SBA

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$117
Typical prices: $342-$597
Alaska Airlines
Sun 11/4Tue 11/6
SAN - SBA • Non-stop
Cheapest non-stop
$117
Typical prices: $289-$556
United Airlines
Sun 12/2Sun 12/2
SFO - SBA • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with United Airlines, Southwest and others. Average duration is 1h 52m.
FAQs
FAQs
Top airlines
Most flights • 66 per week
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
+1
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
Cheapest • 59% average savings
Most popular
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 5 weeks in advance save around 43% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 11% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
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We hope you love your trip to Santa Barbara!

Cheap Flights to Santa Barbara

 

Cheap flights to Santa Barbara from top airlines, updated regularly. Compare round-trip, one-way, direct and last-minute deals.

Wed, Nov 4 - Fri, Nov 6
Alaska Airlines Logo
12:47 pm - 2:05 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 18mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:09 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
1h 09mnonstop
$117Alaska Airlines
Wed, Nov 4 - Thu, Nov 5
Alaska Airlines Logo
10:30 pm - 11:43 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 13mnonstop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:09 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
1h 09mnonstop
$117Alaska Airlines
Wed, Dec 2 - Wed, Dec 2
United Airlines Logo
10:51 am - 12:04 pmSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 13mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
4:10 pm - 5:41 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
1h 31mnonstop
$117United Airlines
Mon, Nov 9 - Wed, Nov 11
United Airlines Logo
6:45 pm - 7:59 pmSFO  San Francisco-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 14mnonstop
United Airlines Logo
6:30 pm - 8:00 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-SFO San Francisco
1h 30mnonstop
$117United Airlines
Mon, Dec 7 - Thu, Dec 10
Southwest Logo
12:35 pm - 1:40 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 05mnonstop
Southwest Logo
10:55 am - 11:45 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
0h 50mnonstop
$117Southwest
Thu, Nov 5 - Mon, Nov 9
Southwest Logo
12:15 pm - 1:15 pmSAN  San Diego-SBA Santa Barbara
1h 00mnonstop
Southwest Logo
5:20 am - 8:40 amSBA  Santa Barbara-SAN San Diego
3h 20m1 stop Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
$127Southwest
Tue, Dec 8 - Tue, Dec 15
American Airlines Logo
2:04 pm - 7:19 pmPDX  Portland-SBA Santa Barbara
5h 15m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
American Airlines Logo
12:51 pm - 5:57 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-PDX Portland
5h 06m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$175American Airlines
Wed, Apr 14 - Tue, Apr 20
American Airlines Logo
7:13 am - 12:07 pmPDX  Portland-SBA Santa Barbara
4h 54m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
American Airlines Logo
4:15 pm - 11:33 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-PDX Portland
7h 18m1 stop Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
$175American Airlines
Sat, Nov 14 - Mon, Nov 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:28 pm - 11:43 pmDEN  Denver Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
10h 15m1 stop San Diego
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:35 pm - 9:59 amSBA  Santa Barbara-DEN Denver Intl
18h 24m1 stop San Diego
$247Multiple Airlines
Sat, Nov 21 - Sun, Nov 22
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:54 pm - 11:49 pmPHX  Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl-SBA Santa Barbara
4h 55m1 stop San Diego
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:01 am - 3:33 pmSBA  Santa Barbara-PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl
8h 32m1 stop San Diego
$272Multiple Airlines

Price, demand and travel trends for flights to Santa Barbara

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

What is the cheapest flight to Santa Barbara?

San Diego to Santa Barbara is the cheapest route at $117 round-trip, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. San Francisco to Santa Barbara is the most popular connection with round-trip deals from $117.

How much is a flight to Santa Barbara?

On average, a round-trip flight from the United States to Santa Barbara costs $454, based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months. Round-trip fares from San Diego average $178, while Oakland runs a bit higher at $299.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Santa Barbara?

Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly to Santa Barbara at $444 round-trip on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Sunday is the most expensive at $510.

What’s the cheapest month to fly to Santa Barbara?

•January is the cheapest month to fly to Santa Barbara with an average price of $404 round-trip.
•July ($502) and June ($499) are the most expensive.

Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Santa Barbara?

Night flights to Santa Barbara are the cheapest at $369 round-trip on average. Morning flights are the most expensive at $486.

What is a good deal for flights to Santa Barbara?

Flights under $342 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found round-trip flights to Santa Barbara at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from:
•San Diego $137
•Oakland $257
•Seattle $258.

When are flights to Santa Barbara the cheapest?

Flights to Santa Barbara are cheapest 5 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 43% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice for your flight to Santa Barbara

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
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.

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.

Key details for flights to Santa Barbara

Low season

December

Cheapest flight

$59
Beat the crowds with an average 20% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 9% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from San Diego 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

Your questions about flights to Santa Barbara, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking questions.

  • How do I know if a flight to Santa Barbara is a good deal?

    A good deal on a flight to Santa Barbara is around $342 round-trip. This fare is in the lowest 25% of round-trip prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.

  • How long are nonstop flights to Santa Barbara from different departure cities?

    Nonstop flight time to Santa Barbara varies depending on your departure city:

    • From Oakland: 1h 10m
    • From Las Vegas: 1h 15m
    • From Portland: 2h 11m
    • From Denver: 2h 36m
    • From Chicago: 4h 39m

  • Which city has the cheapest flights to Santa Barbara?

    Based on fares booked in the past 5 days, the cheapest flights to Santa Barbara are from Phoenix, starting at $272 round-trip.

  • How expensive are last-minute flights to Santa Barbara?

    Last-minute fares to Santa Barbara (booked within 2 weeks of departure) are typically 42% higher than the average round-trip fare of $454.

  • What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at Santa Barbara?

    United Airlines operates the most flights from the United States to Santa Barbara at 66 per week, and for this route United Airlines is also the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from the United States to Santa Barbara. The two are often different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveler choice.

  • How many flights serve Santa Barbara?

    Santa Barbara receives 28 flights per day and 199 per week from across the world. San Francisco has the most flights to Santa Barbara, with 32 weekly 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.

Your guide to booking Santa Barbara flights

From booking to airport arrival, find tips to help you plan your flight with more confidence.
  • For the best chance at a low fare to Santa Barbara, book around 5 weeks before departure. Based on KAYAK data from the last 12 months, fares are historically about 43% lower during this window than last-minute fares.
  • For flights to Santa Barbara, a good round-trip fare is around $342. If you find a fare below that, you're getting a strong deal.
  • If your travel dates are flexible, consider flying to Santa Barbara in January. Round-trip fares historically average $404, making January the cheapest month to travel based on KAYAK data from the last 12 months.
  • Before you book:

    • Check the route's typical price range so you can spot a deal.
    • Confirm baggage fees and seat-selection costs on budget carriers.
    • Verify whether you need any travel documents beyond ID.
    • Pick a departure airport, since your nearest may not be the cheapest origin.
  • Shift your departure to evening to save up to $117 per round-trip. Evening flights to Santa Barbara average $369 compared to $486 for morning flights.
  • Bag allowances vary by airline, fare type, cabin class and route. On flights to Santa Barbara, some airlines may include bags at no extra cost. For example, United Airlines includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class, Alaska Airlines includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class and Southwest includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class. Always check the fare details before booking, since bag policies can change by ticket type.
  • 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

 
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.
7.9
Alaska AirlinesOverall score based on 13087 reviews
7.0Food
7.8Comfort
8.5Crew
7.0Entertainment
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

It was friendly. Also, we had some turbulence due to the wing of a plane in front of us, and I was grateful the pilot explained that reason to us. It made me feel like we were safer than if there were no explanation and it was inherently interesting to learn.

10.0 ExcellentLeah, Oct 2026
Read more Alaska Airlines reviews

It was friendly. Also, we had some turbulence due to the wing of a plane in front of us, and I was grateful the pilot explained that reason to us. It made me feel like we were safer than if there were no explanation and it was inherently interesting to learn.

Our original flight was cancelled and we were rebooked on a flight the next afternoon. Finally gotten it straightened out at guest services and we were able to get on a delayed flight that departed about an hour later that our original flight. The Guest Services and Gate staff were very helpful!!

Good seating and leg room. Able to choose seat. Nice crew, polite and helpful. Nice snacks. Meals have to be pre ordered, short flight do no meal required.

The flight attendants stood there talking to each other instead of welcoming people on the flight.

Great flight with great crew. I like that they came around to serve our strings twice during our four-hour flight.

It was excellent, some delays but, I understand that’s not on the airline.

First flight one hour late, return on time. On both flights everybody were just great Seats comfortable. No complaints, just , 2 good flights. Like flying Alaska Airlines.

On time, good seats, not overly full, up beast positive crew.

Check-in was easy, I did it from the app. Boarding was easy, the crew was great. Santa Barbara airport had a disabled plane so we had to land in Burbank to refuel. They kept us well informed, and everyone was great. A very entertaining person from the Burbank airport got on and told a few jokes.

Had to show boarding pass twice. Otherwise flight was excellent.

It’s too cold like fridge and they don’t offer a blanket with expensive price

A List preferred boarding was nice Asked for a mask and cheerfully received Denver bag check-in is tricky. Not near other checking desk. Have to navigate to east security and up to level six for bag checkin. TSA busy and 20 minutes process thru pre lines Denver train to gates quick but one more thing to plan time for and long concourse walk to gate

Not exactly Southwest’s problem, but the new Burbank airport is not great. No restaurants open and tons of work still to be completed. Can’t believe they opened the airport in that condition.

Southwest has lost most of what made it special. The flight attendants all used to seem fun and like they were having fun. Now they seem just miserable. They do NOT seem happy to give you your pretzels and drinks. They stick it in your hand or on your tray like it's an annoyance. They bark safety instructions at you. It's not just this flight but the last few SW flights I've had to SNA and SAN as well and it's not just me. I've informally surveyed my colleagues (business and leisure travelers) and these feelings are consistent. The tickets are similarly priced to other carriers and the seat assignments make boarding slower. The free luggage and free ability to change flights is still a differentiator. You lose that and there's virtually nothing special left.

Overall good experience...exception: very cold temp in teh cabin.

I liked how it boarded fast. I do not like how the seats are just too narrow, and I’m not a big person.

Despite paying for an ‘upgraded’ seat in row 1, I had to put my luggage in the middle of the plane. Snacks were bleh and seat was small and uncomfortable and I am not large. Attendants were fine but not super helpful. Plane just seemed outdated.

Delayed for no reason at all originally. Then they said it was due to weather conditions. Communication between kayak and Southwest was terrible because both displayed different delays and departure times for HOURS throughout the day. The plane then had technical issues which delayed us from taking off even longer. Didn’t actually take off until 11:45pm when the original departure time was 7:35pm. I didn’t get home until 1:30am the next day. I was exhausted and pissed off. I am not confident if I’ll fly southwest in the future or use kayak to book.

This leg was much better, but we did have to have a 3 hour lay o er after coming from a very exhausting hiccup with our flight from BNA to Den

Crew was great but because of fog they diverted us to Ontario instead of our Santa Barbara destination. Instead of cancelling the flight as soon as we landed in Ontario, they instead held us in Ontario for almost 4 hours before cancelling the flight. I had to rent a car in Ontario to get back to ventura on time to get an elderly relative his medication and take over his caretaking… otherwise if I had taken the buses you offered from Ontario I wouldn’t have even arrived to Santa Barbara till at least midnight (according to southwest airlines employees at Ontario), and then would have had to drive back down to ventura. At least renting the car I could get up to ventura by 10 pm to take care of my loved one.

There was an incredibly surly flight attendant that ruined the experience

After boarding the plane had to wait an hour at the for the copilot to show up before we could depart

The cabin and bathroom experience was poor as the cabin and bathroom were dirty and showed signs of an older plane that had not been updated for Customer’s, comfort and health. There was gum on my seat when I arrived and dirt spots around the fan and light controls. The flight was almost entirely full, so there was no way I could be moved from my seat. Th bathroom had the peeling paint.

Great crew. Comfortable seating. Nice overhead bin space. My app didn't allow me to check in for my flight to BOS. When I called Support, they didn't fix it, but just told me to check in at the airport. Seat back entertainment was great. Could be better if the audio could connect to Bluetooth.

I'm 6' 2" and even in economy plenty of leg room

great! appreciated the last minute upgrade to Comfort+ exit row, as well

My seat was changed without my consent. It wasn’t a major deal but annoying.

The Airline Attendant found us in flight and moved us to seats in the front of economy due to the short time we would have to make our connecting flight. We really appreciated it.

DL486 could not get to the gate due to jet bridge malfunction. We moved gates. The connecting flight of LAX to MCO was not communicated with. Even though we were in the same terminal, DL482 left without about 10 of us, including a mother and her 3 children. I got to the gate at 7:34 am which is past the 7:20 am last call for a 7:35 am departure. Had they waited 5 minutes, all of us would have made it on board.

Delta has joint the nickel and diming airlines. The experience is getting worst by the day. 1,000,000 miles for a trip to Asia in Business Class where I got the same thing for just under 90,000 miles through an Asian airline. Where is Richard Anderson? Please come back!

It's not United, but TSA security at Terminal A in Newark is a disaster and seriously makes me consider switching to flying out of JFK. The touchless TSA pre-check had a line of over 50 people and the bag screening was so slow that it limited the flow of people through the facial recognition process. It is the only airport that I frequent that has this issue and makes me reconsider whether I should fly out of Newark given the wasted time and frustration it causes. As I said, it is not a United issue but will impact United if people choose to stop utilizing Newark airport because of the poor experience.

The food could be much better. Also very unfortunate that most of business class seats were empty but I could not upgrade.

Bag got checked but I thought one personal item was guaranteed.

The seats are very small, that is all the staff did a good job.

The flight was for my mom in wheelchair the staff in Newark wer not friendly took a long time to even get a wheelchair she almost missed her flight because they finally got a chair few minutes before boarding they had to rush her to the gate. They took her carryon and checked it as a bag told her don’t worry free of charge but they charge the credit card anyway. She also told me the seats are not comfortable at all as if they were broken she could feel the bars in the seat SFO staff was much better overall she had the worst experience

First class flight crew was barely available. They came through 3 times while we were on the plane for nearly 4 hours.

The food was horrible. There was no. Wifi, and it was just terrible from bangkok to d. C

My flight got cancelled. Couldn’t get my luggage. It arrived at my destination ahead of me. I didn’t get my preordered meal. Had to spend the night in the airport.

Great experience…left a bit behind schedule but made up fir that in the air and landed 10 minutes early 😁

Serving a coffr Or a Drink would have been nice.

Everything was fine except they changed the gate number and we ended up running all over LAX because of it.

The crew in the Vegas airport clearly was having a bad day … they moved on and the crew that checked us in for boarding was great, as was the flight crew. I did get the wheel of my carry on stuck in the overhead bin. Amazing team effort to include the flight attendants, the pilot, and another pilot who was on the flight as a passenger. Finally got it unstuck ✅

Staff are polite,and even offer us to tag our baggages upon seeing us from the entry

The guy sitting in front of me kept pushing hard his sit against my legs… very uncomfortable

Food was horrid. In my opinion inedible. They did offer some sorbet and one small dish of fruit. Stewards were super stingy with water, coffee, etc.

On-time, direct flight is great. Having one bathroom out of order was unfortunate.

I am absolutely furious with American. they shut the door in my face when I was trying to board the flight and kicked me off of it. They made no attempt to call my name or contact me or anything. They just said they gave my seat away. The customer service response has been atrocious. I will never fly this airline again as long as I live.

The WiFi was out gr entire flight. Had to Diane for almost 1 hour to wait for a gate to open up for plane to dock. Very bad experience.

Delayed flight that lead to a missed connection and a 5-hour trip became a 12-hour flight 🙄

Don’t fly American. Do anything you can to avoid it

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