A Detailed Review of Sun Country Airlines

Sun Country is an ultra-low-cost airline based out of Minnesota, North America. Founded in 1982, it has slowly gained popularity amongst those flying in and out of America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. It’s a hybrid airline that has both passenger aircraft and also charter operations and cargo flights for Amazon. But is this the right airline for you? Let’s dive deeper and find out more about it.

Key Facts

First Flight: 20 January 1983
HQ: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Alliance: None
Fleet Size: 54 aircraft as of 2025
Destinations: Over 90 destinations across North America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean
Passengers: 3.5-4 million annually

Our Ratings

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

????Global Connections ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

????Wi-Fi Performance ☆☆☆☆☆ (0/5)

????Value for Money: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

????Sustainability: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

⏰Reliability: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

When To Use Sun Country Airlines

If you’re a traveler who prioritizes affordability over luxury and doesn’t need to travel between continents, Sun Country is a great airline. As the name hints, it caters more to travelers who are chasing warm weather in popular holiday destinations.

Whilst they haven’t announced plans to follow Breeze Airway’s strategy of focusing on smaller airports, you can catch flights from smaller locations like Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

Best For

Sun Chasers: they specialize in routes to vacation hotspots like Orlando, Cancun, Punta Cana and Las Vegas. If you’re wanting to escape bad weather, they’ll likely have the perfect route for you.
Budget Travelers: as an ultra low-cost airline, Sun Country has very competitive cheap pricing where you pay only for what you need.
Seasonal Travelers: their seasonal route network is perfect if you move with the seasons, or specific festivals or conferences.

When NOT to Use Sun Country Airlines

Whilst there are many pros to an ultra-low budget airline, it might not be a great fit for the following reasons…

Potential Drawbacks

Long-Haulers: with no long-haul or intercontinental routes, Sun Country isn’t a great option for people who need to access a more global network.
Remote Working: While some aircraft have Wi-Fi, coverage is often inconsistent, making it difficult to work or be productive en route.
Frequent Flyers: Sun Country’s Ufly Rewards program is pretty basic compared to the perks and rewards you get with bigger airlines like Delta or American Airlines.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Affordable fares with a customizable pricing model
Direct flights to popular vacation destinations
Seasonal routes that serve sun-seekers
Smaller hub in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport reduces delays and congestion

Cons

Limited route network compared to larger airlines
Poor and limited Wi-Fi reliability
Basic loyalty program with fewer travel perks than competitors
Minimal amenities on board due to ultra-low-cost business model

Booking Experience

Website and App Usability ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Sun Country’s app and website are functional but not modern and lack some of the more advanced features, such as dynamic seat maps or fare comparison tools. Whilst it gets the job done, frequent travelers might find it less user-friendly than the platforms of bigger airlines like Delta or American Airlines. A cool feature we like is their “Bid for an Upgrade” program, where you can bid for premium seats after booking – this gives you the chance to get extra legroom for a bargain!

Payment and Transparency ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Sun Country uses an à la carte pricing model that keeps the base fare low whilst charging for each additional service, like checked baggage and seat selection. This is a great way to only pay for what you need – as long as you’re a light-packer! The airline accepts most major credit cards and offers payment plans via Uplift for those who need to spread out their expenses. The downside is flexibility – if you need to change your booking, there are usually fees and not all of their fares qualify for free cancellation within 24 hours of booking.

In-Flight Experience

Food and Dining ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

Sun Country offers complimentary non-alcoholic drinks such as coffee, tea, juices, and sodas on all their flights. You can purchase snacks from their onboard menu but they don’t have any hot meals, so we recommend bringing your own food if you’re needing something more substantial or if you have dietary requirements. It’s a basic model that keeps the overall ticket price low.

Entertainment Options ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

Passengers can stream movies, TV shows, music and games to their devices via Sun Country’s entertainment system, AirFi. This service is available on most of their flights and doesn’t require an app. However, we were frustrated that there is no internet access through this system. For people needing to work during their flight, we suggest downloading the material or content onto your devices before you fly. Another frustration was that not all aircraft have in-seat power outlets, so you’ll need to fully charge your devices or bring a power bank, just in case.

Does Sun Country Have Wi-Fi Onboard?

Availability and Performance ☆☆☆☆☆ (0/5)

As of 2025, Sun Country does not offer Wi-Fi on any of its flights. Their Cheif Marketing Officer, Brian Davis, said that this is because the airline focuses more on leisure travel over business travel. As we mentioned, they do provide an entertainment system, but this doesn’t include internet for browsing, video calls or email. Zero out of five from us.

Service and Reliability

Customer Service ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Sun Country’s customer service has received mixed reviews. While the in-flight crew are friendly and professional, their service for resolving disruptions – such as delays or cancellations – seems poor. This is due to their limited customer service channels and lack of compensation policies. On a more positive note, they are quick at communicating any schedule changes or delays via email and text. We therefore recommend having a plan B sorted for if things go wrong, and flexibility is important to you.

Punctuality and Reliability ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

Sun Country Airlines has an on-time performance rating of roughly 71%, which is well below the American industry average of 77.6%. It seems that more disruptions occur from places like Minneapolis where bad weather affects flights more frequently. With fairly poor reliability, we recommend building in plenty of travel time, especially if you have a quick connection!

The Future of Sun Country Airlines

Although it’s not the most modern airline in North America, Sun Country is focusing on growing in the following areas:

Network expansion: Sun Country has suggested expanding its network further South to places like Belize, Roatan and Panama City.
Fleet modernization: for 2025, they are acquiring five 737-900ER Boeing aircraft which will be able to take more passengers for longer distances, compared to its current 737-800 Boeing fleet.

Alternative Airlines

If Sun Country is a little too restricted, or the lack of Wi-Fi is a dealbreaker, then you might want to have a look at some alternatives:

Airline	Best For	Features
Southwest Airlines	Domestic travelers	No change fees, free checked bags and a huge route network
JetBlue Airways	Comfortable flyers	Free Wi-Fi on all flights, more legroom than most competitors, perfect for an overnight flight
Frontier Airlines	Budget travel	Incredibly low fares because of their pick-and-choose extra services like baggage and seat selection
Delta Airlines	Frequent flyers	Impressive SkyMiles program that offers miles that NEVER expire!

Conclusion

For people looking for affordable travel within the Americas, Sun Country is a great budget option. Their focus on low-cost means that you have to compromise on amenities like Wi-Fi and a solid rewards programme – but if you’re willing to bring your own book and snacks, you’ll reap the rewards.

Who Should Fly Sun Country?