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$119+ 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 3/24. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SBA — CHI
Feb 21 — Feb 281
Sat 2/21
Sat 2/28
1 adult, Economy
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Cheap 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 January 22, 2026.

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.
Sat 4/1812:39 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop6h 56m
Delta
Tue 4/217:20 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop6h 39m
Delta
Deal found 1/21$237
This Delta 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 3/612:40 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop7h 12m
Delta
Tue 3/107:20 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop6h 40m
Delta
Deal found 1/20$263
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.
Mon 3/94:50 pm
SBA
-
ORD
2 stops13h 40m
Delta
Wed 3/117:20 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop6h 40m
Delta
Deal found 1/21$268
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 1/22. 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.
Tue 8/2512:15 pm
SBA
-
ORD
Nonstop4h 20m
United Airlines
Tue 9/158:50 am
ORD
-
SBA
Nonstop4h 48m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/22$269
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 4/912:15 pm
SBA
-
ORD
Nonstop4h 00m
United Airlines
Sun 4/127:00 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop8h 39m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/21$279
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.
Sat 2/145:00 am
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop7h 50m
United Airlines
Sat 2/216:20 pm
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop7h 32m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/21$285
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.
Sat 4/1812:39 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop6h 56m
Delta
Mon 4/207:20 am
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop6h 39m
Delta
Deal found 1/21$288
This United 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 3/62:10 pm
SBA
-
ORD
1 stop7h 28m
United Airlines
Mon 3/92:45 pm
ORD
-
SBA
1 stop8h 28m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/20$289
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.
Fri 4/1712:15 pm
SBA
-
ORD
Nonstop4h 00m
United Airlines
Mon 4/208:45 am
ORD
-
SBA
Nonstop4h 30m
United Airlines
Deal found 1/21$290

Find 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 January 22, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

Expedia
3 stars

Round-trip from

$237
(Delta)

One-way from

$119
(Delta)

Popular in

November

Cheapest in

June

Average price

$296

Good round-trip deal

$348 or less

Good one-way deal

$273 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. 21% potential increase in price ($111 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($13 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in January 2026
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago (CHI).
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago (CHI).
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
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 January 22, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago that are best for you.

Fly from

Santa Barbara

Fly to

Chicago

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Sat 4/18

12:39 pm-9:35 pm

1 stop6h 56m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 4/21

12:45 pm-9:55 pm

2 stops11h 10m

$242

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Mon 3/9

2:38 pm-2:13 pm

1 stop21h 35m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 3/11

2:07 pm-7:51 pm

1 stop7h 44m

$263

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 4/15

12:39 pm-9:35 pm

1 stop6h 56m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/20

7:20 am-11:59 am

1 stop6h 39m

$263

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Fri 3/6

12:40 pm-9:52 pm

1 stop7h 12m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 3/10

7:20 am-12:00 pm

1 stop6h 40m

$263

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Thu 6/11

12:15 pm-6:35 pm

Nonstop4h 20m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 6/16

4:17 pm-10:18 pm

1 stop8h 01m

$279

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Sat 4/18

12:39 pm-9:35 pm

1 stop6h 56m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/20

7:20 am-11:59 am

1 stop6h 39m

$288

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 6/10

4:00 pm-11:57 pm

1 stop5h 57m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Tue 6/16

4:17 pm-10:18 pm

1 stop8h 01m

$289

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Fri 3/6

2:10 pm-11:38 pm

1 stop7h 28m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 3/9

2:45 pm-9:13 pm

1 stop8h 28m

$289

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Thu 4/9

8:31 pm-5:27 am

1 stop6h 56m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 4/12

7:00 am-1:39 pm

1 stop8h 39m

$289

Santa BarbaraChicago

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 4/15

6:30 am-4:48 pm

1 stop8h 18m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Mon 4/20

8:03 pm-12:36 am

1 stop6h 33m

$289

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 1/20

Showing 1-10 of 20 results
1
2

Compare providers for flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago

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 Santa Barbara to Chicago in January.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star

*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 Santa Barbara-Chicago flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on Santa Barbara-Chicago flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% 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.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago

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

Currently, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago (average of $77). Flying from Santa Barbara to Chicago in October is currently the most expensive (average of $147). 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 January 22, 2026.

When flying from Santa Barbara to Chicago, the time of day you decide to fly out makes little to no difference towards the overall price you’ll pay on tickets.

Weekly flight availability from Santa Barbara to Chicago

Explore weekly flight availability from Santa Barbara to Chicago. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated January 22, 2026.

The most flights from SBA to CHI are scheduled on a Thursday (2 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Monday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (1 on average).

What’s the top layover airport for flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

Share of 1-stop round-trip flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, using the same layover each way.

Las Vegas (LAS) – chosen by Cheapflights users on 75% of 1-stop itineraries from Santa Barbara to Chicago on Cheapflights.

What’s the cheapest layover airport for flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

Average round-trip fare for 1-stop flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago, chosen by Cheapflights users in the past 12 months, with the same layover each way.

Los Angeles (LAX) is the most affordable 1-stop option, with an average round-trip price of $765.

What’s the fastest layover option from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

Shortest average travel time for 1-stop one-way flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago, based on itineraries clicked by Cheapflights users over the past 12 months, grouped by layover airport.

Flights via Las Vegas (LAS) have the shortest average one-way travel time for 1-stop routes: 6h 05m.

Which airport typically offers the quickest layover for flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

Average layover duration for 1-stop one-way flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago, chosen by Cheapflights users in the last 12 months, grouped by stopover airport.

Flights via Las Vegas (LAS) offer the fastest connection on this route, with an average layover time of 1h 08m.

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 January 22, 2026.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Southwest, Delta, and United Airlines from Santa Barbara to Chicago. Users can see the overall rating for each airline as well as how each is rated in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
Delta
7.9
Good
8,087 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,190 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.
American Airlines
7.2
Good
11,174 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,267 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

William Drew,Nov 2025

SJC - HNL

Flight crew was amazing! Usually they're very good on Southwest, but this crew went above and beyond. I have never ever seen so many rounds of drink service on a flight before.

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 is 1 flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago per day from 4 different airlines.

  • How long is the flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

    A quick flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago can take about 6h 56m. Delta provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $242. The distance from Santa Barbara to Chicago is about 1798 mi. When browsing for deals, the options you’ll see will be for both nonstop flights and flights with stops.

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

    Flying on Southwest is currently your cheapest option to Chicago, with prices starting at $218. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by Delta and United Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $250 and $299, respectively. You may be able to fly from Santa Barbara to Chicago for 47% less than the average price by searching for these airlines.

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

    On average you can expect to pay $386 for a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago. The cheapest flight overall is $174 while the most popular route, (Santa Barbara - Chicago O'Hare Intl) is currently priced at $263.

  • 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, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago (average of $77). Flying from Santa Barbara to Chicago in October is currently the most expensive (average of $147). 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
Lansing
Merrillville
Hammond
Porter
Benton Harbor

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Alternative routes for Santa Barbara to Chicago

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
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Top 4 airlines flying from Santa Barbara to Chicago

Discover the top 4 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 January 22, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
SouthwestCheapest$218Average$511FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
DeltaCheapest$250Average$356FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$299Average$460FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
American AirlinesCheapest$344Average$526FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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