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$49+ Cheap flights from San Francisco Bay Area 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 11/18. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — SBA
Nov 13 — Nov 201
Thu 11/13
Thu 11/20
1 adult, Economy
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Find flight deals from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara

Cheapest flights from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on October 14, 2025.

This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/13. 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.
Thu 12/43:40 pmOAK - SBA
Nonstop1h 10mSouthwest
Sat 12/611:05 amSBA - OAK
Nonstop1h 15mSouthwest
Deal found 10/13$134
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/14. 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 11/49:15 pmSFO - SBA
Nonstop1h 14mUnited Airlines
Thu 11/62:30 pmSBA - SFO
1 stop4h 17mUnited Airlines
Deal found 10/14$137
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/13. 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 11/43:40 pmOAK - SBA
Nonstop1h 10mSouthwest
Thu 11/62:15 pmSBA - OAK
Nonstop1h 25mSouthwest
Deal found 10/13$171
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/13. 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.
Mon 11/109:05 amSFO - SBA
1 stop4h 44mUnited Airlines
Wed 11/126:05 amSBA - SFO
Nonstop1h 12mUnited Airlines
Deal found 10/13$181
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/13. 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 11/47:30 amSFO - SBA
2 stops9h 20mSouthwest
Thu 11/610:40 amSBA - SFO
1 stop4h 25mSouthwest
Deal found 10/13$196
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/14. 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 11/115:45 pmSFO - SBA
1 stop5h 59mUnited Airlines
Tue 11/186:50 pmSBA - SFO
Nonstop1h 15mUnited Airlines
Deal found 10/14$197
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/13. 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.
Thu 12/43:40 pmOAK - SBA
Nonstop1h 10mSouthwest
Sun 12/72:15 pmSBA - OAK
Nonstop1h 25mSouthwest
Deal found 10/13$198
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/12. 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 11/89:15 pmSFO - SBA
Nonstop1h 21mUnited Airlines
Mon 11/102:09 pmSBA - SFO
Nonstop1h 07mUnited Airlines
Deal found 10/12$232
This Orbitz deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/14. 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 Orbitz is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 11/189:00 amSFO - SBA
2 stops10h 52mAlaska Airlines
Wed 11/197:23 amSBA - SFO
2 stops12h 50mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 10/14$233
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/13. 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 11/1310:38 pmSFO - SBA
Nonstop1h 21mUnited Airlines
Sun 11/166:00 amSBA - SFO
Nonstop1h 18mUnited Airlines
Deal found 10/13$235
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/13. 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 11/44:05 pmSJC - SBA
1 stop5h 00mSouthwest
Thu 11/63:35 pmSBA - SJC
1 stop3h 40mSouthwest
Deal found 10/13$265
This Alaska Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/14. 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.
Sat 12/66:18 amSJC - SBA
2 stops13h 30mAlaska Airlines
Sun 12/77:19 pmSBA - SJC
1 stop23h 36mAlaska Airlines
Deal found 10/14$267

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara

Keep the following information in mind while searching for San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara flight deals. Data was last updated October 14, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$134
(Southwest)

One-way from

$49
(United Airlines)

Popular in

April

Cheapest in

January

Average price

$143
Provider with most accurate pricing for San Francisco-Los Angeles flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for San Francisco-Los Angeles flights.
Search Deals
From San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara
Search Deals
One-way flight from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 7% potential increase in price ($12 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 0% potential price decrease ($2 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in October 2025
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from San Francisco Bay Area 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 October 14, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara that are best for you.

Fly from

San Francisco Bay Area

Fly to

Santa Barbara

Route

Depart

Return

Price

OaklandSanta Barbara

OAK - SBA

OAKSBA

Oakland

Thu 12/4

3:40 pm-4:50 pm

Nonstop1h 10m

Santa Barbara

Sat 12/6

11:05 am-12:20 pm

Nonstop1h 15m

$134

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Sat 12/6

4:35 pm-5:48 pm

Nonstop1h 13m

Santa Barbara

Tue 12/9

2:10 pm-3:17 pm

Nonstop1h 07m

$171

OaklandSanta Barbara

OAK - SBA

OAKSBA

Oakland

Tue 11/4

3:40 pm-4:50 pm

Nonstop1h 10m

Santa Barbara

Thu 11/6

2:15 pm-3:40 pm

Nonstop1h 25m

$171

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Sat 11/8

9:15 pm-10:36 pm

Nonstop1h 21m

Santa Barbara

Tue 11/11

6:05 am-7:17 am

Nonstop1h 12m

$171

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Thu 11/13

8:30 am-9:49 am

Nonstop1h 19m

Santa Barbara

Thu 11/13

2:30 pm-6:47 pm

1 stop4h 17m

$181

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Sat 12/6

5:00 am-12:50 pm

1 stop7h 50m

Santa Barbara

Tue 12/9

5:50 am-10:10 am

1 stop4h 20m

$196

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Sat 11/8

12:40 pm-7:15 pm

1 stop6h 35m

Santa Barbara

Tue 11/11

5:50 am-10:10 am

1 stop4h 20m

$221

OaklandSanta Barbara

OAK - SBA

OAKSBA

Oakland

Thu 12/4

7:00 am-2:20 pm

1 stop7h 20m

Santa Barbara

Sun 12/7

10:40 am-7:55 pm

2 stops9h 15m

$229

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Sat 11/8

9:15 pm-10:36 pm

Nonstop1h 21m

Santa Barbara

Mon 11/10

6:50 pm-8:05 pm

Nonstop1h 15m

$231

San FranciscoSanta Barbara

SFO - SBA

SFOSBA

San Francisco

Sat 1/3

8:40 am-10:05 am

Nonstop1h 25m

Santa Barbara

Tue 1/6

2:17 pm-3:35 pm

Nonstop1h 18m

$235

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 10/14

Showing 1-10 of 60 results
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Best time to book a flight from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Santa Barbara from San Francisco Bay Area 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 San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara?

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara (average of $32). Flying from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara in July is currently the most expensive (average of $78). 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 XIH to SBA?

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco Bay Area 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 October 14, 2025.

It’s optimal to fly from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara at noon. By choosing this option you can save up to 35% on the cost of your flight, compared to a flight in the afternoon.

What is the cheapest day to fly from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara. Price data was last updated on December 16, 2024.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara flight should consider departing on Tuesday at noon when fares are most often at their lowest. Tuesday evenings flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara

Explore weekly flight availability from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara. 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 October 14, 2025.

The most flights from zzXIH to SBA are scheduled on a Monday (15 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Saturday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (4 on average).

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 October 14, 2025.
Peruse reviews from past customers who have flown with Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and United Airlines from San Francisco Bay Area 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.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,074 reviews

Crew

8.5

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Hannah,Aug 2025

SFO - SAN

Ticket said TSA pre check, but then the TSA agent said that Alaska Airlines has not actually entered the pre check information for the ticket, so I had to use regular security. During boarding, I have a disability and need to board early. The Alaska Airlines employee announced disability boarding, but then immediately announced 2 other groups to board, so I still had to fight the crowds. On the plane, the stewardess was brusk and rude. Seats were very uncomfortable, especially on lower back.
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,074 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,074 reviews

Crew

8.5

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Hannah,Aug 2025

SFO - SAN

Ticket said TSA pre check, but then the TSA agent said that Alaska Airlines has not actually entered the pre check information for the ticket, so I had to use regular security. During boarding, I have a disability and need to board early. The Alaska Airlines employee announced disability boarding, but then immediately announced 2 other groups to board, so I still had to fight the crowds. On the plane, the stewardess was brusk and rude. Seats were very uncomfortable, especially on lower back.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,235 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,074 reviews

Crew

8.5

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Hannah,Aug 2025

SFO - SAN

Ticket said TSA pre check, but then the TSA agent said that Alaska Airlines has not actually entered the pre check information for the ticket, so I had to use regular security. During boarding, I have a disability and need to board early. The Alaska Airlines employee announced disability boarding, but then immediately announced 2 other groups to board, so I still had to fight the crowds. On the plane, the stewardess was brusk and rude. Seats were very uncomfortable, especially on lower back.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,975 reviews
Alaska Airlines
8.0
Very good
11,074 reviews

Crew

8.5

Comfort

7.8

Entertainment

7.0

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Hannah,Aug 2025

SFO - SAN

Ticket said TSA pre check, but then the TSA agent said that Alaska Airlines has not actually entered the pre check information for the ticket, so I had to use regular security. During boarding, I have a disability and need to board early. The Alaska Airlines employee announced disability boarding, but then immediately announced 2 other groups to board, so I still had to fight the crowds. On the plane, the stewardess was brusk and rude. Seats were very uncomfortable, especially on lower back.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San Francisco Bay Area 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 San Francisco Bay Area?

    Santa Barbara (SBA) is the airport you will fly into if you book a flight from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara. It is only a 8.0 mi journey from Santa Barbara (SBA) to Santa Barbara’s city center.

  • How popular is this San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara flight route?

    Within the past month, 4 users have taken a look at flights from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara.

  • How long is the flight from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara?

    For as low as $134, Southwest can have you in Santa Barbara from San Francisco Bay Area in 1h 10m. The distance from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara is about 263 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara one-way?

    For one-way options, check prices for United Airlines. According to our data, you can fly for as low as $49. Users have also found prices from $59 and $122 on Southwest and Alaska Airlines, respectively.

  • What are the most popular routes from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara?

    Most travelers choose San Francisco - Santa Barbara, San Jose - Santa Barbara or Oakland - Santa Barbara when deciding on the best route from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara?

    Consider SkyWest Airlines (91%), Lufthansa (88%) or United Airlines (87%) when booking your flight. These represent the most reliable airlines when flying from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara.

  • What are the cheapest flights from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara? While on average our users pay $429, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $48. The most popular route (San Francisco - Santa Barbara), is priced around $171.

  • Can I find deals for flights from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara that include hotel bookings?

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

  • How can I find direct flights from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara?

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

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco Bay Area 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 San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara (average of $32). Flying from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara in July is currently the most expensive (average of $78). 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
Buellton
Santa Ynez

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Alternative routes for San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
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Top 3 airlines flying from San Francisco Bay Area to Santa Barbara

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from San Francisco Bay Area 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 October 14, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
United AirlinesCheapest$114Average$383FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
SouthwestCheapest$134Average$395FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
Alaska AirlinesCheapest$311Average$425FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%

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