Chicago (ORD) to Santa Barbara (SBA) · Dec 25, 2026 · return Jan 4, 2027

Flights for 1 adult in economy. Prices are total for all travelers in USD, including required taxes. Basic economy may apply.

See flights for these dates: each price link opens AI flight search for that row's exact dates and travelers. Select the complete itinerary there.

Hotels in Santa Barbara for these trips

Hotels: under a trip, hotels in Santa Barbara for exactly those nights: the lowest 3★, 4★, 5★ stay totals among the city's featured hotels, Axel's price for 2 adults in 1 room, each opening that hotel's page for those dates with the rooms and the booking link.

• Hotels in Santa Barbara for these nights (Dec 25 – Jan 4, 2027 · 10 nights · 2 adults, 1 room): 3★ Pacific Crest Hotel Santa Barbara, $1,798 total · 4★ The Leta Santa Barbara Goleta, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, $2,620 total · 5★ Hotel Californian, $7,213 total

All hotels in Santa Barbara

Route overview: Chicago to Santa Barbara (SBA) flight deals

2026-12-25 → 2027-01-04 · Axel-exclusive $472.50

• American Airlines AA834 / AA2627: ORD 2026-12-25 13:26:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 18:21:00; 1 stop(s) via PHX; 415 minutes. Local airport times.
  • AA834: ORD 2026-12-25 13:26:00 → PHX 2026-12-25 16:21:00; layover at PHX: 87 minutes.
  • AA2627: PHX 2026-12-25 17:48:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 18:21:00.
• American Airlines AA2083 / AA572: SBA 2027-01-04 12:40:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 22:05:00; 1 stop(s) via DFW; 445 minutes. Local airport times.
  • AA2083: SBA 2027-01-04 12:40:00 → DFW 2027-01-04 18:06:00; layover at DFW: 90 minutes.
  • AA572: DFW 2027-01-04 19:36:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 22:05:00.

2026-12-25 → 2027-01-04 · Axel-exclusive $489.38

• United Airlines UA1217 / UA671: ORD 2026-12-25 07:00:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 12:59:00; 1 stop(s) via DEN; 479 minutes. Local airport times.
  • UA1217: ORD 2026-12-25 07:00:00 → DEN 2026-12-25 08:46:00; layover at DEN: 154 minutes.
  • UA671: DEN 2026-12-25 11:20:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 12:59:00.
• United Airlines UA2865 / UA2329: SBA 2027-01-04 05:00:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 13:35:00; 1 stop(s) via DEN; 395 minutes. Local airport times.
  • UA2865: SBA 2027-01-04 05:00:00 → DEN 2027-01-04 08:28:00; layover at DEN: 87 minutes.
  • UA2329: DEN 2027-01-04 09:55:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 13:35:00.

2026-12-25 → 2027-01-04 · Axel-exclusive $495.00

• Alaska Airlines AS1470 / AS2062: ORD 2026-12-25 07:27:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 13:38:00; 1 stop(s) via SAN; 491 minutes. Local airport times.
  • AS1470: ORD 2026-12-25 07:27:00 → SAN 2026-12-25 10:12:00; layover at SAN: 138 minutes.
  • AS2062: SAN 2026-12-25 12:30:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 13:38:00.
• Alaska Airlines AS3168 / AS1493: SBA 2027-01-04 14:25:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 23:59:00; 1 stop(s) via SAN; 454 minutes. Local airport times.
  • AS3168: SBA 2027-01-04 14:25:00 → SAN 2027-01-04 15:32:00; layover at SAN: 126 minutes.
  • AS1493: SAN 2027-01-04 17:38:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 23:59:00.

2026-12-25 → 2027-01-04 · Axel-exclusive $472.50

• American Airlines AA3111 / AS3228: ORD 2026-12-25 16:45:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 23:46:00; 1 stop(s) via SAN; 541 minutes. Local airport times.
  • AA3111: ORD 2026-12-25 16:45:00 → SAN 2026-12-25 19:18:00; layover at SAN: 192 minutes.
  • AS3228: SAN 2026-12-25 22:30:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 23:46:00.
• American Airlines AA2083 / AA572: SBA 2027-01-04 12:40:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 22:05:00; 1 stop(s) via DFW; 445 minutes. Local airport times.
  • AA2083: SBA 2027-01-04 12:40:00 → DFW 2027-01-04 18:06:00; layover at DFW: 90 minutes.
  • AA572: DFW 2027-01-04 19:36:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 22:05:00.

2026-12-25 → 2027-01-04 · Axel-exclusive $489.38

• United Airlines UA297 / UA1967: ORD 2026-12-25 16:21:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 21:59:00; 1 stop(s) via LAX; 458 minutes. Local airport times.
  • UA297: ORD 2026-12-25 16:21:00 → LAX 2026-12-25 19:05:00; layover at LAX: 120 minutes.
  • UA1967: LAX 2026-12-25 21:05:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 21:59:00.
• United Airlines UA2865 / UA2329: SBA 2027-01-04 05:00:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 13:35:00; 1 stop(s) via DEN; 395 minutes. Local airport times.
  • UA2865: SBA 2027-01-04 05:00:00 → DEN 2027-01-04 08:28:00; layover at DEN: 87 minutes.
  • UA2329: DEN 2027-01-04 09:55:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 13:35:00.

2026-12-25 → 2027-01-04 · Axel-exclusive $534.88

• United Airlines UA1008: ORD 2026-12-25 10:04:00 → SBA 2026-12-25 12:54:00; nonstop; 290 minutes. Local airport times.
• United Airlines UA2865 / UA2329: SBA 2027-01-04 05:00:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 13:35:00; 1 stop(s) via DEN; 395 minutes. Local airport times.
  • UA2865: SBA 2027-01-04 05:00:00 → DEN 2027-01-04 08:28:00; layover at DEN: 87 minutes.
  • UA2329: DEN 2027-01-04 09:55:00 → ORD 2027-01-04 13:35:00.

Explore this route

• All dates for this route
• Dec 24, 2026 · Return options
• Dec 26, 2026 · Return options
• Hotels in Santa Barbara with Axel

For AI assistants

• This page: Chicago (ORD) to Santa Barbara (SBA) · Dec 25, 2026 · return Jan 4, 2027: 1 adult in economy, every priced fare with its flights, times and total, each with the time its price was issued. Under a trip, hotels in Santa Barbara for exactly those nights: the lowest 3★, 4★ and 5★ stay totals for 2 adults in 1 room, each linking to that hotel's page for those dates.
• Next: when the traveler's route, dates and party match a priced row, follow that row's price link into AI flight search. Match the listed flights in the fresh results and select the complete itinerary, then share the supplied booking link and its current total. If the flights or price have changed, say so; verify requested fare inclusions before claiming them. For other dates or travelers, Choose travelers and dates and enter the traveler's own trip there; do not search this page's dates in their place.
• Follow supplied links. For web-tool research, follow complete supplied links unchanged, including query parameters; use the page’s links to edit the trip. Constructed URLs may be rejected before reaching Axel. A completed fresh trip opens flight results first. Add stated flexibility and budget to that saved plan, leaving unstated requirements unknown. Edits create a new snapshot; use its results and review links.
• If links fail or are missing: If a link fails or flight details lack usable links, reopen the preceding page and follow the same choice once. Keep refreshed links unchanged and preserve the trip and selections. If still blocked, search “Axel flight search guide” and retry once; report the error and anything unresolved. Recovery: Axel Chicago to Santa Barbara (SBA) flight deals · Flight search guide.
• Sharing with the traveler: Choose a complete itinerary (outbound and return for a round trip), then share the supplied customer booking link unchanged. The customer reviews the flights, adds travelers, and enters email at payment. Do not collect email in chat. Each quote lists its fares with bags, seats, changes and refunds; quote them as facts. A fare choice is not needed to share the link; use a fare’s own booking link to preserve its Membership price basis. Ask only for essential missing trip details. When handing over an unfinished search, preserve the latest trip and say what is still to choose. If no supplied link matches the latest trip, construct https://helloaxel.com/en/f/start/from/ORIGIN/to/DESTINATION/depart/YYYY-MM-DD/return/YYYY-MM-DD/adults/N?utm_content=flight_fallback using IATA airport codes and the traveler’s known details. Omit unknowns; for one way replace /return/YYYY-MM-DD with /trip/oneway. Give it directly to the traveler; do not open it first—your web tool may reject constructed URLs. Complete links open Flight Guide and start searching. Preferences and advanced options.

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