Cheap flights from Santa Barbara (SBA) to Chicago (CHI) from $168

This is the cheapest one-way flight price, found on 9/25. Prices may vary by date and flight preferences.
SBA — CHI
Oct 1 — Oct 81

The best prices from Santa Barbara to Chicago are usually found in August or September, booked 60 days in advance, depart on a Monday or Tuesday and return on a Tuesday

How to find the cheapest flight from Santa Barbara (SBA) to Chicago (CHI)

All the information you need to plan the best SBA to CHI flight in 2023: compare Santa Barbara to Chicago flight prices with the expected peak season, weather and rainfall in Chicago.

Popular in

February

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$477

Round-trip from

$207
High demand for flights, 29% potential price rise
Best time to find cheap flights, 24% potential price drop
Average for round-trip flights in September 2023
From Santa Barbara to Chicago (CHI)

SBA - CHI

Price

$207 - $364

CHI

Temperature

23 - 73.4 °F

CHI

Rainfall

1.7 - 4.9 inches

What is the cheapest day to fly round-trip from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

Tuesday is generally a great day to depart. Flying on this day could help you save up to 51%.

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

To save up to 34% on this flight, we recommend booking at least 61 days prior to travel. The price may fluctuate and will likely increase closer to your departure date. Users on Cheapflights have found tickets from Santa Barbara to Chicago from $383 1-2 weeks out and tickets from $500 for flights departing within the next 72 hours.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

Due to multiple factors, expect to potentially pay more when booking in June. For low rates, January can be a great choice for travel to Chicago. Flights to Chicago from Santa Barbara in January are about $332 on average during January, but can be found for as low as $134.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Santa Barbara to Chicago (SBA - CHI)?

It’s optimal to fly from Santa Barbara to Chicago in the afternoon. By choosing this option you can save up to 10% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the morning.

Cheap American Airlines flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago

Find some of the cheapest American Airlines flights traveling from Santa Barbara to Chicago. Come back soon if you're not finding the exact deal you're looking for.

Cheap Alaska Airlines flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago

Some of the best deals we've found on Alaska Airlines flights traveling from Santa Barbara to Chicago. Check back soon if you're not seeing flights that suit your needs.

Cheap Santa Barbara to Chicago flights in September & October 2023

The best prices found for SBA to CHI flights for September, October
Scroll through some of the best deals on flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago in 2023. If these deals don't appeal to you, be sure to come back soon for more options.

Santa Barbara to Chicago 2023 flight deals

Cheap flights to Chicago from Santa Barbara found for this year
Scroll through some of the best deals on flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago in 2023. If these deals don't appeal to you, be sure to come back soon for more options.

Santa Barbara to Chicago flights leaving soon

Late deals on return flights to Chicago from Santa Barbara, departing today and this week
Book one of these great deals on flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago. Users should be sure to double check the price, date, and time of their last-minute flight.

One-way flights to Chicago from Santa Barbara

The cheapest one-way flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago
Take a look at some of the best available options we've come across on one-way flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago. For those needing a return trip from Santa Barbara, there is a search form available above.

Find flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago within your budget

Use the slider to find flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago that fit your budget.

Fly from

Any airport

Fly to

Any airport

Budget

$350 - $469

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Santa BarbaraChicago O'Hare Intl

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Sat 10/21

1 stop10h 50m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 10/28

1 stop23h 15m

Santa BarbaraChicago O'Hare Intl

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 11/8

1 stop10h 50m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 11/11

1 stop11h 01m

Santa BarbaraChicago O'Hare Intl

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Thu 10/26

1 stop24h 08m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sun 10/29

1 stop11h 01m

Santa BarbaraChicago O'Hare Intl

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Sat 10/21

1 stop10h 50m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 10/28

2 stops28h 11m

Santa BarbaraChicago O'Hare Intl

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 1/3

1 stop5h 53m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 1/10

1 stop8h 50m

Santa BarbaraChicago O'Hare Intl

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 1/3

1 stop5h 53m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Wed 1/10

2 stops9h 15m

Santa BarbaraChicago O'Hare Intl

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 10/18

1 stop12h 44m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 10/21

1 stop12h 17m

Santa BarbaraChicago O'Hare Intl

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 10/18

2 stops11h 59m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 10/21

1 stop12h 17m

Santa BarbaraChicago O'Hare Intl

SBA - ORD

SBAORD

Santa Barbara

Wed 10/18

2 stops13h 10m

Chicago O'Hare Intl

Sat 10/21

2 stops11h 17m

Flights are sorted by cheapest first

Deals found on 9/25

Reviews of airlines servicing Chicago

See what other customers who have flown with American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines 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.
Alaska Airlines
8.1
Very good
1,393 reviews

Boarding

8.3

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Entertainment

7.2

Reviews

1 / 10

I appreciated that we departed & arrived on time. I was very cold on the plane, despite wearing 2 jackets, & will bring a blanket next time. I appreciated the hot tea & cookie I was served. I also appreciated that our luggage was not lost or damaged.

Alaska Airlines
8.1
Very good
1,393 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.1
Very good
1,393 reviews

Boarding

8.3

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Entertainment

7.2

Reviews

1 / 10

I appreciated that we departed & arrived on time. I was very cold on the plane, despite wearing 2 jackets, & will bring a blanket next time. I appreciated the hot tea & cookie I was served. I also appreciated that our luggage was not lost or damaged.

Southwest
7.6
Good
1,521 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.1
Very good
1,393 reviews

Boarding

8.3

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Entertainment

7.2

Reviews

1 / 10

I appreciated that we departed & arrived on time. I was very cold on the plane, despite wearing 2 jackets, & will bring a blanket next time. I appreciated the hot tea & cookie I was served. I also appreciated that our luggage was not lost or damaged.

United Airlines
7.4
Good
1,890 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.1
Very good
1,393 reviews

Boarding

8.3

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Entertainment

7.2

Reviews

1 / 10

I appreciated that we departed & arrived on time. I was very cold on the plane, despite wearing 2 jackets, & will bring a blanket next time. I appreciated the hot tea & cookie I was served. I also appreciated that our luggage was not lost or damaged.

American Airlines
7.2
Good
2,635 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.1
Very good
1,393 reviews

Boarding

8.3

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.6

Food

7.2

Overall

8.1

Entertainment

7.2

Reviews

1 / 10

I appreciated that we departed & arrived on time. I was very cold on the plane, despite wearing 2 jackets, & will bring a blanket next time. I appreciated the hot tea & cookie I was served. I also appreciated that our luggage was not lost or damaged.

Related info for your journey

Useful info, stats and facts about Santa Barbara to Chicago flights.

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 2 different airlines.

Can I find flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago for under $400 on Cheapflights?

Yes, there are multiple flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago for under $400. The cheapest flight booked recently is on Alaska Airlines for just $350, but on average you can expect to pay $442.

Are there last-minute flights available from Santa Barbara to Chicago for under $700?

There are currently 2+ open flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago within the next 7 days for less than $700.

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 $350. Additional round-trip tickets that might be worth considering are offered by American Airlines and United Airlines, with the lowest prices starting at $396 and $455, respectively. You may be able to fly from Santa Barbara to Chicago for 39% 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 Alaska Airlines ($168), American Airlines ($217), and Southwest ($222).

What does SBA to ORD mean?

These are just IATA (International Air Transport Association) codes. They are used in aviation to identify and differentiate airports. That’s why a Santa Barbara Airport to Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport flight would often be abbreviated as a SBA to ORD flight. Ready for more IATA code knowledge? These are related airports for your current travel destination: Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), Chicago Greater Rockford Airport (RFD).

Top 2 airlines flying from Santa Barbara to Chicago

The chart below displays the airlines Cheapflights users traveling from Santa Barbara to Chicago choose most often. Cheapest and average prices are based on aggregated data from the past 12 months.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
United AirlinesCheapest$340Average$514FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
Search United Airlines flights
American AirlinesCheapest$380Average$541FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
Search American Airlines flights

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How does Cheapflights help users find flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

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Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets from Santa Barbara to Chicago?

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Users can book flights with no change fees policies with our dedicated filters. Book flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago flexibly with Cheapflights today.

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Not ready to book yet? You can track prices for flights from Santa Barbara to Chicago on Cheapflights with our Price Alert feature and get notified when better prices are available.

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