HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
Chicago

$162+ Cheap flights from Santa Barbara (SBA) to Chicago (CHI)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 3/12. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SBA — CHI
feb. 25 — mar. 41
mar. 2/25
mar. 3/4
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go
Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”
2. Select your favorite providers
We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.
3. Compare prices and book
Review each provider’s pricing and select the best option for you! Book through your favorite provider’s website for a seamless experience.

Cheap flight deals from Santa Barbara to Chicago

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Santa Barbara (SBA) to Chicago (CHI). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated febrero 20, 2025.

Most accurate provider

Expedia
1 star

Most trusted provider

Expedia
3 stars

Round-trip from

$322
(Alaska Airlines)

One-way from

$162
(Delta)

Popular in

January

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$398

Good one-way deal

$169 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for Santa Barbara-Chicago (CHI) flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Santa Barbara-Chicago (CHI) flights.
Search Deals
From Santa Barbara to Chicago (CHI)
Search Deals
One-way flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago (CHI)
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price ($33 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 4% potential price decrease ($24 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in February 2025
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago (CHI).
Search Deals

Find flight deals from Santa Barbara to Chicago

Cheapest flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Santa Barbara to Chicago. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on febrero 20, 2025.

This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mié. 3/197:23 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop8h 17mAlaska Airlines
mié. 3/267:40 amORD - SBA
1 stop12h 49mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 2/18$322
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mié. 3/195:00 amSBA - ORD
1 stop6h 14mUnited Airlines
mié. 3/268:45 amORD - SBA
1 stop9h 40mUnited Airlines
Deal found 2/18$323
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
mié. 3/191:30 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop6h 15mDelta
mié. 3/261:26 pmORD - SBA
2 stops10h 48mDelta
Deal found 2/18$328
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
sáb. 4/197:08 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop8h 09mAmerican Airlines
vie. 4/256:00 amORD - SBA
1 stop7h 47mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 2/19$333
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
jue. 3/65:45 amSBA - ORD
2 stops8h 40mSouthwest
sáb. 3/82:45 pmORD - SBA
2 stops11h 20mSouthwest
Deal found 2/20$378

Find flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago within your budget

Customize your flight search to find flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated febrero 20, 2025.

Fly from

Santa Barbara

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

mié. 3/19

7:23 pm-5:40 am

1 stop8h 17m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

mié. 3/26

7:40 am-6:29 pm

1 stop12h 49m

$322

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

mié. 3/19

5:00 am-1:14 pm

1 stop6h 14m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

mié. 3/26

8:45 am-4:25 pm

1 stop9h 40m

$323

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

mié. 3/19

1:30 pm-9:45 pm

1 stop6h 15m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

mié. 3/26

1:26 pm-10:14 pm

2 stops10h 48m

$328

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

sáb. 4/19

7:08 pm-5:17 am

1 stop8h 09m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

vie. 4/25

6:00 am-11:47 am

1 stop7h 47m

$333

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

jue. 3/6

5:45 am-4:25 pm

2 stops8h 40m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

sáb. 3/8

2:45 pm-12:05 am

2 stops11h 20m

$378

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

mié. 3/12

1:30 pm-9:45 pm

1 stop6h 15m

$162

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

jue. 7/10

6:40 pm-5:18 am

1 stop8h 38m

$210

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

mié. 7/9

5:45 pm-5:04 am

1 stop9h 19m

$213

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

dom. 7/13

7:42 pm-5:29 am

1 stop7h 47m

$259

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

lun. 6/16

5:15 am-4:25 pm

2 stops9h 10m

$289

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 2/19

Showing 1-10 of 12 results
1
2
  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Santa Barbara-Chicago flights, users find the pricing of Expedia to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. Expedia Users can find the same prices on Santa Barbara-Chicago flight deals on Cheapflights vs. Expedia <90% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Santa Barbara-Chicago flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Santa Barbara-Chicago flights, Cheapflights users trust Expedia the most. Expedia has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Santa Barbara-Chicago flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Chicago from Santa Barbara with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Travel insights for flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago

Get recent, data-driven insights about flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago including ideal travel times, pricing trends, and more.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from Santa Barbara to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $321). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SBA to CHI?

Find hourly flight availability from Santa Barbara to Chicago. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated febrero 20, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from Santa Barbara to Chicago in the evening. By choosing this option you can save up to 8% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the afternoon.

Rainfall in Chicago by month

Plan your trip to Chicago by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Chicago ranges from 1.7 - 4.9 inches per month. August is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 4.9 in. January is typically the driest time to visit Chicago when rainfall is around 1.7 in.

Temperature in Chicago by month

Plan your trip to Chicago by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Chicago, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 73.4 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 23.0 F).

Reviews of airlines servicing Chicago

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Chicago. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Chicago. Reviews last updated febrero 20, 2025.
See what other customers who have flown with Southwest, Alaska Airlines and Delta from Santa Barbara to Chicago have to say. You can also see how each airline stacks up in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,692 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

Delta
8.0
Very good
8,220 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

Hawaiian Airlines
7.9
Good
2,317 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,766 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,411 reviews

Crew

8.7

Food

7.1

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Boarding

8.2

Entertainment

7.6

Reviews

1 / 20

10.0
Excellent

Arlene,May 2024

SAN - OAK

My original flight was delayed so they found this flight for me so I could arrive at a reasonable time

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Santa Barbara to Chicago. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airport do you fly from for flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    If you book a flight to Chicago from Santa Barbara, you will be flying from Santa Barbara, which is the city’s only airport. Santa Barbara (SBA) is located 8.0 mi from the center of Santa Barbara. There are 0 flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago per day from 3 different airlines.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Santa Barbara to Chicago round-trip?

    Flying on Alaska Airlines is currently your cheapest option to Chicago, with prices starting at $322. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by United Airlines and Delta, with the lowest prices starting at $323 and $328, respectively. You may be able to fly from Santa Barbara to Chicago for 34% less than the average price by searching for these airlines.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Santa Barbara to Chicago one-way?

    The cheapest airlines for a one-way flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago are Delta ($162), United Airlines ($210), and Alaska Airlines ($213).

  • What are the cheapest flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    On average you can expect to pay $219 for a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago. The cheapest flight overall is $169 while the most popular route, (Santa Barbara - Chicago O'Hare Intl) is currently priced at $334.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Santa Barbara to Chicago flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Santa Barbara to Chicago by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    Currently, August is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago (average of $245). Flying from Santa Barbara to Chicago in March is currently the most expensive (average of $321). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near Santa Barbara?

Book flights to Santa Barbara if you plan to visit one of these locations
Merrillville
New Buffalo
Hammond
Benton Harbor
Porter
Lansing
Valparaiso
Chesterton

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for Santa Barbara to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
Los Angeles to O'Hare Intl flights
San Francisco to O'Hare Intl flights
Los Angeles to Midway flights
Ontario to O'Hare Intl flights
Santa Ana to O'Hare Intl flights
Burbank to O'Hare Intl flights
San Diego to O'Hare Intl flights
San Francisco to Midway flights
Oakland to O'Hare Intl flights
San Jose to O'Hare Intl flights
San Diego to Midway flights
Las Vegas to O'Hare Intl flights
Los Angeles to St. Louis flights
Ontario to Midway flights
Sacramento to O'Hare Intl flights
San Francisco to St. Louis flights
Las Vegas to Midway flights
Santa Ana to Midway flights
Ontario to St. Louis flights
Burbank to Midway flights
Palm Springs to O'Hare Intl flights
San Jose to Midway flights
Reno to O'Hare Intl flights
Sacramento to Midway flights
Las Vegas to St. Louis flights
Oakland to Midway flights
Fresno to O'Hare Intl flights
San Diego to St. Louis flights
Long Beach to O'Hare Intl flights
Santa Ana to St. Louis flights
Long Beach to St. Louis flights
San Jose to St. Louis flights
Sacramento to St. Louis flights
Reno to Midway flights
Oakland to St. Louis flights
Palm Springs to Midway flights
Burbank to St. Louis flights
Fresno to Midway flights
Long Beach to Midway flights
San Francisco to Peoria flights
Los Angeles to Peoria flights
Fresno to St. Louis flights
Los Angeles to Rockford flights
Oakland to Rockford flights
Santa Barbara to O'Hare Intl flights
San Diego to Moline flights
San Luis Obispo to O'Hare Intl flights
Santa Ana to Peoria flights
Ontario to Peoria flights
San Francisco to Bloomington flights

Top 3 airlines flying from Santa Barbara to Chicago

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated febrero 20, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
American AirlinesCheapest$326Average$438FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$326Average$468FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
DeltaCheapest$331Average$377FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
100% Free
Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.
Book with Flexibility
Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees
Travel Smart
Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.