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$153+ Cheap flights from Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara (SBA)

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 2/11. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
CHI — SBA
Jan 26 — Feb 21
Sun 1/26
Sun 2/2
1 adult, Economy
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The best prices from Chicago to Santa Barbara are usually found in January or February, booked 46 days in advance, depart on a Monday or Saturday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara (SBA). 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 January 21, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$312
(Alaska Airlines)

One-way from

$153
(Delta)

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$377
Provider with most accurate pricing for Chicago (CHI)-Santa Barbara flight deals.
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Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Chicago (CHI)-Santa Barbara flights.
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From Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara
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One-way flight from Chicago (CHI) to Santa Barbara
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 5% potential increase in price ($29 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($6 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in January 2025
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Find flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Cheapest flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Chicago to Santa Barbara. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on January 21, 2025.

This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/20. 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 Alaska Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 4/87:40 amORD - SBA
1 stop12h 49mAlaska Airlines
Wed 4/167:23 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop8h 17mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 1/20$312
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. 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.
Tue 3/42:10 pmORD - SBA
2 stops11h 45mDelta
Tue 3/119:15 amSBA - ORD
1 stop7h 40mDelta
Deal found 1/21$324
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/19. 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.
Tue 3/46:00 amORD - SBA
1 stop7h 31mAmerican Airlines
Tue 3/1112:25 pmSBA - ORD
1 stop6h 41mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 1/19$342
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/21. 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.
Thu 2/206:10 pmORD - SBA
1 stop7h 49mUnited Airlines
Thu 2/275:00 amSBA - ORD
1 stop7h 54mUnited Airlines
Deal found 1/21$351
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/20. 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.
Tue 2/45:45 amORD - SBA
1 stop11h 10mSouthwest
Sat 2/225:35 amSBA - ORD
2 stops10h 35mSouthwest
Deal found 1/20$413

Find flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara within your budget

Customize your flight search to find flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara 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 January 21, 2025.

Fly from

Any airport

Fly to

Any airport

Route

Depart

Return

Price

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 4/8

7:40 am-6:29 pm

1 stop12h 49m

Santa Barbara

Wed 4/16

7:23 pm-5:40 am

1 stop8h 17m

$312

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 3/4

2:10 pm-11:55 pm

2 stops11h 45m

Santa Barbara

Tue 3/11

9:15 am-6:55 pm

1 stop7h 40m

$324

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 3/4

6:00 am-11:31 am

1 stop7h 31m

Santa Barbara

Tue 3/11

12:25 pm-9:06 pm

1 stop6h 41m

$342

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Thu 2/20

6:10 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop7h 49m

Santa Barbara

Thu 2/27

5:00 am-2:54 pm

1 stop7h 54m

$351

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 2/4

5:45 am-2:55 pm

1 stop11h 10m

Santa Barbara

Sat 2/22

5:35 am-6:10 pm

2 stops10h 35m

$413

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 2/11

2:25 pm-11:55 pm

2 stops11h 30m

$153

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 2/11

4:02 pm-9:45 pm

1 stop7h 43m

$167

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/5

3:19 pm-10:12 pm

2 stops8h 53m

$177

ChicagoSanta Barbara

ORD - SBA

ORDSBA

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 2/4

7:45 am-3:29 pm

1 stop9h 44m

$178

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/21

Compare providers for flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara in January.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-Santa Barbara flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Chicago-Santa Barbara flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Chicago-Santa Barbara flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Chicago-Santa Barbara flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub 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 Chicago-Santa Barbara 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 Chicago to Santa Barbara

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Santa Barbara from Chicago 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 Chicago to Santa Barbara

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

How far ahead should I book a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara. Price data was last updated on January 17, 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara, you should look to book at least 46 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

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

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara (average of $353). Flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara in June is currently the most expensive (average of $506). 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 CHI to SBA?

Find hourly flight availability from Chicago to Santa Barbara. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated January 21, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from Chicago to Santa Barbara at noon. Doing so could potentially save you 21% on the flight price compared to flying in the evening, which is usually more expensive.

Rainfall in Santa Barbara by month

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

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in Santa Barbara ranges from 0.0 - 3.5 inches per month. January is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 3.5 in. May is typically the driest time to visit Santa Barbara when rainfall is around 0.0 in.

Temperature in Santa Barbara by month

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

If weather is an important factor for your trip to Santa Barbara, 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 62.6 F. Travelers looking to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 51.8 F).

Reviews of airlines servicing Santa Barbara

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara. Reviews last updated January 21, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Delta and United Airlines from Chicago to Santa Barbara to help guide your decision. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,662 reviews

Food

7.2

Entertainment

7.7

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,662 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,662 reviews

Food

7.2

Entertainment

7.7

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
9,706 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,662 reviews

Food

7.2

Entertainment

7.7

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

Delta
8.0
Very good
8,521 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,662 reviews

Food

7.2

Entertainment

7.7

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,984 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,662 reviews

Food

7.2

Entertainment

7.7

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

American Airlines
7.2
Good
10,000 reviews
Southwest
8.1
Very good
4,662 reviews

Food

7.2

Entertainment

7.7

Crew

8.7

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

8.1

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 10

My first time, surprisingly good! It was a good ride overall. Coming from Singapore, this budget flight is better than the budget airline for our national carrier Singapore Airlines.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Chicago to Santa Barbara. 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 into for flights to Santa Barbara from Chicago?

    For a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara, you will be flying into Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara (SBA) is just 8.0 mi from the center of the city. Santa Barbara is the only Santa Barbara airport and it handles 0 inbound flights from Chicago per day. 3 airlines have flights to Santa Barbara from Chicago on a regular basis.

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

    Alaska Airlines, at $312, was found to be the cheapest airline from Chicago to Santa Barbara.Alternate airlines to your destination round-trip include Delta and American Airlines. These flights start at 32% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

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

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with Delta, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $153. United Airlines flights start at $167 while deals on American Airlines start at $177 one-way.

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

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

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

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

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

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Chicago to Santa Barbara 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 Chicago to Santa Barbara?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Chicago to Santa Barbara (average of $353). Flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara in June is currently the most expensive (average of $506). 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 Chicago?

Book flights to Chicago if you plan to visit one of these locations
Buellton
Santa Ynez

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Top 3 airlines flying from Chicago to Santa Barbara

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from Chicago to Santa Barbara. 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 January 21, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
American AirlinesCheapest$292Average$425FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
DeltaCheapest$318Average$495FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$343Average$511FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
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