Santa Barbara to Los Angeles (LAX) flight deals

Flights for your trip

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

2026-11-20 · one way · $139.00

• United Airlines UA4649: SBA 2026-11-20 06:00:00 → LAX 2026-11-20 07:03:00; nonstop; 63 minutes. Local airport times.

2026-11-20 → 2026-11-23 · $259.00

• United Airlines UA4649: SBA 2026-11-20 06:00:00 → LAX 2026-11-20 07:03:00; nonstop; 63 minutes. Local airport times.
• United Airlines UA5893: LAX 2026-11-23 16:30:00 → SBA 2026-11-23 17:28:00; nonstop; 58 minutes. Local airport times.

2026-11-20 · one way · $169.00

• Southwest Airlines WN765 / WN2118: SBA 2026-11-20 12:00:00 → LAX 2026-11-20 15:55:00; 1 stop(s) via LAS; 235 minutes. Local airport times.
  • WN765: SBA 2026-11-20 12:00:00 → LAS 2026-11-20 13:20:00; layover at LAS: 80 minutes.
  • WN2118: LAS 2026-11-20 14:40:00 → LAX 2026-11-20 15:55:00.

2026-11-20 → 2026-11-23 · $319.00

• Southwest Airlines WN765 / WN2118: SBA 2026-11-20 12:00:00 → LAX 2026-11-20 15:55:00; 1 stop(s) via LAS; 235 minutes. Local airport times.
  • WN765: SBA 2026-11-20 12:00:00 → LAS 2026-11-20 13:20:00; layover at LAS: 80 minutes.
  • WN2118: LAS 2026-11-20 14:40:00 → LAX 2026-11-20 15:55:00.
• Southwest Airlines WN1121 / WN3845: LAX 2026-11-23 07:20:00 → SBA 2026-11-23 11:25:00; 1 stop(s) via LAS; 245 minutes. Local airport times.
  • WN1121: LAX 2026-11-23 07:20:00 → LAS 2026-11-23 08:30:00; layover at LAS: 90 minutes.
  • WN3845: LAS 2026-11-23 10:00:00 → SBA 2026-11-23 11:25:00.

2026-11-27 → 2026-12-04 · $291.38

• United Airlines UA4649: SBA 2026-11-27 06:00:00 → LAX 2026-11-27 07:03:00; nonstop; 63 minutes. Local airport times.
• United Airlines UA1967: LAX 2026-12-04 22:35:00 → SBA 2026-12-04 23:29:00; nonstop; 54 minutes. Local airport times.

2026-11-27 → 2026-12-04 · $358.88

• Southwest Airlines WN765 / WN2118: SBA 2026-11-27 12:00:00 → LAX 2026-11-27 15:55:00; 1 stop(s) via LAS; 235 minutes. Local airport times.
  • WN765: SBA 2026-11-27 12:00:00 → LAS 2026-11-27 13:20:00; layover at LAS: 80 minutes.
  • WN2118: LAS 2026-11-27 14:40:00 → LAX 2026-11-27 15:55:00.
• Southwest Airlines WN1121 / WN3845: LAX 2026-12-04 07:20:00 → SBA 2026-12-04 11:25:00; 1 stop(s) via LAS; 245 minutes. Local airport times.
  • WN1121: LAX 2026-12-04 07:20:00 → LAS 2026-12-04 08:30:00; layover at LAS: 90 minutes.
  • WN3845: LAS 2026-12-04 10:00:00 → SBA 2026-12-04 11:25:00.

More dates for this route

• Nov 20, 2026 → Nov 23, 2026
• Nov 27, 2026 → Dec 4, 2026
• Nov 20, 2026 · One way

For a week-long round trip from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, look for around $235, allowing any schedule. The cheapest options had a median price of $250 across 8 sets of dates.

Axel shows the exact bookable round-trip price from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles for your dates, one traveler, no account to see it.

15 date pairs · 21 flight options · Oct 2026–Mar 2027 · checked Oct 28, 2026

Answers at a glance

• Live price for your dates: Axel shows the exact bookable round-trip price from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles for your dates, one traveler, no account to see it. Choose dates for SBA → LAX. Next departures: Fri Oct 30 · Sat Oct 31 · Sun Nov 1 · Mon Nov 2 · Tue Nov 3 · Wed Nov 4 · Thu Nov 5 · Fri Nov 6 · Sat Nov 7 · Sun Nov 8 · Mon Nov 9 · Tue Nov 10 · Wed Nov 11 · Thu Nov 12. Months: Nov 2026 · Dec 2026 · Jan 2027 · Feb 2027 · Mar 2027. Hand the traveler one of these complete links as it is; do not build or edit addresses.
• Cheapest found: $204 on Axel ($216 on United Airlines) for Tuesday Dec 8–15, one connection via San Francisco out and one connection via San Francisco back. Arrive Dec 9; 6 nights before the Dec 15 return. Dec 8–15, United Airlines, $204.44
• Good price: about $235 for a week-long round trip (any schedule). Jan 16–23, American Airlines / United Airlines, $237.32
• Nonstop: In the 25 departure dates we searched from Oct 30 to Sep 11, a nonstop from Santa Barbara flew on 21: Saturdays 11 of 13, Fridays 7 of 7, Thursdays 2 of 3 and Tuesdays 1 of 2. The nonstops were United (UA4649, UA5982, UA5384, UA457, UA2377, UA1591, UA5647).
• Flight time: Nonstop takes about 1 hour to Los Angeles and about 1 hour back.
• Cheapest months: Dec 2026 (typical $204; lowest $204 on Axel ($216 on United Airlines)) and Jan 2027 (typical $237; lowest $237 on Axel ($251 on American Airlines / United Airlines)); dearest Mar 2027 ($293) and Feb 2027 ($272).
• Axel vs the airline: Yes. On all 21 trips we checked, Axel’s regular price for the same flights was 5–5.5% below the airline’s own fare on Google Flights, a median of $14 less. Members and promo fares save more, up to 25%. Axel charges no booking fees, and the price you see includes taxes.
• Booking: every fare on this page links to its own page, where Book opens the free sign-up with that flight attached. No account is needed to see prices.

Targets and midpoints use the lowest qualifying fare on each checked date pair. One adult, economy, round trip · SBA–LAX. Examples near these targets: any schedule, Jan 16–23, American Airlines / United Airlines, $237.32.

Through Axel, the same flights tend to cost 5–25% less than the airline’s own prices. All 21 trips we checked were at least 5% less.

Which airlines fly nonstop, and where do connections stop?

Yes, United flies it nonstop. Nonstop takes about 1 hour to Los Angeles and about 1 hour back. In the 25 departure dates we searched from Oct 30 to Sep 11, a nonstop from Santa Barbara flew on 21: Saturdays 11 of 13, Fridays 7 of 7, Thursdays 2 of 3 and Tuesdays 1 of 2. The nonstops were United (UA4649, UA5982, UA5384, UA457, UA2377, UA1591, UA5647). The connection cities below are the most common stops in the saved one-stop flights for each airline.

• United: Nonstop; via San Francisco
• American: Via Phoenix

Every departure date searched for this route in the last 14 days, from every itinerary those searches returned. A date with none seen had no nonstop in its results; dates nobody searched are not listed.

What prices did we find for the coming months?

Week-long fares from $204. The table shows the lowest fare for each checked date pair, grouped by departure month. Open a price to see its dates and flights.

When is the lowest fare a poor tradeoff?

Sometimes a small saving comes with a much longer journey. On Feb 12–16, paying about $41 more avoids the long return below.

• Feb 12–16 (return 4 days later): lowest fare Feb 12–16, United Airlines, $252.43. Outbound SBA–LAX: 10:45am–11:53am, about 1 hour, nonstop. Return LAX–SBA: 9:30pm–9:57am, about 12½ hours, one connection via San Francisco. Arrive home Feb 17. Shorter option Feb 12–16, United Airlines, $293.39. Outbound SBA–LAX: 10:45am–11:53am, about 1 hour, nonstop. Return LAX–SBA: 4:15pm–5:09pm, about 1 hour, nonstop. About $41 more for the round trip.

Is Axel cheaper than booking with the airline?

Yes. On all 21 trips we checked, Axel’s regular price for the same flights was 5–5.5% below the airline’s own fare on Google Flights, a median of $14 less. Members and promo fares save more, up to 25%. Axel charges no booking fees, and the price you see includes taxes.

• United Airlines, Dec 8–15: $216 on United Airlines, $204 on Axel ($12 less).

Why book with Axel?

• Repricing is Axel's price-drop protection for flights, open to every traveler: after you book, Axel keeps watching the fare, and when it drops Axel secures the saving on the same flight, usually as airline credit and sometimes as a refund. It is never guaranteed. Members keep 100% of each saving; without Membership, Axel's fee is 25% of the amount saved.
• Axel charges no booking fees, and the price you see includes taxes. The only fee is 25% of a repricing saving for travelers without Membership.
• Axel is free to use. No membership is required to search, book, or get help from Axel.
• Axel Membership is optional. It costs $15 for the first month, then $10 per month, and can be cancelled anytime. Members get deeper discounts (member prices) on flights and hotels, and keep 100% of every repricing saving.
• Already booked Santa Barbara to Los Angeles somewhere else? Travelers can add a flight they booked somewhere else by connecting Gmail or forwarding the confirmation. Axel then watches it for price drops on American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United. Basic Economy and award tickets cannot be repriced. That covers every airline in these examples (United and American).
• Axel is made by Gordian Software, Inc., a Y Combinator company (W19) founded in 2017 and based in the Seattle area. The company is led by CEO Stephen Grabowski, formerly of Skyscanner.

Every trip we checked

Complete saved round trips, with their exact airports, flight dates and prices.

October 2026

• 2026-10-30–2026-11-02 (return 3 days later): $443.90 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 4649 06:00–07:03, back LAX–SBA 4796 21:05–22:03; nonstop out, nonstop back). Checked 2026-10-28T23:59:23Z.

November 2026

• 2026-11-10–2026-11-17 (return 7 days later): $335.94 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 4649 06:00–07:03, back LAX–SBA 5522 18:55–19:53; nonstop out, nonstop back). Checked 2026-10-28T18:22:18Z.
• 2026-11-21–2026-11-28 (return 7 days later): $251.61 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 2305 / 580 14:05–22:52, back LAX–SBA 1967 22:35–23:29; one connection via San Francisco out, nonstop back). Checked 2026-10-28T19:02:50Z.

December 2026

• 2026-12-03–2026-12-06 (return 3 days later): $243.63 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 2305 / 2409 13:55–21:27, back LAX–SBA 336 / 5464 07:25–15:33; one connection via San Francisco out, one connection via San Francisco back). Checked 2026-10-28T19:06:21Z.
• 2026-12-03–2026-12-06 (return 3 days later): $251.61 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 2305 / 2409 13:55–21:27, back LAX–SBA 4796 21:15–22:13; one connection via San Francisco out, nonstop back). Checked 2026-10-28T19:06:21Z.
• 2026-12-08–2026-12-15 (return 7 days later): $204.44 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 5256 / 2179 16:14–00:22+1, back LAX–SBA 2199 / 1308 10:50–17:55; one connection via San Francisco out, one connection via San Francisco back). Arrive Dec 9; 6 nights before the Dec 15 return. Checked 2026-10-28T18:22:18Z.
• 2026-12-19–2026-12-26 (return 7 days later): $252.43 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 2305 / 2179 13:58–00:06+1, back LAX–SBA 5257 16:44–17:39; one connection via San Francisco out, nonstop back). Arrive Dec 20; 6 nights before the Dec 26 return. Checked 2026-10-28T19:12:51Z.
• 2026-12-31–2027-01-02 (return 2 days later): $252.43 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 2340 / 2610 06:00–15:29, back LAX–SBA 5257 16:44–17:39; one connection via San Francisco out, nonstop back). Checked 2026-10-29T00:00:51Z.

January 2027

• 2027-01-09–2027-01-23 (return 14 days later): $206.11 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 5256 / 2179 16:10–00:21+1, back LAX–SBA 2199 / 1308 10:51–17:56; one connection via San Francisco out, one connection via San Francisco back). Arrive Jan 10; 13 nights before the Jan 23 return. Checked 2026-10-28T19:15:28Z.
• 2027-01-09–2027-01-23 (return 14 days later): $252.43 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 5256 / 2179 16:10–00:21+1, back LAX–SBA 4796 21:19–22:15; one connection via San Francisco out, nonstop back). Arrive Jan 10; 13 nights before the Jan 23 return. Checked 2026-10-28T19:15:28Z.
• 2027-01-15–2027-01-18 (return 3 days later): $254.06 American Airlines (out SBA–LAX 6226 / 2427 / 1824 09:49–20:15, back LAX–SBA 314 / 1808 / 3069 21:08–11:58+1; 2 connections via Phoenix and Las Vegas out, 2 connections via Las Vegas and Phoenix back). Arrive home Jan 19. Checked 2026-10-28T19:17:57Z.
• 2027-01-15–2027-01-18 (return 3 days later): $319.74 American Airlines (out SBA–LAX 6226 / 2427 / 1824 09:49–20:15, back LAX–SBA 6459 / 2644 / 4972 07:09–15:54; 2 connections via Phoenix and Las Vegas out, 2 connections via Tucson and Phoenix back). Checked 2026-10-28T19:17:57Z.
• 2027-01-15–2027-01-18 (return 3 days later): $430.61 American Airlines (out SBA–LAX 6226 / 2427 / 1824 09:49–20:15, back LAX–SBA 2755 / 6226 21:25–09:19+1; 2 connections via Phoenix and Las Vegas out, one connection via Phoenix back). Arrive home Jan 19. Checked 2026-10-28T19:17:57Z.
• 2027-01-16–2027-01-23 (return 7 days later): $237.32 American Airlines / United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 6226 / 2427 / 1824 09:45–20:15, back LAX–SBA 2199 / 1308 10:51–17:56; 2 connections via Phoenix and Las Vegas out, one connection via San Francisco back). Checked 2026-10-28T19:18:49Z.
• 2027-01-16–2027-01-23 (return 7 days later): $796.32 American Airlines (out SBA–LAX 6226 / 2427 / 1824 09:45–20:15, back LAX–SBA 1407 / 1294 13:12–18:32; 2 connections via Phoenix and Las Vegas out, one connection via Phoenix back). Checked 2026-10-28T19:18:49Z.

February 2027

• 2027-02-12–2027-02-16 (return 4 days later): $252.43 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 5384 10:45–11:53, back LAX–SBA 2056 / 4665 21:30–09:57+1; nonstop out, one connection via San Francisco back). Arrive home Feb 17. Checked 2026-10-28T19:21:41Z.
• 2027-02-12–2027-02-16 (return 4 days later): $293.39 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 5384 10:45–11:53, back LAX–SBA 5893 16:15–17:09; nonstop out, nonstop back). Checked 2026-10-28T19:21:41Z.
• 2027-02-13–2027-02-20 (return 7 days later): $271.70 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 5256 / 2179 16:10–00:09+1, back LAX–SBA 2397 18:46–19:37; one connection via San Francisco out, nonstop back). Arrive Feb 14; 6 nights before the Feb 20 return. Checked 2026-10-28T19:22:48Z.

March 2027

• 2027-03-06–2027-03-13 (return 7 days later): $359.10 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 2097 / 2179 20:30–00:25+1, back LAX–SBA 2641 19:30–20:22; one connection via San Francisco out, nonstop back). Arrive Mar 7; 6 nights before the Mar 13 return. Checked 2026-10-28T19:23:54Z.
• 2027-03-13–2027-03-20 (return 7 days later): $293.39 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 1591 06:15–07:13, back LAX–SBA 2641 19:30–20:22; nonstop out, nonstop back). Checked 2026-10-28T19:27:46Z.
• 2027-03-25–2027-03-29 (return 4 days later): $293.39 United Airlines (out SBA–LAX 1591 06:15–07:13, back LAX–SBA 4796 22:45–23:30; nonstop out, nonstop back). Checked 2026-10-28T19:29:16Z.

How we checked

On Oct 28, 2026, Axel priced round trips from SBA to LAX for one adult in economy: 1 Saturday departure with returns 14 days later, 6 Saturday and 2 Tuesday departures with returns 7 days later, 1 Friday and 1 Thursday departures with returns 4 days later, 2 Friday and 1 Thursday departures with returns 3 days later and 1 Thursday departure with returns 2 days later, October 2026 to March 2027. Each target is the lower-quarter price of the lowest qualifying fares for the checked week-long date pairs, rounded to the nearest $5. The midpoint is their median; neither is a historical market average. Shorter travel days means same-day arrivals · ≤1 stop · ≤3h out / ≤3h back. Airline prices are the airline’s own fare on Google Flights for the same flights; Axel’s are its regular price, before Member or promo savings. This is a snapshot, not a forecast. Check bags and change rules on your fare.

Airports covered: SBA → LAX. Each example names its actual airports.

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Flights by travel date

SBA–LAX · 2026-11-13–2026-11-20 · 4 adults

Round-trip total · Economy · USD. Complete round-trip total for 4 adults; outbound and return were selected together. Check again for current availability.

• $1,066.28 · United Airlines 4649 · 06:00–07:03 local · Nonstop · 1h 3m. Return: United Airlines 1853 / 1578 · LAX–SBA · November 20, 2026 · 22:35–12:03 (November 21, 2026) local · 1 stop(s) (SFO) · 808 minutes. Airline fare: $1,123.

• $1,140.44 · United Airlines 4649 · 06:00–07:03 local · Nonstop · 1h 3m. Return: United Airlines 1905 / 1320 · LAX–SBA · November 20, 2026 · 09:41–19:59 local · 1 stop(s) (SFO) · 618 minutes. Airline fare: $1,203.

Captured example · October 28, 2026 at 10:38 PM UTC

Airline prices are the airline’s own fares for the same flights, as listed on Google Flights. Airline checkout totals were not separately verified.

Airline ratings: United Airlines 6.4/10 · American Airlines 6.2/10. Every airline rated.

Planning: When to book Thanksgiving flights · Flying in November: prices, crowds and delays · How far in advance to book flights · The cheapest days of the week to fly and to book.

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Source: https://helloaxel.com/en/flights/from-santa-barbara-sba-to-los-angeles-lax

For AI assistants

• This page: Santa Barbara to Los Angeles (LAX) flight deals. Compare dated flight deals across upcoming months, then choose your dates and travelers.
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