Does Sun Country Airlines Have First Class?
Sun Country Airlines no longer offers First Class Seats to passengers. The airline has refurbished its seating configuration, making it an all-economy carrier. Despite the transition, airline authorities refrain from making it a run-of-the-mill ultra-low-cost carrier. They still offer premium seats known as ‘Best’ Seats.
The aircraft is also equipped with ‘Exit Row’ Seats, which are a bit more spacious than the standard ones. Additional amenities can also be availed by the flyers purchasing these seats. To acquire a richer perspective, the travellers associated with Sun Country Airlines can go through the details explained below.
Why Did Sun Country Airlines Discontinue Its First Class?
Sun Country Airlines metamorphosed to this model after Apollo Management Group bought the airline, and the new CEO, Jude Bricker, took the helm of the company. There were years of financial crisis involved, which led to this major decision. A close observation of customer behaviour and several unnecessary expenditures resulted in this outcome. The airline operates to more than 140 destinations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, among others.
As Jude Bricker wrote about the customers, “While they value product and service, their behaviour tells us that they care most about affordable airfare when making their travel decisions.” Hence, eliminating the first class was in the best of the company’s interest and the only way left to revive it.
Along with this, the authorities also adopted the ‘a la carte’ pricing model in which they provide cheaper seats but charge for all sorts of add-ons. However, the company’s owner, Marty Davis, emphasised that the modernised Sun Country Airlines won’t “nickel and dime customers.”
These attempts and the removal of the First Class turned out to be a successful initiative, making Sun Country Airlines 2025’s ‘Airline Market Leader by Air Transport World (ATW)’.
What Does Sun Country Airlines Offer in Place of Its First Class?
Instead of having separate Economy and First Class Cabins, Sun Country Airlines now incorporates the following seats in the all-economy framework. These seats are as follows:
- Standard Seats
- Best Seats, also known as Premium Seats
- Exit Row Seats
The facilities of these three seats are explained in detail below.
Best Seats on Alaska Airlines
The Best Seats are literally the most comfortable seats of the whole aircraft. They are present at the front. These passengers will benefit from a vast number of airport and onboard amenities. Some of them are listed here:
- Priority Boarding
- Complimentary Alcoholic or Non-alcoholic Beverage
- Complimentary Snacks have been offered on some flights
- Priority Deplaning
These seats are outfitted with the following facilities:
- Seat Pitch/Legroom of 34”
- Seats with recline of more than 2 inches
- In-Seat Power Outlit
- In-Seat USB Port
- In-Flight Entertainment through AirFi
- Adjustable Orange Headrest
- Armrests
- Mesh Pockets
- Reading Lights
- Overhead Air Vents
The passengers have mixed reviews regarding this category of Seats. While some of the flyers regard this as a value deal, where they can enjoy additional legroom and extra recline comfort along with other amenities, at just a small cost difference. The others are quite disappointed with the airline as they were expecting the Best Seats to be something similar to the traditional cushioned and overly comfortable First Class Seats. The little extra legroom and a few added facilities couldn’t convince them. However, in terms of complimentary beverages, Minnesota delicacies, and in-seat outlets turn out to be in favour of the company.
Exit Row Seats on Alaska Airlines
These are the second-best seats on the aircraft. These rows are designed to offer some facilities. These are fewer than the Best Seats but more than the Standard Economy Seats.
However, no complimentary benefits except for a free non-alcoholic beverage are available on these seats. But, they are still considered Better because of being more spacious than the Best Seats. The flyers of this seat type can also enjoy Quick Deplaning.
The features of the Better Seats are presented below:
- Seat Pitch/Legroom of 39”
- Seats with a recline of 2 inches
- In-Seat Power Outlit
- In-Seat USB Port
- In-Flight Entertainment through AirFi
- Mesh Pockets
- Armrests
- Reading Lights
- Overhead Air Vents
The travellers are generally satisfied with the Exit Row Seats. They don’t find it unworthy, and many of them prefer paying for them for extra legroom and comfort. Those who prefer a relaxing air travel prefer these seats. Although, rest of the customers find the Exit Row Seats uncomfortable and don’t feel spending money on them. As the bags can’t be kept in the front because of safety reasons and it gets difficult for customers to access their stuff with seat belts on. The lack of cushioned features and complimentary services makes them unwelcome from the passenger’s perspective.
Standard Seats on Alaska Airlines
The Standard Seats are the most basic, general Economy Seats of Sun Country Airlines. They have all the fundamental seat amenities. It lacks any special service or spaciousness. Although members can avail a non-alcoholic complimentary beverage and water even in these seats.
The in-seat facilities are as written down clearly below:
- Seat Pitch/Legroom of 29” or 30”
- Seats with a recline of 2 inches
- In-Seat Power Outlit
- In-Seat USB Port
- In-Flight Entertainment through AirFi
- Mesh Pockets
- Armrests
- Reading Lights
- Overhead Air Vents
The limited legroom and recline make it utterly uncomfortable for passengers who have to deal with Sun Country for longer durations. Some reviews even stated that the Standard Seats were not clean and unhygienic. The uncushioned, ultra slimline, bench-like seats caused discomfort, and the absence of hardshell seat pockets makes it annoying for the person sitting on the seats. Regardless of these issues, tons of customers fly with the airline because of its affordable prices and the fact that it offers better services as compared to other low-cost carriers, which makes it stand apart in the world of aviation.
Traditional First Class vs. Updated Model
To further explore the topic of Sun Country’s First Class, it is significant to know the difference between the traditional and the updated versions of the company. The airline was one of the most admired carriers when it used to have first-class cabins. The airport and in-cabin luxuries that were rendered to the passengers associated with the first class are mentioned below:
- Cushioned Seats
- Separate Cabins
- Centre Console between the Seats
- Swing out drink tray
- Complimentary Drinks were served
- Complimentary Snacks were served
- Sun Country Airlines’ Digital Entertainment Devices
- Complimentary Earphones were also distributed
- Hot In-flight Meals
- In-Flight Beverages
- Hot Desserts
- Snacks and Munchies
- Mesh Pockets
This wide array of facilities and plush seats always fascinated the travellers, and the first class became the flyer’s choice. In comparison to these perks offered in the traditional versions of Sun Country, the updated ultra-low-cost model doesn’t match the expectations of the long-time clients. Even the Best Seats are not regarded as even a little bit closer to the First Class, as the new version has slimline and uncomfortable seats with way too less perks. The replacement of hot meals with snacks and bistro boxes makes passengers feel disappointed with the new first class Sun Country. Nevertheless, flyers still prefer Sun Country, taking into account the low-priced ticket fares and safety record of the airline.
Conclusion
It can be firmly concluded that Sun Country has been completely transformed into a low-cost American carrier. They don’t incorporate the First Class facilities in their aircraft anymore. Instead, they offer premium ‘Best’ Seats in the economy cabins. This metamorphosed system, although quite distinct from the previous one. Though the flyers are not content with the Best Seats when it comes to First Class but they are still preferred and appreciated by cost-conscious passengers. In recent years, the Best Seats have been constantly improved by the airlines.
FAQs
No, Sun Country doesn’t offer First Class airline.
Yes, out of all the seats, the Best Seats are the most luxurious ones in Sun Country Airlines.
Yes, AirFi is available for all the passengers flying with Sun Country.
Yes, Sun Country provides complimentary snacks to Best Seats travellers.
According to the traveller’s experience, the airline’s First Class is acknowledged as much better and more admired than the Best Seats of the carrier.