SBA

$74 Find Cheap Flights to Santa Barbara

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight to Santa Barbara departing on 4/18. 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 Santa Barbara

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to Santa Barbara
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to Santa Barbara
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
$137
Typical prices: $248-$455
Alaska Airlines
Sat 4/25Wed 4/29
SEA - SBA • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$74
Typical prices: $136-$242
United Airlines
Sat 4/18
SEA - SBA • 1 stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
Delta's Comfort Plus offers extra legroom for comfort.
United's Economy Plus provides more legroom for comfort.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Most flights • 101 per week
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
Cheapest
Most popular
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 20% 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 Santa Barbara!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Santa Barbara

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

Sat, Apr 25 - Wed, Apr 29
Alaska Airlines Logo
3:40 pm - 6:19 pm
SEA
-
SBA
2h 39mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:07 pm - 9:49 pm
SBA
-
SEA
2h 42mnonstop
$137Alaska Airlines
Sat, Apr 25 - Wed, Apr 29
Southwest Logo
5:10 am - 9:20 am
SEA
-
SBA
4h 10m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 10:55 am
SBA
-
SEA
5h 25m
1 stop
$157Southwest
Wed, Apr 8 - Tue, Apr 14
Southwest Logo
5:30 am - 9:35 am
SEA
-
SBA
4h 05m
1 stop
Southwest Logo
2:10 pm - 10:55 pm
SBA
-
SEA
8h 45m
2 stops
$162Southwest
Sat, Apr 25 - Wed, Apr 29
Southwest Logo
11:15 am - 9:05 pm
SEA
-
SBA
9h 50m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
2:10 pm - 10:55 pm
SBA
-
SEA
8h 45m
2 stops
$167Southwest
Wed, Apr 1 - Wed, Apr 8
United Airlines Logo
7:12 am - 12:01 pm
SEA
-
SBA
4h 49m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
2:30 pm - 11:27 pm
SBA
-
SEA
8h 57m
2 stops
$182United Airlines
Fri, May 1 - Sun, May 3
United Airlines Logo
7:08 am - 12:07 pm
SEA
-
SBA
4h 59m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 10:43 am
SBA
-
SEA
4h 43m
1 stop
$192United Airlines
Tue, Mar 31 - Mon, Apr 6
Delta Logo
11:25 am - 4:09 pm
SEA
-
SBA
4h 44m
1 stop
Delta Logo
4:50 pm - 12:03 am
SBA
-
SEA
7h 13m
1 stop
$197Delta
Fri, Apr 10 - Tue, Apr 14
American Airlines Logo
7:05 pm - 11:19 pm
ORD
-
SBA
6h 14m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
4:11 pm - 12:32 am
SBA
-
ORD
6h 21m
1 stop
$229American Airlines
Sat, Apr 18 - Wed, Apr 22
American Airlines Logo
11:43 am - 6:08 pm
ORD
-
SBA
8h 25m
2 stops
American Airlines Logo
12:26 pm - 9:15 pm
SBA
-
ORD
6h 49m
1 stop
$234American Airlines
Sat, May 23 - Tue, May 26
Delta Logo
5:00 pm - 10:35 pm
ORD
-
SBA
7h 35m
1 stop
Delta Logo
12:35 pm - 9:50 pm
SBA
-
ORD
7h 15m
1 stop
$257Delta
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to Santa Barbara

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

What is the cheapest flight to Santa Barbara?

These are the best round-trip prices found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.

In the last 3 days, the cheapest flight deal to Santa Barbara was found on the route from Seattle, at $137 return. The most popular connection is from Denver to Santa Barbara and KAYAK users have found round-trip deals for as low as $177 in the last 3 days.

How much is a flight to Santa Barbara?

The average and cheapest price for all round-trip flights to Santa Barbara from each origin found by users searching on KAYAK in the last month.

A flight to Santa Barbara costs $337 on average. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost $100 and departed from San Francisco. The most popular routes on KAYAK are San Francisco to Santa Barbara which costs $394 on average, and Denver to Santa Barbara, which costs $418 on average.

See prices from:

What is the cheapest day to fly to Santa Barbara?

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

Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to Santa Barbara is Saturday where round-trip tickets can be as cheap as $324. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Monday, where round-trip prices are $430 on average.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Santa Barbara?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights to Santa Barbara, 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 to Santa Barbara is January, where tickets cost $386 on average for return flights. On the other hand, the most expensive months are March and November, where the average cost of tickets from the United States is $595 and $576 respectively. For one-way flights, the best month to travel is September with an average price of $346.

What is a good deal for flights to Santa Barbara?

If you’re looking for cheap airfare to Santa Barbara, 25% of our users found tickets to Santa Barbara for the following prices or less: From Oakland $222 round-trip, from Sacramento $237 round-trip, from San Francisco $286 round-trip.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight to Santa Barbara

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines and Delta

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Harriet Baskas

Harriet Baskas

Expert on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines

Harriet is an award-winning journalist who is happiest in an airport or an unusual museum. Her stories about airports, air travel, and the business of travel have appeared on NBC News, CNBC, USA TODAY, The Points Guy and other outlets. She is the creator of the StuckatTheAirport.com blog and the author of nine books. When not out on the road or exploring the latest airport amenities, she’s home in Seattle getting ready for the next adventure.

Chris Dong

Chris Dong

Expert on Hawaiian Airlines

Chris is a consumer travel reporter covering aviation, trending travel news, hotels, and loyalty programs—all for leading global publications like Travel + Leisure, The Washington Post, AFAR, and more. In addition to writing, Chris is a video host for Travel + Leisure, giving consumers an inside look at the latest in air travel.

Good to know - Book Cheap Santa Barbara Plane Tickets

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$74
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 3% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 3% lower on average.
Flight from Seattle to Santa Barbara

When to book flights to Santa Barbara

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Santa Barbara 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. The information is for flights to Santa Barbara based on your location. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs - booking Santa Barbara flights

  • Can I use public transportation to go from Santa Barbara Airport to the city’s downtown?

    If you would like to use public transportation to travel from Santa Barbara Airport to the city center, it is best to take the local bus. You will find a public bus stop on Moffett Road directly across from the Arrivals terminal, and this line will take you to State Street. One-way tickets cost $1.75.

  • Which hotels are closest to Santa Barbara Airport?

    For travelers wishing to stay in a casual hotel, select the Hampton Inn, which is less than 2 miles from Santa Barbara Airport and 12 miles from the popular El Capitan State Beach. To have a more luxurious experience, book a room with the 4-star Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, which is a 20-minute drive from the airport and is directly across the street from East Beach.

  • Does Santa Barbara Airport have any complimentary phones for travelers?

    If you need to make a call to a local number, head to the Arrivals terminal of Santa Barbara Airport in order to use one of the TDD Courtesy Phones. These phones can call all local numbers for free, and they can also connect you with an operator.

  • Is there anywhere to smoke at Santa Barbara Airport?

    Santa Barbara Airport prides itself on being completely smoke-free, meaning that you will not find any smoking rooms inside of its terminals. If you need to smoke a cigarette or use a smoking device, you will have to leave the main building and stand a minimum of 50 feet from its doors.

  • Which flight options do I have from Seattle to Santa Barbara?

    For passengers flying from Seattle to Santa Barbara, consider flying with a direct or connecting flight. If you are hurrying to Santa Barbara, consider flying with Alaska Airlines since they offer direct flights to SBA. For passengers who want flights with one layover stop, consider flying with Southwest Airlines, American, or United.

  • Which cities in the United States offer direct flights to Santa Barbara?

    Various cities in the United States offer direct flights to Santa Barbara Airport. For instance, those in Phoenix (PHX) and Dallas (DFW) can board American Airlines, while those in Las Vegas (LAS), Denver (DEN), and Oakland (OAK) can fly with Southwest Airlines. Additionally, you can board United Airlines in San Francisco (SFO) and Los Angeles (LAX).

  • Which services does Santa Barbara Airport offer to passengers with disabilities?

    Santa Barbara Airport ensures passengers flying into and from the airport have a great experience. The airport provides passengers with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program to help those with disabilities. SBA also allows passengers with disabilities to be accompanied by a service animal. There is also a relief area for service animals outside the north entrance of the terminal.

  • Which means of transport is more convenient for those who want to explore Santa Barbara?

    Passengers who want to enjoy the freedom of driving in Santa Barbara should consider renting a car at Santa Barbara Airport. You will find various car rental providers at the rental center at the arrivals terminal near the baggage claim. These providers include National, Avis, Hertz, and Budget.

  • What is the cheapest flight to Santa Barbara?

    In the last 3 days, the cheapest flight deal to Santa Barbara was found on the route from Seattle, at $137 return. The most popular connection is from Denver to Santa Barbara and KAYAK users have found round-trip deals for as low as $177 in the last 3 days.

  • How far is Santa Barbara Airport from central Santa Barbara?

    You’ll need to travel 8 miles to reach the Santa Barbara city center from Santa Barbara Airport.

  • What is the name of Santa Barbara’s airport?

    There is only 1 airport in Santa Barbara, called Santa Barbara Airport (SBA). It can also be referred to as Santa Barbara or Santa Barbara Municipal.

  • How much is a flight to Santa Barbara?

    On average, a flight to Santa Barbara costs $337. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost $100 and departed from San Francisco Airport.

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

    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 to Santa Barbara.

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

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

    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 Santa Barbara with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight to Santa Barbara?

    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 Santa Barbara up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Santa Barbara

  • Looking for cheap airfare to Santa Barbara? 25% of our users found round-trip tickets to Santa Barbara for the following prices or less: From Los Angeles $228, from Chicago O'Hare Intl $341, from Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl $477
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Santa Barbara flight deals.
  • If you have a question about the city or some of the airport’s amenities, stop by the Visitor Information Desk in the baggage claim of Santa Barbara Airport (SBA). This desk is run by Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce volunteers who will provide you with recommendations for what to see in the area as well as free maps.
  • Santa Barbara Airport is known for being small and easy to navigate, meaning that only several major airlines provide direct flights to this location. If you want to ensure that you do not have a layover and are only looking at direct flights to Santa Barbara, book your reservation with Alaska, American, Frontier, or United Airlines.
  • Having a friend or family member meet you after your flight to Santa Barbara has landed? Tell them that they can wait for you in the free Cell Phone Lot that is located off of James Fowler Road near the WWII Memorial. Once you have picked up your luggage they can come pick you up from the Arrivals terminal.
  • To rent a car from Santa Barbara Airport, go to the rental car center next to the baggage claim in the Arrivals terminal. You will find desks for 7 major companies including Budget, Hertz, and National. Thrifty also has an off-site office that is just a 3-minute drive from the airport’s main terminal.
  • For travelers that are art enthusiasts, don’t forget to enjoy the various exhibits that are located in the entrances and exits of the main building of Santa Barbara Airport. You will find several different statues, paintings, and photographs, all of which were done by local artists.
  • For those who arrive late at Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), you can spend the night at a nearby hotel. These hotels include Residence Inn Santa Barbara Goleta, Hampton Inn Santa Barbara, and Super 8 Santa Barbara. To get to the hotels, passengers can hire a taxi or drive a car rental from the airport.
  • Breastfeeding mothers arriving at Santa Barbara who need a private place to pump or breastfeed their babies can use the Mamava pod beyond the security checkpoint on the second floor. Breastfeeding women can use the Mamava app to access these units.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to Santa Barbara

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying to Santa Barbara. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline from the United States to Santa Barbara. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to Santa Barbara? 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 4318 reviews
8.0Comfort
7.0Food
7.5Entertainment
8.6Crew
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

8.0 ExcellentTobin, Mar 2026
SJC - BUR
Read more Southwest reviews

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

No food or entertainment, just a quick 40 minute flight. A little bumpy due to Santa Ana winds but pilot has no control over that. Good flight and landing!

Good but I prefer choose your own seat. With the new assigned seats they should board from the back I see no advantage to this new boarding. Just like every other airline

Mediocre. Boarding is now unpleasant. The employees, once friendly and nice, are now regularly speaking sternly to passengers, badgering them to do things right so they can take off on time and gate check bags because they don't have enough overhead bin space. The pretzel snack was crushed flat and broken into even smaller pieces, which happens frequently lately. Drink service was suspended before they reached my row.

The charges were ridiculous for an hour flight and the turbulence was very scary.

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

The flight crew was extremely rude and especially not helpful when our flight was delayed.

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.

Still a fan of open seating. Flight was on schedule and arrived on time. The 737 MAX is very comfortable.

You sent me an email saying boarding was at 9:29 and AA sent one that was 8:29 on Sunday morning. I had to call AA to get that it was indeed 8:29.

The airport crew and on board experience was fine. The problem with Alaska air is that there is zero customer service over the phone when you’re trying to buy your ticket or change anything.

The front desk attendant was rude to everyone in an absolutely careless way.

Good as usual. Just wished my seat was assigned at online check in. Thanks anyways

The flight attendant was friendly and attentive. Although our interaction was brief—- it made a difference. The crew was upfront about turbulence. I like the Maui pretzels.

The boarding process could be clearer, there's never a call for group f

I bought tickets MONTHS ago for a flight that left SAN at 14:30. That is what it says on our tickets. I was never notified of any time changes. During online check-in. I discovered the flight time had been changed to 15:45. This was unacceptable and had I been notified, I would have changed flights, or airlines. That departure time was unworkable with our plans. We called Alaska and asked for an explanation. They said flight time was changed 11/08/25. No proof of notification could be offered. We asked to be moved to an earlier flight. After much pleading, the rep said she would allow a “one time exception..” While I appreciate being moved, this was YOUR fault Alaska Airlines.

Representatives both at the gate and on the plane have zero interest in helping you! It’s really unfortunate…

The planes were in very nice condition. Comfortable enough leg room. I had a very quick connection on my return home I made it just fine and so did my luggage!!

We left late; had to land in Minneapolis unscheduled to refuel and then landed in interior instead of lax at 2am......

Left a few minutes early. Got in 15 minutes early. Very attentive service on board. Very organized boarding.

There’s not much to say about a one hour flight. This is a connection from LA to RNO that I missed the previous night due to a mechanical check delay on my originating flight from JFK to LAX. The short flight itself was fine. Instructions from the pilot and crew were per usual. The coffee was barely lukewarm, which possibly was purposeful so we would down it quickly. Bags were already on carousel upon reaching baggage claim, which was excellent.

Delta continues to set the benchmark for traveler-friendly service with minimal disruption and clear communication within the mainland US (coast to coast). I am consistently pleased to be a Delta customer, and this experience once again met my expectations. There was a brief delay departing from MIA due to a technical issue that required the aircraft to return to the gate. However, the situation was handled professionally and transparently. Fortunately, my planned layover allowed ample buffer time, so the adjustment caused no stress. Overall, another smooth and reassuring experience.

Awesome! On time flight, early arrival, and a complimentary upgrade!

Was forced to check in my small carry on, even though I informed the crew it has very fragile items inside

They double booked seats, the gate staff changed my ticket as I was boarding she went over to the computer and changed it without telling me. She messed up an entire three row section for me and others. Other travelers were outraged but the gate staff were so rude, so condescending saying it wasn't their problem to solve. I would rate this a zero if I could. Will not fly Delta again I'll stick with United and American.

I usually get upgraded so my experience is usually amazing. I did not get upgraded this time - which was fine - but the wifi had issues, the monitors were going in & out, & (though not Delta's fault) one of the gentlemen next to me desperately needed a shower.

I really liked the legroom. I am 6’4”.a at For some reason our seats were not together and using the app to fix it didn’t work. Passengers were nice enough to move for us but you should absolutely ensure a parent sits with their child.

Staff were friendly and happy. Delta could make sure passengers that don't have the app know of changes. Without Kayak I would not have known about the change of gate or the delay. Kayak was faster to notify me.

They changed planes and the new plane couldn’t carry enough fuel to fly across the country so we had to stop in Kansas City to refuel. Flight was delayed .

Flight delayed for more than 16 hrs and no effort was spent to provide an alternate

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

it was a very short flight so my expectations were low.

Very disappointing given gate agent behavior. Filed a formal complaint with United.

Flight delayed. WiFi connectivity very poor if not existant. Last minute arrival forced me to run to catch my connection.

The power at the seat didn't work and the seat itself was difficult to adjust - this was a business class seat. Flight attendant gave me miles to compensate. The attendant was very professional and on top of his game the entire flight.

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???!

Flight arrived 30 min early and bag was waiting at the baggage pickup. United Club HNL was one of the nicest in the system

Yet another flight in which beverage and snack service was skipped. Other that that, firmly mediocre. Landed early, to gate late due to congestion at the gates. Airline's fault or airports fault: unknown.

Smooth flight. From the early boarding and all were on board before departure time and arrived early in ONT. Great crew. Thank you!!!!

The flight was significantly delayed for 6.5 hours because of snow. There was no communication once the plane returned to the gate regarding when the flight would resume. Other flights were departing while our flight was being unloaded for reasons unknown. Our flight also seemed out of the queue regarding further deicing, refueling, and waiting to Taxi to the runway.

They are always late and seats was also not having working charger

did not have enough meal for first class passengers so offer us snack

Amazing I love American. I’ll never fly anyone else if I can help it.

Everything about the flight was lovely. My only suggestion would be to offer a few more options of tv series from Apple TV or HBO.

After the door had been closed, the cockpit makes an announcement that catering is running late and it is not the airline's fault. It is their fault in the sense that we had to sit for 2 hours or more when we could have stayed in the terminal. Poor communications between catering and airline. This caused a young man to lose his temper and he went storming out hitting objects. He had complained to the gate agent that he had already waited at the gate 7 hours and when can the airplane leave? Airilnes do a poor job of explaining delays, maintenance issues, etc. whereas being truthful may gain more sympathy or understanding.

We were told the flight was delayed 5 times, then it was moved to the next day.

The experience with American Airlines was good, although the Philippines Airlines flight was much better (better seats, better food, better entertainment options, overall better). Again, the MIA to LAX flight was fine, but nothing in comparison to the comfort and accommodations of the Philippines Airlines flight from LAX to MNL.

Loved the crew . Absolutely no complaints. Except for luggage lost

Traveling to a place near Santa Barbara?

Book flights to Santa Barbara if you plan to visit one of these locations
Buellton
Los Olivos

Everything you need to know for your flight to Santa Barbara

Flights with popular airlines flying to Santa Barbara

Flights from the other most popular airlines that fly from the United States to Santa Barbara according to KAYAK users. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability are not guaranteed.