Last Updated on August 26, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Sun Country Airlines can be a good value when its nonstop schedule fits your trip and you understand the extra charges before booking. The Minnesota-based low-cost carrier uses an à-la-carte model: the base fare covers the flight and a small personal item, while larger bags, advance seat selection, and several priority services usually cost extra. In 2026, there is also an important ownership change to know about: Allegiant Travel Company completed its acquisition of Sun Country on May 13, but Sun Country continues to operate separately while the airlines work through their integration.
Quick Answer
Sun Country Airlines is worth considering when it offers a convenient nonstop and the final price stays competitive after extras. A base fare includes a seat and one small personal item. Carry-ons, checked bags, and advance seat selection generally cost extra. Free device-based entertainment and non-alcoholic drinks are available, but AirFi does not provide internet access.
Key Takeaways
- Sun Country is a Minnesota-based low-cost airline focused heavily on leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives travel.
- Allegiant Travel Company acquired Sun Country on May 13, 2026, but the airlines continue operating independently during integration.
- The base fare includes transportation and one personal item that fits under the seat; larger bags and many optional services cost extra.
- Sun Country provides complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and free entertainment streamed to your own device, but its AirFi network is not internet Wi-Fi.
- Sun Country can be especially attractive for nonstop leisure travel, but route frequency matters because some services operate only seasonally or a few times per week.
- The best comparison is the final trip price after adding the bags, seats, and flexibility you actually need.
What Sun Country Airlines Is in 2026
Sun Country was founded in 1982 and is based in Minnesota. Its scheduled passenger operation focuses primarily on leisure routes, while its broader business also includes charter and cargo flying. Its Boeing passenger fleet includes 737-800 and 737-900ER aircraft, while 737-800 freighters support the cargo side of the business. This gives the airline a largely Boeing 737 Next Generation operating platform rather than an exclusively 737-800 passenger fleet. Sun Country provides additional company and fleet background on its official company history page.
The biggest recent change came on May 13, 2026, when Allegiant Travel Company completed its acquisition of Sun Country. Sun Country is now part of Allegiant Travel Company. However, travelers should not treat Allegiant and Sun Country as a single airline yet. They continue to operate independently during the integration process, and customers should continue managing Sun Country reservations through Sun Country.
Note: The combined airline is expected eventually to operate under the Allegiant brand, but there has been no immediate conversion of Sun Country tickets, reservations, loyalty accounts, or day-to-day flight operations. Allegiant’s integration information page says customers should continue using the airline they originally booked with.
Pricing and Value
Sun Country’s low-cost model works best when you compare the total trip price rather than the first fare shown in search results. The base fare gets you a seat on the aircraft and one qualifying personal item. Extras such as a full-size carry-on, checked baggage, advance seat selection, and priority services may raise the final price.
| Item | What to Expect |
| Seat on the Flight | Included in the base fare |
| Personal Item | Ordinarily included if it fits the published under-seat size limit |
| Full-Size Carry-On | Generally costs extra |
| Checked Bag | Generally costs extra |
| Advance Seat Selection | Optional paid add-on; otherwise a seat can be assigned at check-in |
| Entertainment | Complimentary streaming to your own compatible device |
| Basic Non-Alcoholic Drinks | Complimentary; additional drinks and snacks are available for purchase |
This approach can work well for a traveler who packs lightly or does not care which specific seat is assigned. It can be less attractive for a family or traveler who needs several checked bags, specific seats, and other extras.
Sun Country advises travelers to add bags during the initial booking when possible because bag prices are generally lowest at that stage. Its official booking guide also recommends choosing preferred seats early for the best availability. Since optional-service prices can vary, check the live total during checkout rather than relying on an old fee chart.
Pro Tip: Compare Sun Country with competing airlines after adding the bags and seat options you actually need. A lower base fare is not necessarily the lowest final fare.
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Customer Service and Satisfaction
Customer-service experiences on any airline can vary widely, especially when a trip is disrupted. Some Sun Country passengers report friendly crews and straightforward flights, while others describe frustration involving delays, cancellations, rebooking, or communication. For that reason, it is more useful to judge the airline by its published policies and your itinerary’s risk factors than to label its customer service universally good or bad.
One factor to consider is Sun Country’s leisure-focused, seasonally variable network. If you are traveling on a route that operates only a few times per week, a cancellation can be more disruptive than it would be on a route where several same-day alternatives exist. Before booking an important trip, look at the frequency of the specific route—not simply whether Sun Country flies it.
For a disruption, keep your reservation details, receipts, and airline messages. Travelers can also review the U.S. Department of Transportation Airline Customer Service Dashboard for current passenger-protection information. If an airline cancels a flight or makes a qualifying significant change and you decide not to accept the alternative transportation offered, federal refund rules may entitle you to a refund.
Safety and Regulatory Oversight
Sun Country operates as a U.S. air carrier under federal aviation regulation and continuing FAA oversight. The FAA’s Safety Assurance System is used to verify that air carriers meet certification requirements and continue complying with applicable regulations and safety standards.
That regulatory oversight should not be confused with a guarantee about any individual flight or with a commercial website’s safety score. Travelers who want objective historical information can review official FAA material and National Transportation Safety Board aviation records rather than relying only on review-site ratings.
In-Flight Experience
| Category | What to Expect |
| Seat Comfort | Reclining seats and full-size tray tables, with different paid seat-selection options available |
| Entertainment | Complimentary movies, shows, games, and other content streamed to a personal device through AirFi |
| Internet | AirFi does not provide direct internet access |
| Food and Beverage | Complimentary non-alcoholic drinks including water, coffee, juice, and soda; snacks and additional beverage options available for purchase |
| Device Power | In-seat power is available in most seats; the exact equipment can vary by seat |
Sun Country’s onboard product is more substantial than the term “low-cost carrier” may suggest. The airline advertises reclining seats, full-size tray tables, and in-seat power in most seats. Travelers can also access complimentary entertainment on their own phones, tablets, or laptops.
Sun Country’s AirFi system is an onboard entertainment network rather than conventional internet service. You can connect your device to stream available movies, programs, games, and other content, but you should not plan on using it for normal web browsing, email, messaging, or online work. Sun Country’s AirFi guide specifically states that the system does not provide direct internet access.
Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages currently include options such as water, coffee, juice, and soda. Snacks and additional beverage choices are available for purchase.
Seat Selection
Sun Country sells several seat-selection options, including Standard, Exit Row, and Best seats. If you care about extra space, location, getting off the aircraft sooner, or sitting with companions, choosing seats during booking gives you more control and usually the widest availability.
If you skip paid seat selection, Sun Country can assign you a seat at check-in. This can save money, but travelers who strongly want to sit together should not rely on random assignment. Some premium seat options include extra comfort or additional benefits, so verify the exact features and price shown for your flight before paying for an upgrade.
Destinations and Routes
Sun Country’s network is centered heavily on Minneapolis-St. Paul, with service throughout the United States and to destinations in Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the Caribbean. Popular leisure markets include places such as Las Vegas, Orlando, Fort Myers, Phoenix, Cancun, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta.
The airline’s schedule is unusually seasonal compared with large network carriers. A destination may have frequent flights during a peak vacation period and far fewer flights—or none—at another time of year. Sun Country’s June 2026 schedule announcement opened bookings through April 13, 2027. Actual frequency still varies significantly by route and season.
For Sun Country, route frequency can matter almost as much as fare. A cheap nonstop is attractive, but a route with limited weekly service may provide fewer recovery options if your flight is canceled.
Baggage Policies and Fees
Baggage is one of the most important costs to check before buying a Sun Country ticket. One qualifying personal item is ordinarily included without a separate fee, while a larger carry-on and checked baggage generally cost extra.
| Bag Type | Current Published Limit |
| Personal Item | Up to 17 × 13 × 9 inches; must fit under the seat |
| Carry-On | Up to 24 × 16 × 11 inches and 35 pounds |
| Standard Checked Bag | Up to 62 linear inches and 50 pounds before excess-bag charges apply |
Bag fees depend on the bag type, itinerary, and when you purchase the option. Sun Country states that adding bags during booking is generally the lowest-price time to buy them. Waiting until the airport can cost more.
Warning: Measure your bag including wheels, handles, and other protruding parts. An item that exceeds Sun Country’s published limits can be treated differently and may trigger additional charges.
Always verify current baggage prices and special-item rules on Sun Country’s official baggage and optional-services page before departure because fees and policies can change.
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Booking, Check-In, Changes, and Refunds
Sun Country allows travelers to use its website or mobile app to manage many day-of-travel tasks. Online and app check-in generally opens 24 hours before the scheduled departure and remains available until close to departure, subject to itinerary and document requirements.
Airport timing matters. Sun Country’s published Contract of Carriage states that airport check-in generally closes 45 minutes before domestic departures and 60 minutes before international departures. Los Angeles has a 60-minute check-in cutoff, while St. Thomas has a 90-minute cutoff. Sun Country recommends arriving about two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.
Voluntary changes and cancellations can involve fare differences or fees depending on the booking and any flexibility option purchased. Sun Country also offers Flexible Fare benefits in certain circumstances, including through qualifying Plus status benefits. Because these rules and prices can change, review the conditions attached to your exact reservation rather than relying on an older fee chart.
Note: A voluntary cancellation is different from a flight canceled or significantly changed by the airline. U.S. DOT refund protections can apply when the airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you choose not to accept the alternative offered.
Loyalty Program and Benefits
Sun Country Rewards remains active during the Allegiant integration. Members can continue earning and redeeming their Sun Country points according to the current program rules, and the airlines have stated that existing Sun Country rewards will continue to be honored during the integration period.
Sun Country publishes an earning rate of 2 Rewards points per $1 spent directly with Sun Country and 1 point per $1 on qualifying bookings made through a travel agent or other travel website. Sun Country also states that 100 points equal $1 toward eligible Sun Country purchases, and points can be used for flights and certain travel extras.
The program also includes Plus status. Travelers can qualify by completing 10 Sun Country flights in a calendar year or spending $10,000 in a calendar year on the Sun Country Visa Signature card. Published Plus benefits include an extra Rewards point per dollar on Sun Country purchases, complimentary Flexible Fare benefits, priority check-in, priority boarding, and priority-security access for qualifying MSP departures.
Because Sun Country and Allegiant are still operating separate loyalty systems during integration, Rewards balances cannot currently be combined or used interchangeably. Continue earning, redeeming, and managing Sun Country Rewards through Sun Country until the airlines announce a formal loyalty-program transition.
Overall Pros and Cons
Sun Country’s strongest advantage is straightforward: it can provide an inexpensive nonstop flight to a leisure destination that would otherwise require a connection or a more expensive ticket. Its onboard product also includes complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, reclining seats, personal-device entertainment, and power at most seats.
The tradeoff is that the lowest advertised fare does not include every service. Travelers who add a carry-on, checked bags, preferred seats, and priority options need to calculate the final cost. Its highly seasonal network can also mean fewer alternative flights on some routes if plans are disrupted.
Sun Country May Be a Good Fit If You:
- find a convenient nonstop Sun Country itinerary;
- travel with only a personal item or can keep baggage costs low;
- are comfortable paying only for the extras you want;
- value free device-based entertainment more than onboard internet; or
- regularly fly leisure routes from Minneapolis-St. Paul or another city with useful Sun Country service.
You May Prefer Another Airline If You:
- need reliable internet access while flying;
- require several bags and specific seats, making add-on costs substantial;
- need many same-day backup flights because your schedule is inflexible;
- prefer a large traditional network with frequent connecting options; or
- want a fare that bundles more services into the initial ticket price.
Ultimately, Sun Country can be a strong value, but it is not automatically the cheapest option. Compare the final fare with all required extras, look at the frequency of your specific route, and decide how much flexibility you need if a disruption occurs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sun Country Airlines known for?
Sun Country is known as a Minnesota-based low-cost airline with a leisure-focused network. It operates scheduled passenger flights as well as charter and cargo services. Its passenger network includes destinations in the United States, Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Is Sun Country Airlines a safe airline to fly with?
Sun Country operates as a U.S. air carrier subject to Federal Aviation Administration certification and continuing safety oversight. Rather than relying on a vague commercial “safe airline” rating, travelers can review official FAA oversight information and National Transportation Safety Board aviation records when they want objective safety data.
What amenities does Sun Country Airlines offer on its flights?
Sun Country provides complimentary entertainment streamed to personal devices, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages, reclining seats, full-size tray tables, and in-seat power in most seats. Snacks and additional beverages can be purchased. AirFi provides entertainment but does not provide normal internet access.
How is the customer service of Sun Country Airlines?
Passenger experiences are mixed, so it is difficult to accurately describe Sun Country customer service with a single rating. Routine flights may receive positive comments about crews, while disrupted trips can produce complaints about communication and rebooking. Travelers should consider the frequency of their route and review current airline and DOT policies before booking an itinerary where timing is critical.
Does Sun Country Airlines have a frequent flyer program?
Yes. Sun Country Rewards lets members earn points on eligible spending and redeem points for Sun Country purchases. The program also includes Plus status. Sun Country Rewards continues to operate separately from Allegiant’s loyalty program while the airline integration is underway.
Does Sun Country give you a free carry-on bag?
A small personal item that fits under the seat is ordinarily included. A full-size carry-on placed in the overhead bin generally requires an additional fee. The published personal-item limit is 17 × 13 × 9 inches, while a carry-on can measure up to 24 × 16 × 11 inches and weigh up to 35 pounds.
Does Sun Country have Wi-Fi?
Sun Country has an onboard AirFi network that lets passengers stream complimentary entertainment to their own devices. However, Sun Country states that AirFi does not provide direct internet access, so it should not be treated as conventional inflight Wi-Fi for web browsing, email, messaging, or online work.
Did Allegiant buy Sun Country Airlines?
Yes. Allegiant Travel Company completed its acquisition of Sun Country on May 13, 2026. Sun Country continues operating separately during integration, and travelers should continue using Sun Country for Sun Country reservations until further changes are officially announced.
What aircraft does Sun Country Airlines fly?
Sun Country’s passenger operation uses Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, including 737-800 and 737-900ER models. The airline also operates Boeing 737-800 freighters for its cargo business.
When can I check in for a Sun Country flight?
Online and mobile-app check-in generally becomes available 24 hours before departure. Airport check-in normally closes 45 minutes before domestic departures and 60 minutes before international departures, with longer cutoffs at certain airports such as Los Angeles and St. Thomas. Arrive well before the cutoff to allow time for baggage and security.
Sources
- Allegiant — Allegiant and Sun Country Integration — acquisition status, independent operations during integration, and current passenger guidance.
- Sun Country Airlines — Our Story — company history, business model, and Boeing fleet background.
- Sun Country Airlines — Winter and Spring 2027 Schedule — current schedule horizon, network information, onboard beverages, power, and entertainment.
- Sun Country Airlines — Booking Guide — personal-item, carry-on, checked-bag, seat-selection, and booking guidance.
- Sun Country Airlines — AirFi Guide — complimentary entertainment and confirmation that AirFi does not provide direct internet access.
- Federal Aviation Administration — Air Carrier Oversight — FAA certification and continuing safety-surveillance framework.
