Sun Country Airlines is a Minneapolis-based hybrid low-cost air carrier specializing in warm-weather getaways. They operate about 120 routes serving nearly 100 airports throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, the US and Canada, with a strong focus on seasonal beach destinations in Florida, plus places like Punta Cana and Cancun.
The airline constantly refines its route roster as destinations gain popularity, recently adding Oakland, Montreal and Missoula.
Where they shine is their easy-to-use app. It offers simple, no-fuss check-in and mobile boarding passes. For me, this gives Sun Country a big advantage over other low-cost airlines.
Fares and bundles
Sun Country operates on an unbundled pricing model where you pay for most add-ons, from early boarding to extra bags. When booking, you can build your ticket a la carte and select trip options yourself, or choose between two bundles: Standard or Best. Both approaches give you control over what you’re paying for.
Both will save you money if you combine your seat assignment, bag selections and other extras when you book. The Standard bundle includes a Standard seat, one under-seat item, either an overhead or a checked bag (not both) and priority check-in plus boarding.
The Best bundle offers access to all seat options (Standard, Exit and Best), an under-seat item, an overhead bag, a checked bag, no change fees, priority check-in and boarding, 4x Sun Country Rewards points, plus express check-out.
Baggage policies
As with many airlines today, Sun Country often has costs associated with baggage. But it’s worth noting that this airline also has restrictions when it comes to baggage sizes: under-seat bags need to be able to fit under the seat in front of you, overhead bags can’t exceed 24 x 16 x 11 inches (including wheels and handles), and checked bags have a 50 lb weight limit.
Despite this, I’ve found they’re not as strict about these rules as some other low-cost airlines, and their fees for checked luggage are reasonable. They also have a standard fee for special sports equipment. Heads up, these prices are higher at the airport, so I recommend adding any extra bags or equipment to your booking online ahead of time.
Seats and legroom
Although this is a low-cost airline, Sun Country offers three different seat sections: Standard, Exit Row, and Best.
As you’d expect, Standard is the most basic option. That being said, even these seats come with USB ports and free entertainment you can stream on your own device (though not all flights have this), and the seats recline. Exit Row seats have the same perks, plus nine inches of additional legroom.
Best seats, meanwhile, get you one complimentary premium beverage, extra legroom, a standard AC power outlet, USB charging, and free entertainment. They also come with preferred boarding and additional recline.
On some aircraft, you’ll find three seats up front with the middle seat left empty for more space. On newer Sun Country planes, the better seats are still at the front, with just two single seats next to each other.
The last time I flew with Sun Country, I really appreciated that my Best seat had 34 inches of legroom, a movable headrest, and an extra three inches of recline.
Priority check-in
Sun Country offers priority check-in and boarding on most of their flights for a variable cost per traveler, per direction. If you’re booking a few tickets at once, they require it for everyone in the same party. Over the years I’ve traveled with friends who don’t want to spend extra on perks, and on Sun Country that means making a separate booking.
Boarding process
Sun Country’s boarding process is simple: anyone needing extra time or those traveling with young children board first. Next up are active military members.
Then it moves to Zone 1 for people who paid to board first, followed by those with Best seats and other passengers based on their zone assignments.
In my experience, Sun Country isn’t as strict with these boarding groups as many other airlines. This means you can sometimes get away with boarding a zone or two early, even if you haven’t paid for priority.
Entertainment onboard
Sun Country’s AirFi wireless network doesn’t provide internet access. Instead, the secure network on most planes gives you access to their entertainment library, including TV shows, games, movies and music, which you stream on your own device. They also sell headphones; in case you’ve forgotten your own. For me, this is perfect for a short flight to somewhere sunny, but not for when I need to work online.
Beverages and snacks
Sun Country offers some complimentary drinks onboard, including water, coffee, juice, tea, and sodas. You can also buy other drinks like beer, wine, or liquor, as well as a range of snacks and snack boxes. Note they don’t accept cash, just debit or credit cards.
Sun Country has partnered with several Minnesota-based companies to add some local flair to their menu. You can find Caribou coffee, Wiley Wallaby red licorice, We Are Nuts trail mix, or Fulton Lonely Blonde ale onboard.
I think this is a nice touch, as I love discovering new brands I might not have tried otherwise. They also rotate these regularly, so you’re likely to find something new whenever you fly.
Rewards program
Sun Country’s rewards program stands out with no blackout dates, though there is a minimum redemption of 100 points (equivalent to $1). Members earn points for every dollar spent on Sun Country purchases and can redeem them for future travel. It’s designed for frequent fliers, easy to sign up for online, and I recommend enrolling before your first trip.
Sun Country Credit Card
The airline recently launched its Sun Country Visa Signature credit card through Synchrony. This card offers up to 5 points per dollar spent on Sun Country purchases (3x with the card plus 2x when you fly), and also earns 2x points on gas stations and grocery stores, plus 1x on other purchases.
The real benefits of the Sun Country credit card are 50% off your first checked bag for you and your companions, 50% off Best and Standard seat selections when purchased before your flight, one free premium drink in flight, and 25% off additional onboard food and beverages when you pay with the card. If you fly with Sun Country often, this quickly pays for itself. For me, the card’s travel perks make it worthwhile for regular Sun Country travelers.
Change and cancelation fees
Sun Country has stricter change and cancellation policies than many other airlines. The good news is there are no change fees if you cancel or change your flight more than 60 days before departure. For any other changes, there’s a steep cost per passenger, per direction.
If you have to change your flight and the new fare is lower, they’ll give you a flight credit that expires one year from when the original ticket was booked. You’ll need to use this credit to book a new flight by the expiration date, though travel can take place after that date.
They also have the usual no-fee policy if you need to change or cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking.
Airline partners
Sun Country has partnerships with several other airlines, including China Airlines, Condor, Hawaiian Airlines, Icelandair, EVA Air and Emirates. This means you can book connecting itineraries on a single ticket, and your bags can be checked through to your final destination.
I’ve used this great benefit while flying from Taipei to Eau Claire (via Minneapolis) when it was the fastest connection to get from Taiwan to a wedding in Wisconsin. The whole trip was seamless. Just note that all reservations and ticket purchases are done directly with the partner airline, through a travel agent, or via an online travel agency; Sun Country doesn’t issue tickets for flights with its partners.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
