Sun Country Airlines Review: Low affordable fares but is it safe?

Whether you're going on a short trip or a long journey, getting a flight to your destination is always exciting. How do you know which airline to choose, though? It can be overwhelming to research all the different airlines that fly your route, so I want to help with that.

If you're looking to fly within the Americas, you may have come across Sun Country Airlines. Are they all sunshine, and should you purchase a ticket with them? Read on for all the details about their destinations, fees, customer service, and more!

What is Sun Country Airlines?

Sun Country Airlines is an American, ultra-low-cost airline that started flying in 1983. Based in Minnesota, Sun Country Airlines is the 11th largest airline by passenger size in the US. In 2017, Sun Country transitioned to a low-cost carrier after two bankruptcies.

Where does Sun Country Airlines fly?

Sun Country Airlines flies to around 80 destinations in the Americas, with 98 routes as of September 2022. This includes major cities in the US as well as smaller ones. Sun Country also has flights to destinations in the following countries:

• Aruba 
• Belize
• Canada (Vancouver BC)
• Costa Rica
• Dominican Republic
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Mexico (Cancun, Cozumel, Ixtapa, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta)
• Puerto Rico
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• US Virgin Islands

Sun Country Airlines has the most flights originating out of Minneapolis/St. Paul, but their destinations cover a wide range of locations. Depending on where you're coming from, you may have to fly via Minneapolis to reach your final destination with Sun Country.

If you're curious about where you might be able to fly with Sun Country from your nearest airport, check out the Route Map on their website! You can also use their Low Fare Finder to input your starting airport and see what their cheapest fares are.

What are Sun Country Airlines' baggage fees?

As an ultra-low-cost airline, Sun Country Airlines doesn't have a generous bag allowance. All tickets include one under-seat item at no charge, and this item must fit under the seat in front of you. If you need to pack more than that for your travels, you will need to pay for additional baggage.

You can purchase an overhead bag with a maximum weight of 35 pounds (15.9 kg), and this will be checked at the counter. The maximum dimensions are 24" x 16" x 11". If your bag is larger or heavier than that, you can opt for a checked bag. A checked bag allows up to 50 pounds (22.7 kg) and cannot exceed 62 inches in overall dimensions, which is the combination of length, width, and height.

The cost for additional baggage varies based on the route you're flying, but all prices are per leg of your journey. To calculate the cost of any additional baggage, you can use the bag pricing tool on Sun Country's website. Additional charges will also apply for any overweight bags, starting at $20 per overweight bag. Paying for bags at the airport is more expensive, so the earlier you purchase your bags, the cheaper it'll be!

Book Budget Sun Country Airlines Flights!

If you're still looking at Sun Country Airlines flights, make sure you're booking the cheapest flights available on the market with SkyScanner!

SkyScanner helps you find the cheapest flights available so that you wouldn't have to pay more for flight tickets and save that money for more things to do or food to eat!

Sun Country Airlines Seat Selection

In addition to having to pay for additional bags, Sun Country Airlines doesn't guarantee you any particular seat for free. There are three categories of seats: Best, Exit, and Standard. If you would like to select your seat in advance, you can do so by logging into "My Trips" or selecting a seat during online check-in. Seat selections are priced per flight and per seat, with prices ranging between $9-$100 per flight.

If you opt not to select a seat, you will be randomly assigned to an empty seat on a first-come, first-served basis. All seats come with an in-seat USB port, and free entertainment streamed to your personal device on most flights.

Sun Country Airlines Cancellation Policy

I hope you don't have to cancel your flight, but it's never a bad idea to be familiar with an airline's cancellation policy, just in case. With Sun Country, all purchases are non-refundable but can be changed. If you change your flight over 60 days before departure, there are no change fees other than a potential fare difference. Between 59 and 14 days prior to departure, there is a change fee of $79, and between 13 and 0 days prior to departure, the fee is $59.

You can cancel your flight free of charge within 24 hours of booking the flight. Any change or cancellation fees are charged per segment of the journey.

Sun Country Airlines Customer Service

While you can do a lot of things through "My Trips" online, you may find you need to speak with Sun Country Airlines at some point. In addition to their online help center with FAQs, you can also reach out to Sun Country via phone. They can be reached at 651-905-2737 from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, Monday through Sunday.

You can also submit feedback or complaint via their online form. 

Sun Country Airlines Review

Before you book your ticket, how do other travelers rate Sun Country Airlines? Many travelers have been pleased with the rates but have been dissatisfied with the routes offered. If you don't mind flying through Minneapolis, there are plenty of options. But even if you prefer not to, you'll still be routed that way.

Travelers have also noted that the airline's presence in airports is minimal, which leads to a lack of customer service and support in terminals. This is also replicated over the phone when customers reach out with queries or complaints.

Is Sun Country Airlines worth it? 

If you're a budget traveler who can travel light and doesn't mind being routed via Minneapolis, then Sun Country Airlines is worth exploring. As they have fees for anything more than under-seat bags and for seat selections, you will need to be prepared for a few amenities to come with an additional price tag.

That being said, there is little support from their customer service if anything goes wrong with your booking.

If you're looking for other budget-friendly airlines in the US, check out Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, or Southwest Airlines!

Our rating: 3.1/5

Pros:

• Budget-friendly fares
• Several destinations in the Americas

Cons:

• Limited baggage allowance
• Can't select seats for free
• Restrictive cancellation and change policies
• Not great customer service
• Majority of flights have to be routed through Minneapolis

It's always sunny with Pilot!

Whether you're looking to fly to sunny Aruba, sunny Los Angeles, or a less sunny Minneapolis, Sun Country Airlines offers low-fare options to get you there. Even if you decide to fly another airline, we want to make sure that you have the best trip possible. How can we help, you ask?