Sun Country Airlines is a Minneapolis-based hybrid low-cost carrier focused on leisure routes. In 2025, it operates nearly 100 destinations across the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Its fleet is entirely Boeing 737s (mostly 737‑800 and 737‑900ER), about 45 passenger jets by the end of 2025, plus a growing cargo fleet (20 freighters) for Amazon logistics.
Sun Country emphasizes vacation markets (e.g., Florida, Vegas, Phoenix) and charter services, and it brands itself as a “new breed of hybrid low-cost carrier”. As of mid-2025, the airline remains profitable and has extended its schedule through spring 2026. Overall, Sun Country offers affordable base fares but charges for extras (an a la carte model).
Ticket Pricing and Booking
Sun Country’s tickets have low base prices, but nearly every add-on costs extra. The airline uses an à la carte model – fares cover the seat only.
Everything else (seat assignment, baggage, etc.) is sold separately. As a result, two travelers on the same flight could pay very different total prices depending on options. The carrier offers three seat tiers: Standard Economy, Better (extra legroom), and Best (front cabin) seats. Standard seat selection is optional, while Best seats (front rows) cost more but include perks.
For example, Sun Country’s “Best” seats offer 34 inches of pitch, padded headrests, and a full AC power outlet. Passengers in the Best seats also get one free premium drink with their upgrade. Exit-row seats ($26–$30 extra) have up to 38″ pitch. Seat assignments can be chosen on Sun Country’s website or app (booking platform), which is functional but less polished than major carriers. Notably, Sun Country lets passengers bid for upgrades after booking – you can pay to move into a better seat via a bidding system.
Frequent travelers should note that all ticket changes incur fees (aside from a 24-hour free cancellation window on most fares), and the loyalty program (Ufly Rewards) is very basic. In short, if you want a rock-bottom fare, Sun Country delivers – just be prepared to pay extra for any add-ons.
Baggage Policies and Fees
Sun Country has strict baggage fees. Only one personal item (small bag or laptop bag under 17×13×9 inches) is free. All other bags cost money, and fees rise steeply the closer you pay to departure. Key points:
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Carry-on (Overhead) Bags: Not included with ticket. Adding one at purchase costs ~$25–$40 (varies by route). If added later (before online check-in or at the airport), it’s a flat ~$50 each way. At the gate, the fee can be ~$55.
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Checked Bags (1st bag): Also a la carte. A first checked bag is typically $30–$45 if paid at booking, and rises to $50–$55 if paid later.
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Additional Checked Bags (2nd/3rd): Second and third bags cost about $45 at booking and ~$60 afterward (with an extra dollar or so if done at the airport). These rates are fixed regardless of route.
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Weight & Size Limits: A checked bag can weigh up to 50 lbs (more generous than Spirit/Frontier’s 40-lb limit). Oversize (over 62 linear inches) and overweight (over 50 lbs) items incur extra fees. For example, 51–60 lbs is +$20, 61–99 lbs is +$60, and any bag over 63″ or special sporting equipment is +$100. Checked luggage over 100 lbs is simply not accepted.
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Timing: Important tip – pay baggage fees when booking to lock in the lowest price. As of April 2024, Sun Country raised many baggage fees by $5–$10, but noted that if you pay during ticket purchase, the old (lower) rates still apply. Waiting until check-in or the airport can nearly double the cost of adding a bag.
In summary, families and travelers with luggage should plan carefully. A single carry-on can add $30–$50 each way, and checked bags can quickly double a ticket’s price. Frequent flyers may want the Sun Country Visa card, which offers half off the first checked bag. But otherwise, assume Sun Country charges for anything beyond a personal item (plus steep surcharges for overweight or special gear).
Seating and Cabin Experience
The Sun Country Airlines Boeing 737 cabin (above) has 186 leather-trimmed seats in a 3-3 layout. Sun Country’s cabin may feel more modern than a typical ULCC. In 2022–23, the airline retrofitted its entire 737 fleet with new slimline seats. The seats are all Coach-class (no first/business cabin), arranged 3-3. Comfortably padded, they offer recline and power – most seats have in-seat power ports, and Best seats add full AC outlets. According to Sun Country, seats have “comfortable recline” and “in-seat power in most seats”, a perk not always seen on ULCCs.
Sun Country distinguishes its seating with three classes: Best, Better, and Standard. At the front are the Best seats (first few rows) with ~34″ pitch, adjustable headrests, and AC power. The next section (mid-cabin) offers Better seats (a few extra inches of legroom), and the bulk are Standard seats with 29″ pitch. In practice, passengers report that the slim design of the seats makes 29″ feel more like ~31″ of space. Even so, legroom is tighter than legacy carriers; at 5′10″ the reviewer on one trip felt “plenty” of space in Standard seats. Exit-row seats (around rows 14–15) have roughly 38″ pitch, offering the most legroom (with no headrest) at a lower price than Best seats. In any case, legroom is “tight but manageable,” and all seats include large tray tables and mesh pockets.
Sun Country’s seats also outperform typical ULCC seats in comfort. Reviewers note that Sun Country’s slimline seats are much more cushioned than Spirit or Frontier’s ultra-thin chairs. Even the Standard seats have enough padding to feel closer to a Delta/United seat than to a “plywood” ULCC seat. Each seat has two USB-A charging ports (a feature that Southwest only added more recently), and the Best seats have full AC outlets. You can recline (2″ in standard seats) – most budget carriers remove recline entirely. Overall, reviewers say Sun Country’s cabin is “a far cry” above competitors: padded seats, power ports, and a clean, well-maintained cabin make it feel a cut above Spirit or Frontier.
In-Flight Services and Amenities
Sun Country offers modest but notable in-flight services. There are no seatback screens – instead, Sun Country uses a free streaming system called AirFi. Passengers can connect their devices to the onboard network and stream movies, TV shows, and games at no charge. (Sun Country advertises “free in-flight entertainment to your device.) In effect, it’s like having free movies on your own tablet.
However, there is no Wi-Fi access to the internet on board; Sun Country confirms that as of 2025, no flights have internet Wi-Fi capability. So if you need to email or browse, you’ll be out of luck (download content before you fly, or expect no connection).
The airline provides complimentary non-alcoholic beverages on every flight. Water, coffee, juices, and soda are offered free to passengers – a rare perk among low-cost carriers (many ULCCs charge for any drink). Flight attendants even come through with refills on longer hops. Sun Country does not hand out free snacks, but it has an onboard menu of snacks and local treats for purchase. Notably, the drinks and snacks reflect Sun Country’s Minnesota roots: snack bags like Dot’s Pretzels and local sodas/liquors are available, and beers/vodkas from Minnesota breweries/distilleries can be bought. A Best seat passenger even gets one complimentary alcoholic drink with their upgrade. Prices are reasonable (typically $4–$9 for beer, cocktails, or snack boxes).
Other amenities: Overhead bins are standard, and flight attendants provide hot napkins. Bathrooms (one front, two rear on a 737) are clean but utilitarian. Overall, Sun Country’s in-flight service is basic but above its ULCC peers: free soft drinks and a decent selection of paid snacks, plus power outlets/USB at every row. It lacks frills like free meals or extensive legroom, but the free Wi-Fi-less, entertainment, and complimentary drinks put it closer to a legacy airline’s experience than that of Spirit or Allegiant.
Punctuality and Reliability
Sun Country’s on-time performance is solid but not stellar. Industry data (Aug 2023) put its on-time arrivals around 83%, somewhat below the overall U.S. average (~86%). In practice, Sun Country operates many seasonal leisure flights (especially from its Minneapolis hub), so weather or holiday spikes can cause delays. Notably, Sun Country schedules multiple daily departures on major routes.
For example, in winter, it flies MSP–Phoenix three times daily (while a ULCC like Spirit might fly that route just once). This fuller schedule gives flyers alternative flights if one is delayed or canceled. A Thrifty Traveler review notes that Sun Country’s frequency and hub focus mean travelers have backup options on cancellations – a big advantage over competitors that serve your destination only once per day.
That said, Sun Country does experience operational hiccups. No airline is immune to cancellations or mechanical issues. In 2018 a notorious winter storm left many Sun Country passengers stranded (a saga that still lingers in customer memory). Sun Country asserts it has learned from that incident, but travelers note any serious delay or computer outage evokes worries of past meltdowns.
Flight schedules can change (note the 2025 news: one 737‑800 was retired and five new 737‑900ER deliveries delayed due to a “surplus” of aircraft), though these moves reflect a strategic shift toward cargo. In sum, Sun Country generally runs a safe operation, but passengers should build in buffer time for contingencies. Its on-time stats are respectable for a leisure-focused carrier, and multiple daily flights help mitigate individual delays.
Customer Service Reputation
Sun Country’s customer service track record is mixed. The airline is not BBB accredited, and the Better Business Bureau shows over 230 complaints in the past 3 years. Many of the documented complaints involve delays, cancellations, and difficulty with refunds or rebooking. For example, a July 2025 BBB complaint describes a passenger whose flight was delayed multiple times with no timely assistance, followed by a refusal to provide the full refund owed. Another (May 2025) recounts a flight canceled the day before departure and a $250 out-of-pocket cost to rebook on short notice. Travelers often gripe about Sun Country’s rigid fee policies and limited support staff. On low-cost carriers like Sun Country, gate agents and phone reps are fewer than at major airlines, so if disruptions happen, passengers may wait longer for help.
On the positive side, many flyers find the in-flight crew to be friendly and the free drink service a nice touch. Compared to other ULCCs, Sun Country’s customer service can be somewhat better simply because it runs more flights and (theoretically) has more resources out of MSP.
Still, frequent fliers warn: do not count on first-class service recovery if something goes wrong. Reviews on Yelp and BBB emphasize frustration over lost bags, unhelpful agents, and costly penalties. In short, Sun Country’s service reputation leans toward caution: expect the basics, but prepare to be assertive and patient if issues arise.
How Sun Country Compares to Other Airlines
Sun Country sits between the ultra-low-cost carriers and the majors. Reviewers note it has found a “middle ground”. It is far more basic than a full-service airline, yet not as bare-bones as Spirit or Frontier. Key comparisons:
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vs. Spirit Airlines: Spirit is one of the cheapest U.S. carriers, but in exchange, it offers almost no amenities. Sun Country’s seats are more comfortable than Spirit’s (far thicker padding), and it provides complimentary drinks (Spirit makes you pay even for water). Onboard, Sun Country’s free streaming is a perk – Spirit has no entertainment. Only Spirit, ironically, is another U.S. budget airline that offers actual Wi-Fi service; Sun Country does not. Generally, Spirit’s base fares may be lower, but Sun Country often beats Spirit for comfort and reliability on shared routes.
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vs. Frontier Airlines: Frontier similarly advertises rock-bottom fares. Its newer Airbus A320neo fleet is sleek, but its standard seats are the most Spartan in the industry. Sun Country’s cabin feels significantly nicer: even Frontier’s exit rows don’t match Sun Country’s “Best” seats in comfort. Both airlines nickel-and-dime you, but Sun Country at least provides small freebies (water, coffee, in-seat charging) that Frontier does not. On equivalent flights, Frontier might be cheaper by a few dollars, but passengers on Sun Country get a small upgrade in legroom and service.
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vs. Southwest Airlines: Southwest is a larger low-cost carrier with a loyal following. Until mid-2025, Southwest allowed two free checked bags and open seating, whereas Sun Country has charged baggage fees for years. (Southwest announced checked-bag fees beginning in May 2025.) In 2025, their cost gap is narrowing. Southwest’s strengths are its nationwide network, no change fees, and the Rapid Rewards program. Sun Country’s niche is leisure travel to sun destinations. One small edge Sun Country held: it installed USB charging ports at every seat before Southwest added them. However, Southwest’s planes are newer on average (737 MAX), and it offers better perks (like no change fees and vouchers). Sun Country tends to win when Southwest’s fares are high or when traveling from MSP, but Southwest is a stronger all-around choice for regular business travelers or those needing flexibility.
In summary, Sun Country feels more premium than Spirit or Allegiant but much more budget-oriented than major airlines. It has cleaner, cozier seats and free snacks/drinks on par with legacy carriers, yet operates with the skeletal staffing and fee structure of an ULCC.
Who Should Fly Sun Country?
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Budget Travelers: Sun Country appeals to travelers whose priority is a low ticket price. If you’re flexible and don’t mind an extra fee for baggage or seat choice, Sun Country can save you money on leisure routes. Just be sure to book early and pay for add-ons upfront (checked bags, carry-ons, seat selections) to avoid surcharges.
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Families: Families on a budget may use Sun Country for vacation trips. The free drinks and padded seats are a perk with kids. However, beware that luggage (especially a stroller and multiple bags) will cost extra, and those fees grow quickly. Seats are close together, which can be tough with young children. Sun Country does not assign seats until you pay for them, so you’ll have to pay to ensure the family sits together. For short domestic vacation hops, it can work – just pack light and monitor the weather at MSP.
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Business Travelers: Sun Country is not ideal for most business travel. It has no in-flight Wi-Fi on any aircraft, making work in-flight impossible (only streaming content is available). The flight network is geared toward leisure/time-of-day travel, not efficient business routes or schedules. The loyalty program offers a few perks. On the positive side, if your trip is to a vacation spot and you’re very price-conscious, you could consider Sun Country. But for routine business flying (esp. multi-leg or requiring connectivity), a legacy carrier or full-service LCC like Southwest/JBU is usually better.
In conclusion, Sun Country Airlines in 2025 is very budget-friendly for leisure travelers who plan ahead, but it comes with all the typical trade-offs of an ultra-low-cost carrier. Its cabin comfort and free drinks give it an edge over airlines like Spirit or Frontier, yet its limited network, strict policies, and lack of connectivity make it a poor fit for those needing a hassle-free or fully-equipped journey.
For families and budget vacationers willing to pay attention to fees, Sun Country can be a bargain; for business travelers or those needing convenience, there are better choices.
