SBA - SFO

$96 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 5/12. 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 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
$191
Typical prices: $454-$253
United Airlines
Tue 5/12Wed 5/13
SBA - SFO • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$96
Typical prices: $149-$297
United Airlines
Tue 5/12
SBA - SFO • Non-stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $191 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.4 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
Every day
You can fly direct with United Airlines. Average duration is 1h 20m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
+1
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
When to book
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
Cheapest • 25% 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 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

Tue, May 12 - Wed, May 13
United Airlines Logo
4:15 pm - 5:41 pm
SBA
-
SFO
1h 26mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
4:26 pm - 5:53 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 27mnonstop
$191United Airlines
Wed, May 13 - Wed, May 13
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:17 am
SBA
-
SFO
1h 17mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
7:05 pm - 11:44 pm
SFO
-
SBA
4h 39m
1 stop
$201United Airlines
Wed, May 20 - Wed, May 27
United Airlines Logo
6:25 am - 10:48 am
SBA
-
SFO
4h 23m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 9:17 am
SFO
-
SBA
3h 17m
1 stop
$211United Airlines
Sat, May 16 - Tue, May 19
United Airlines Logo
2:17 pm - 3:34 pm
SBA
-
SFO
1h 17mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
10:28 am - 1:39 pm
SFO
-
SBA
3h 11m
1 stop
$221United Airlines
Wed, May 13 - Wed, May 13
United Airlines Logo
6:25 am - 10:48 am
SBA
-
SFO
4h 23m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
7:05 pm - 11:44 pm
SFO
-
SBA
4h 39m
1 stop
$222United Airlines
Thu, May 14 - Mon, May 18
United Airlines Logo
6:50 pm - 8:07 pm
SBA
-
SFO
1h 17mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
6:45 pm - 8:06 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 21mnonstop
$231United Airlines
Tue, Jun 2 - Tue, Jun 2
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 9:33 am
SBA
-
SFO
3h 33m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
11:45 am - 3:17 pm
SFO
-
SBA
3h 32m
1 stop
$237Alaska Airlines
Thu, May 14 - Mon, May 18
United Airlines Logo
6:25 am - 10:48 am
SBA
-
SFO
4h 23m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
2:05 pm - 3:34 pm
SFO
-
SBA
1h 29mnonstop
$241United Airlines
Sat, May 16 - Tue, May 19
United Airlines Logo
2:20 pm - 6:56 pm
SBA
-
SFO
4h 36m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
10:28 am - 1:39 pm
SFO
-
SBA
3h 11m
1 stop
$244United Airlines
Fri, May 22 - Tue, May 26
United Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 7:25 am
SBA
-
SFO
1h 10mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
10:29 am - 11:52 am
SFO
-
SBA
1h 23mnonstop
$245United Airlines
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.

How much is a round-trip flight from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?

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 Francisco departing in May.

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 Saturday, and avoid Mondays 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 $254 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are July and April, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $424 and $409 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 13 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJuly
Cheapest flight$96
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 25% increase in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 6% 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 $96 for a one-way ticket and $191 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?

    All the following airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Santa Barbara to San Francisco flight route: Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, and American Airlines.

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

    The Embraer 175 (Enhanced Winglets) 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 $161 or less one-way and $341 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 9637 reviews
7.3Comfort
8.1Crew
7.1Entertainment
6.6Food
7.7Boarding
Airline reviews

The flight was delayed from take off because only one runway was operational in San Francisco.

2.0 MediocreMartin, Apr 2026
EUG - SFO
Read more United Airlines reviews

The flight was delayed from take off because only one runway was operational in San Francisco.

Several missed and almost missed connections. It felt like everything was being patched together last minute without enough resources and it ended up being an extremely stressful experience that basically ruined our weekend on the west coast. What a waste.

Checking in united could not figure out my star alliance gold. Baggage did not get marked priority and didn't receive boarding passes. When got to SFO lounge personal fixed everything Immediately

Flight left on time, arrived early, pleasant staff provided water, coffee, etc. access to bathrooms was reasonable and were well maintained. blankets were available, lots of entertainment options. LUGGAGE SERVICE WAS GREAT. I got my one checked bag quickly and was able to make a bus connection for a 2 hour bus ride saving me from waiting another 1.5 hours.

Wonderful in-seat entertainment with seatback screens and huge selection of quality movies. The ability to bluetooth connect headphones was amazing.

Horrible service no Wi-Fi connection on both leg of the flight and they are refusing to fix bad service

I will never fly ANA again. They lost one of my large pieces of checked luggage, the heaviest one with the most valuable items in it, and they said they will not send me an email unless they can't find it, even though the paper they gave me to track the status of my lost luggage requires a code from an email they are supposed to send me so I can do baggage tracing. They claim to be an international airline, but they also insist on calling a Japanese telephone number to confirm where to send the lost baggage if they find it. It is impossible to find an actual contact email address for customer support on their website, and their AI chatbot is unhelpful, directing you to a webpage that says it is for contact information but does not have any actual email addresses or phone numbers listed on it. My seat in economy did not recline at all, even though I was not sitting in an exit row nor the very back row. I had to sit in the fully upright position for over ten hours of international travel. Awful experience overall.

Overall we had a good experience during our flight from San Francisco to Houston.

the whole trip was smooth, and as comfortable as flying is these days. flight crew was friendly and very courteous and helpful.

First class ticket gets you a choice of chips or nuts. . Just like economy Southwest. Also no screen in the seats. This is first class???!

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports