Sun Country Airlines

[Dedejf]

Thinking of taking Sun Country out of the Twin Cities instead of Northwest this time. Any opinions of Sun Country out there before I take the big plunge? I'd love to know what you think of them before I book.

 

[pugdog]

One con, they only have one maybe two flights out depending on time of year.
Pros, It's not NWA. They are much nicer then NWA, and flying out of the Lindbergh terminal is great.
They are now our preferred carrier out of MSP to everywhere they fly.
And prices are right in line with other airlines.

 

[blanq]

I love Sun Country, and last flew them in March, to Palm Springs. I will choose AirTran or Sun Country over NWA any chance I get. I prefer to fly out of the Humphrey terminal. Both of these carriers provide much better service than NWA, IMO.

 

[Dedejf]

Okay, that's good to hear. Now the million dollar question! What do you consider a good price to fly from MSP to MCO in late November? Should I wait or hope to get a better rate a month or two from now when winter fares come out?

 

[zulaya]

I like Sun Country. I don't have a problem with NWA. I've always had good service from both, but NWA does have a monopoly here so they take a lot from us locals.

I'd fly Sun Country if the price was right. Their times are perfect for the way I like to travel.


I'm goin Nov 30-Dec 8. Right now, the flights are $289. I'm not ready to pay that price. When it gets around $230-$240, that's a good price and I will buy.

Some people will wait for closer to $200 and it has happened. With gas being as high as it is now, I wouldn't count on it going that low.

That said...I check prices at least twice per day. When I see a price I can live with ~ for flight times I like (and I know I am picky) ~ then I jump on it.

 

[deide71]

Family of 5 MSP'ers here...

We purchase @$250/pp if it is non-stop, and we like the flight times.

The waiting game is not worth it in this neck of the woods!

 

[Dedejf]

Okay, it sounds like we'll try Sun Country this time. Do they have assigned seats and, if so, how far out do they let you put in your requests?

 

[CarolMN]

Okay, it sounds like we'll try Sun Country this time. Do they have assigned seats and, if so, how far out do they let you put in your requests?

Yes - they have assigned seats. I believe you can choose them as soon as you can book. I have always done so. Butcheck out www.hobbittravel.com before you book directly with Sun Country. They usually have SC flights for less than booking directly - even after you pay their $10 per ticket fee. For example, right now my SC flights are $238/pp RT non-stop (good price for MSP IMHO). HT has them for $213 /pp - same exact flights and I can select my seats, too.

If you are flying out over Thanksgiving week, don't wait for flights to go down in price if you see a non-stop for $250/pp or less. Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holiday times (even MEA) just don't go down as it gets closer to the date.

 

[Dedejf]

Thank you SOOOOOO MUCH for suggesting the Hobbit Travel website before booking on Sun Country. I hadn't even thought of checking there although I had checked out Travelocity and Expedia. It looks like I can save quite a bit by going through Hobbit rather than the other two. We are actually going right after Thanksgiving weekend so get a little break there. Now.... next question! Do you also book a car rental through them or can you actually get better rates booking it separately using the Mousesavers codes? (very excited in MN!!)

 

[Rottmom]

I choose Sun Country everytime I can. I love their customer service and LOVE flying out of HHH. My last choice is always NWA!! I am actually flying to Orlando next week on SC. They always serve some sort of hot food every flight too!!

 

[CarolMN]

Thank you SOOOOOO MUCH for suggesting the Hobbit Travel website before booking on Sun Country. I hadn't even thought of checking there although I had checked out Travelocity and Expedia. It looks like I can save quite a bit by going through Hobbit rather than the other two. We are actually going right after Thanksgiving weekend so get a little break there. Now.... next question! Do you also book a car rental through them or can you actually get better rates booking it separately using the Mousesavers codes? (very excited in MN!!)

You're welcome -glad it worked out for you. I generally book my own car rental (when we get one). Haven't checked out wht HT may have to offer in that area to be honest. I use whatever codes I can find that are available and apply to me. In addition to mousesavers, I also check www.rentalcodes.com Then I keep checking right up to departure to see if I can do any better. Since we had such good luck with ME and since car rentals have increased in price, we haven't rented a car for some time, though. I would only do so if we were spending part of the trip off site - haven't wanted to do that for the past few trips.

 

[blanq]

Okay, it sounds like we'll try Sun Country this time. Do they have assigned seats and, if so, how far out do they let you put in your requests?

If you decide to book online through Hobbit you will not be able to select seats in advance, however you will be able to checkin online 24 hours before departure and select your seats then. Hobbit does use Sun Country, and other carriers.

I did want to mention that Airtran likely has nonstop flights in November for $109 per leg, or right around $240 per flight, with fees/taxes. They have sales regularily, where you can get each leg anywhere between $79 and $99.
We booked a flight with AirTran for our October trip and it was $536.40 for the three of us, but I hit a sale.

 

[meier56013]

You can book seats in advance if you buy tickets through Hobbit Travel. There is a Sun Country confirmation number in addition to your Hobbit Travel comfirmation number, (if you can't find it, call Hobbit and they will tell you it). You then go to suncountry.com and enter the confirmation number in the traveling/check in section and you can pick your seats. Have done this many times. We like sun country and have also enjoyed airtran a lot lately too.

 

[dudspizza]

Just returned from Reno, but have to jump in on the SC talk.

I like Sun Country and agree with the folks that say Airtran or SC over NWA.

The only thing I have not liked is the SC prices haven't been the best that past year and a half or so.

I personally use the $200 mark as a great price, but can live with under $230.

Have flown SC a few times and enjoyed the flights....

Duds

 

[CarolMN]

You can book seats in advance if you buy tickets through Hobbit Travel. There is a Sun Country confirmation number in addition to your Hobbit Travel comfirmation number, (if you can't find it, call Hobbit and they will tell you it). You then go to suncountry.com and enter the confirmation number in the traveling/check in section and you can pick your seats. Have done this many times. We like sun country and have also enjoyed airtran a lot lately too.

Just posting to agree - I have personally selected my seats on SC after booking through Hobbit Travel. The last time I did this was in March 2007.