmSBA-SFO
4h 17m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
10:47 am - 12:01 pmSFO-SBA
1h 14mnonstop
$174United Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Nov 6 - Sat, Nov 8
Southwest Logo
10:40 am - 4:15 pmSBA-SFO
5h 35m2 stops
Southwest Logo
12:40 pm - 7:15 pmSFO-SBA
6h 35m1 stop
$176Southwest
Find Deal
Thu, Nov 6 - Tue, Nov 11
United Airlines Logo
2:30 pm - 6:47 pmSBA-SFO
4h 17m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
10:38 pm - 11:59 pmSFO-SBA
1h 21mnonstop
$181United Airlines
Find Deal
Wed, Nov 12 - Wed, Nov 19
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:23 am - 5:22 pmSBA-SFO
9h 59m1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
9:00 am - 7:52 pmSFO-SBA
10h 52m2 stops
$268Alaska Airlines
Find Deal
Booking Insights

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Francisco, 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 Francisco is September, where tickets cost $256 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and February, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $450 and $432 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 52% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 14 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonApril
Cheapest flight$49
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 4% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 8% lower on average.
Flight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco

When to book flights from Santa Barbara to San Francisco

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

  • Where can I spend the night at San Francisco airport?

    Passengers looking to spend the night at the airport because they arrived late can spend the night at terminal 1. There is a hallway towards gate 50, near the yoga room. The hallway is equipped with comfortable couches that you can utilize. You just need to carry an extra blanket for more comfort.

  • How can I fly from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?

    From Santa Barbara airport to San Francisco, there are a number of flights or airlines that you can use, for instance, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, that offer nonstop flight options. Alternatively, if you want to save money, you can opt for connecting flights with one-stop options. For instance, American and United airlines offer connecting flights with layovers at LAX and PHX.

  • Are there any onsite hotels in San Francisco?

    There are many top-rated hotels at and near San Francisco Airport, so if you are landing late, you can consider booking with them. You can book your stay with Grand Hyatt At SFO, Aloft San Francisco Airport hotel, SFO Airport Hotel, El Rancho Inn and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott. These hotels offer exceptional services, including free airport shuttle services.

  • What amenities does Santa Barbara airport offer nursing mothers?

    Nursing mothers traveling through Santa Barbara airport will have a chance to use the special nursing room located on the terminal building's second floor. The room is well equipped with a rocking baby chair, a changing table, a shower for the mothers and a private room for pumping the milk or for breastfeeding.

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

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco was $49 for a one-way ticket and $134 for a round-trip.

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

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

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

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

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

    The Airbus A320-100/200 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Santa Barbara to San Francisco flight route.

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

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

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

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

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

    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 Francisco.

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

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

    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 Francisco with an airline and back to Santa Barbara with another airline. Booking your flights between Santa Barbara and SFO 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 Francisco?

    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 Francisco 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 Francisco

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $164 or less one-way and $240 or less round-trip.
  • It’s important to arrive at Santa Barbara airport (SBA) at least 2h earlier before takeoff. This is because Santa Barbara airport is busy sometimes. Coming early will give you a chance to get done with the security check on time and get your ticket and boarding pass.
  • Santa Barbara provides a variety of parking locations when you are flying out of Santa Barbara to San Francisco. You can use the international parking lot on the third floor at terminal 1 if you intend to park for a long time. They also have a daily parking lot at the new garage next to the gate. This parking lot allows travelers to park for a few hours. There are other parking lots on the ground floor and the second floor. Shuttle drivers and drivers coming to pick up and drop off passengers can use them.
  • While you are waiting to board your flight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco, you can take advantage of the extensive selection of amenities provided at the departure and arrival hall. You can grab something to snack on at the restaurant on your left from the baggage claim area.
  • There is entertainment available on board your flight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco. You can watch a movie and play games with other passengers. There are also kid-friendly games and a channel on the offered TV channels. Additionally, they offer amenities and services like meals, drinks, and snacks.
  • When you arrive at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), you can visit the information desk or office in terminal 1 if you're interested in learning more specific details. As an alternative, you might speak with their employees who are close to you; they might be able to assist. For instance, you can ask any close staff member where the children's changing area is located. You are not required to visit the office.

Prefer to fly direct from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?

 
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 Francisco.
Find which airlines fly direct from Santa Barbara Airport to San Francisco Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Santa Barbara to San Francisco

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

San Francisco 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 airline flying from Santa Barbara to San Francisco

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Santa Barbara to San Francisco. 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 Francisco? 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 8979 reviews
7.1Entertainment
7.7Boarding
7.3Comfort
8.1Crew
6.6Food
Airline reviews

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

6.0 GoodLucia, Oct 2025BNA - SFO
Read more United Airlines reviews

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.

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!

I found the staff to not be very attentive at all. When paying for Business Class you expect a certain type of service and that was not found. They were almost rude even

Boarded plane and then delayed 1.5 hours while on the plane

My flight was delayed a very short period of time but they did not hold my connecting flight to San Diego, also through United. So they closed the doors before we got off our plane. They would only have to help the door open for another five to ten minutes. So I missed a court deadline for a manditory mediation settlement conference for my client. I had to get an associate to be there in person and be on the phone with him relaying what he needs to do the entire time. The court was very upset with me and so was my client. United cannot be trusted.

Really good 😊 the woman at the gate entrance was a little rude checking in our carry-on but i dont think she worked for the airline, she worked for the airport at sacramento, other than that amazing.

Boarding was mayhem. Late boarding by 15 minutes because of lack of staff (missing 1 flight attendant. We had to wait for an arrival of another plane before we could board). Flight was a little rough, but cannot blame on airlines.

United out of SFO is having issues with catering so none of our meals were loaded on the plane and no offer of compensation for our tickets purchased was offered.

A bit rush for transit. Food and entertainment are not available

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

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