Sun Country vs Southwest 2026: MSP Value or National Reach?

Sun Country Airlines and Southwest Airlines both fly all-Boeing 737 fleets across the US, but the similarity mostly ends there. Sun Country is a Minneapolis-based hybrid carrier with 45 passenger jets, an Amazon cargo operation generating $215 million in projected 2026 revenue, and a pending acquisition by Allegiant that could close as early as May 2026. Southwest is one of America’s largest airlines with 828 aircraft, 121 destinations, and a 2026 transformation that introduced assigned seating, extra legroom sections, and checked bag fees for the first time in the airline’s history.

Southwest is the better airline for most travelers. It includes a free carry-on on every fare, serves a network that dwarfs Sun Country’s, and earned The Wall Street Journal’s best US airline ranking for 2025. Sun Country counters with cheaper base fares from Minneapolis on leisure routes, a slightly better on-time percentage (82.7 versus 81.7), and the lowest cancellation rate of any US carrier at 0.3 percent. If you live in Minneapolis and fly to warm-weather destinations a few times a year, Sun Country’s pricing can genuinely beat Southwest. For everyone else, Southwest’s network, baggage policy, and operational scale make it the default choice.

The Allegiant acquisition looming over Sun Country adds a layer of uncertainty. The DOT approved the deal on April 15, 2026, and closing is expected in May. What happens to Sun Country’s routes, pricing, and brand post-merger is not yet clear. If you are booking Sun Country for travel later in 2026, keep that transition in mind.

What We Looked For

• Carry-on and bag fees, where Southwest’s free carry-on is still the industry outlier
• Total trip cost from Minneapolis, the only hub where these airlines truly compete head-to-head
• On-time performance, both airlines in the top third of US carriers
• Route network, 100 airports versus 121 destinations at vastly different scales
• Loyalty programs, Sun Country Rewards versus Rapid Rewards and the Companion Pass
• Southwest’s 2026 changes, assigned seating, bag fees, and cabin reconfiguration
• The Allegiant-Sun Country merger, what it means for travelers booking today

Bags and Fees Head-to-Head

Carry-on. Southwest includes a free carry-on bag on every fare, no exceptions. The sizer is 24x16x10 inches with no weight limit. Sun Country charges $30 to $40 at booking for a carry-on (24x16x11 inches, 35 lb weight limit), rising to $55 at the airport plus a $10 gate handling fee. On the cheapest ticket, Southwest gives you a free overhead bag. Sun Country charges $30 or more for the same privilege.

Checked bags. Southwest ended its “Bags Fly Free” policy in May 2025 and raised fees again in April 2026. The first checked bag now costs $45, the second $55, at 50 lbs and 62 linear inches. Sun Country charges $30 to $45 at booking for the first checked bag, also at 50 lbs and 62 linear inches. On paper, Sun Country’s checked bag can be cheaper at booking. But Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cardholders get one free checked bag (for the cardholder plus up to 8 passengers on the same reservation), A-List members get one free, and A-List Preferred and Business Select fares get two free. Sun Country has no comparable waivers.

Personal item. Southwest’s personal item sizer (18.5x8.5x13.5 inches) is more generous than Sun Country’s (17x13x9 inches). Both are free on every fare.

Winner for carry-on: Southwest. Free on every fare, no weight limit. Winner for checked bag base price: Sun Country. $30-45 at booking versus $45. Winner for checked bag with credit card: Southwest. Free with Rapid Rewards cards.

Winner: carry-on fee

Southwest / free on all fares vs $30-40 at booking

Winner: checked bag base price

Sun Country / $30-45 at booking vs $45

Winner: checked bag with card/status

Southwest / free for cardholders + 8 companions

Seats and Comfort

Standard economy. Southwest offers 31 inches of seat pitch across its 737 fleet (reduced by approximately 1 inch from prior configurations as part of the 2026 cabin reconfiguration). Sun Country’s standard seats offer 29 to 30 inches. Southwest has the edge by 1 to 2 inches.

Extra legroom. Both airlines now sell premium-position seats. Southwest’s new Extra Legroom section offers 34 inches of pitch in the first few rows and exit rows, with enhanced snacks and complimentary premium beverages. Sun Country’s “Best” seats offer 34 to 35 inches of pitch, and exit rows reach 39 inches. Sun Country’s best seats actually offer more peak legroom, though Southwest’s extra legroom section is a more consistent product.

Seat selection. Southwest introduced assigned seating on January 27, 2026, replacing its iconic open-boarding system. Customers now choose seats at booking, bringing Southwest in line with every other US airline. Sun Country has always had assigned seating with paid selection on base fares.

Wi-Fi. Southwest offers free Wi-Fi for all Rapid Rewards members (membership is free) via its T-Mobile partnership, with Starlink installation beginning summer 2026 on 300-plus planes. Sun Country does not offer Wi-Fi. The airline has an AirFi system for offline entertainment (movies, games, music on personal devices), but no internet connectivity. Wi-Fi is expected around 2027 or 2028.

Entertainment. Neither airline has seatback screens. Both rely on personal devices. Southwest’s entertainment portal offers live TV, movies, and messaging through the Wi-Fi connection. Sun Country’s AirFi portal is offline only.

Winner: standard seat pitch

Southwest / 31 in vs 29-30 in

Winner: max extra legroom

Sun Country / exit rows at 39 in vs 34 in

Winner: Wi-Fi

Southwest / free for Rapid Rewards members vs none

Winner: assigned seating

Tie / both now offer assigned seats

On-Time Performance and Cancellations

Both airlines are reliable by US standards. Sun Country posted 82.7 percent on-time arrivals in 2025 with a 0.3 percent cancellation rate, one of the lowest in the country. Southwest posted 81.7 percent on-time with a 0.84 percent cancellation rate and was named the best US airline by The Wall Street Journal for 2025, driven partly by the industry’s lowest complaint rate at 1.71 per 100,000 passengers.

The numbers are close enough that the comparison is effectively a tie on on-time performance. On cancellations, Sun Country’s 0.3 percent rate is exceptional, though the smaller operation (about 45 passenger aircraft versus 828) makes the comparison less apples-to-apples. Southwest invested $1.5 billion in winter operations after its December 2022 meltdown, and the results show: sub-1 percent cancellation rates for two consecutive years.

What separates them in practice is recovery. If Southwest cancels your flight, you have 2,400-plus daily departures and rebooking options on the same airline. If Sun Country cancels your Minneapolis-to-Cancun flight that runs twice a week, your options are limited.

Winner: on-time arrivals

Tie / 82.7% vs 81.7% in 2025

Winner: cancellation rate

Sun Country / 0.3% vs 0.84%

Winner: disruption recovery

Southwest / 2,400+ daily departures vs ~100

Route Network

This is the most lopsided category in the comparison. Southwest operates 828 aircraft serving 121 destinations across 42 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and 10 international markets. The airline has major operations at Dallas Love Field, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Baltimore, Chicago Midway, Houston Hobby, and Oakland, among others. Southwest added Knoxville and Sonoma County service in early 2026.

Sun Country operates about 45 passenger 737s serving approximately 100 airports across the US, Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the Caribbean. Nearly every route originates from or connects through Minneapolis-Saint Paul. The airline added Tulsa service and Tulsa-to-Cancun routes in May 2026. Sun Country’s route model is leisure-focused: beach destinations in winter, national parks in summer, with limited year-round service on most routes.

Where Sun Country wins is on nonstop leisure routes from Minneapolis that Southwest does not serve. Sun Country connects MSP to smaller vacation destinations that would not support Southwest’s daily frequency requirements. If you live in the Twin Cities and want a cheap nonstop to a resort city, Sun Country’s schedule may be the only game in town.

The Amazon cargo dimension is worth noting. Sun Country operates 20 cargo 737-800 freighters for Amazon (growing to 22 by summer 2026), generating over $215 million in projected 2026 revenue. This dual-revenue model subsidizes the passenger operation and helps Sun Country offer lower base fares than its passenger revenue alone would support.

Winner: total destinations

Southwest / 121 vs ~100 airports

Winner: daily departures

Southwest / 2,400+ vs ~100

Winner: MSP leisure nonstops

Sun Country / routes Southwest doesn't serve from MSP

Loyalty Programs

Southwest Rapid Rewards remains one of the strongest US airline loyalty programs despite the 2026 changes. Points earn per dollar based on fare type, with 25 percent bonus earning for A-List and 100 percent bonus for A-List Preferred. The Companion Pass, earned at 135,000 tier-qualifying points or 100 qualifying flights, allows a designated companion to fly free (taxes and fees only) for the remainder of the year plus the following year. A-List status (20 one-way flights or 35,000 points) unlocks one free checked bag, preferred seats, extra legroom upgrades 48 hours before departure, and priority boarding.

Sun Country Rewards earns 2 points per dollar on Sun Country purchases and 1 point per dollar on third-party bookings. Redemption is straightforward: 100 points equals $1 toward Sun Country purchases. The program has three tiers (Plus, Silver, Gold) and points expire after 36 months of inactivity. There are no airline partners, no alliance membership, and no lounge access.

The Companion Pass alone makes Rapid Rewards the more valuable program for frequent travelers. Sun Country Rewards is simpler and adequate for occasional MSP-based leisure flyers, but it cannot compete with the breadth of Southwest’s program.

Winner: Companion Pass value

Southwest / free companion travel all year

Winner: earning simplicity

Sun Country / 2 pts/$1, 100 pts = $1 credit

Winner: elite status benefits

Southwest / A-List: free bags, upgrades, priority

The Allegiant-Sun Country Merger

The biggest variable for Sun Country travelers in 2026 is the pending Allegiant acquisition. Allegiant Travel announced the deal, and the DOT approved it on April 15, 2026. Shareholder votes are scheduled for May 8, with closing expected as early as May 13. Both airlines will initially continue operating under their own brands, but the combined entity will eventually operate under the Allegiant name once the FAA grants a single operating certificate.

What this means for travelers:

• Sun Country’s Minneapolis hub and existing routes are expected to continue in the near term
• The Amazon cargo partnership will continue post-merger
• Pricing, route network, and branding changes are likely but not yet announced
• If you are booking Sun Country for travel in late 2026 or 2027, you may end up flying what is effectively an Allegiant operation

This does not make Sun Country a bad booking today. But it does mean the airline you are comparing to Southwest may look different by the time you fly.

Who Should Pick Sun Country

• You live in Minneapolis-Saint Paul and Sun Country offers the cheapest nonstop to your leisure destination
• You are flying with only a personal item and Sun Country’s base fare is significantly cheaper
• You want exit row seats at 39 inches of pitch, more than any Southwest seat offers
• You are comfortable with no Wi-Fi, no entertainment, and a no-frills experience in exchange for a lower fare
• You fly MSP-based leisure routes frequently enough to earn Sun Country Rewards status
• You are a pet traveler: Sun Country charges $75 for a cabin pet versus Southwest’s $125

Who Should Pick Southwest

• You want a free carry-on bag on every fare, no add-ons needed
• You want free Wi-Fi on your flight through Rapid Rewards membership (free to join)
• You need the Companion Pass for free companion travel across 121 destinations
• You want 31 inches of standard legroom versus 29-30 on Sun Country
• You are connecting or flying routes outside Minneapolis, where Southwest’s network is dramatically larger
• You want disruption protection from an airline with 2,400-plus daily departures and rebooking flexibility
• You value assigned seating with confirmed seat selection at booking (both now offer this)
• You are checking a bag and have a Southwest credit card for a free first bag

The Bottom Line

Southwest is the better airline for most travelers. The free carry-on alone saves $30 to $55 versus Sun Country on every flight. Add free Wi-Fi, 2 more inches of standard legroom, a 121-destination network, and the Companion Pass, and Southwest wins on value across nearly every metric. The 2026 transformation (assigned seating, extra legroom section, checked bag fees) has made Southwest more like a traditional airline, but the core product is still strong.

Sun Country is the better choice for a specific traveler: someone based in Minneapolis who flies leisure routes a few times a year, packs light, and cares more about the base fare than the inflight experience. Sun Country’s 0.3 percent cancellation rate is genuinely impressive, and the Amazon cargo-subsidized model keeps fares competitive on thin leisure routes that other airlines cannot serve profitably.

The Allegiant merger is the wildcard. If it closes as expected in May 2026, Sun Country’s identity as an independent airline has a defined expiration date. Book Sun Country when the price is right from MSP and the route fits. But for a default airline choice in 2026, Southwest’s scale, reliability, and included amenities make it the safer bet.