• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Sun Country » Odd Upgrade Pricing on Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country

Odd Upgrade Pricing on Sun Country Airlines

Matthew Klint Posted onJune 10, 2017November 14, 2023 1 Comment

My job is to analyze airlines, but sometimes I encounter things I cannot explain. Upgrades on Sun Country Airlines are one of them.

Yesterday I flew from Los Angeles to Minneapolis on Sun Country. It was my first time flying on the MSP-based airline and I did not quite know what to expect.  One thing I did notice, which is almost unheard of on any other domestic airline in the USA, was that first class was only booked 4/12 when I checked in three hours before the flight.

a blue book on a counter

I also noticed an “ask about our affordable first class upgrades” sign on the counter and asked how much an upgrade would be for today’s flight. This was just for curiosity as I had booked directly into first class last week.

$149.

That’s a reasonable cost for 3.5 hour flight, even though Sun Country First Class is sort of like domestic first class was a decade ago on other carriers.

But I only paid $99…at least my first class ticket was only $99 more than an economy class ticket on the same flight.

a screenshot of a business card

Typically when airlines want to sell last-minute upgrades, they discount them…not increase their price by 50%.

While I cannot say for sure, the flight was still F7 upon boarding and it appeared that four employee standby passengers were cleared into first class. The flight still went out with three empty seats, including the one next to me.

CONCLUSION

When I saw that first class was only booked 4/12 just a few hours before the flight, I thought I was an idiot to pay extra for first class. But if Sun Country is going to charge $149 for an upgrade at the airport, I actually made a good deal by paying “full price” in advance…

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article First Look: New LAX T6 Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
Next Article Free Lounge Access at LAX for United Star Golds

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • an airplane on the runway

    Ted Cruz Celebrates Sun Country’s Cheap Fares To Cancun…

    May 19, 2021
  • Sun Country Cargo

    Sun Country Growth Plan Fueled By Amazon

    December 18, 2019
  • Sun Country Cancellations

    Sun Country Cancels Flights…But Never Tells Passengers

    July 6, 2019

1 Comment

  1. MeanMeosh Reply
    June 10, 2017 at 2:16 pm

    Just for kicks, I pulled up some random dates in late July from LAX to MSP. Looks like the $99 each way is restricted to only one of 3 flights in each direction. Others price out at $149 each way. DFW to MSP, meanwhile, priced out at $89 each way for all options. I agree it’s odd that they’d charge more for an upgrade at the counter. I still remember the good old days from about 15 years ago where DL would sell you an upgrade at the gate for $50.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • Pre-Departure Beverage Economy
    Pre-Departure Beverage…In Economy Class?! May 9, 2025
  • Breeze Airways A220
    My First Time Flying Breeze Airways: Friendly, Fashionable, But Filthy… May 9, 2025
  • Richard Quest Island Hopper
    “We Are Delivering The Mail And Milk!” Richard Quest Flies The United Airlines Island Hopper May 9, 2025
  • Hyatt gifted awards restriction
    Hyatt’s New Award Gifting Rule Just Made My Life Harder… May 9, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • a room with a table and benches
    Where To Smoke At Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) April 26, 2025
  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.