---
type: Airline Policy
title: Sun Country Airlines — Child & Family Travel Policy
description: "Independent family travel guide summarizing Sun Country Airlines' published infant, stroller, UM and boarding policies for parents."
resource: https://www.velivolotravel.com/airlines-child-policy/sun-country-airlines/
tags: [airline, policy, us-other, iata-sy]
timestamp: 2026-06-03
---
# Flying Sun Country with Kids: UM Service, Strollers & Infant Policies

**Quick Answer**: Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, UM service costs USD 75 each way — the lowest fee among US ULCCs accepting solo-child travel — for ages 5–14 non-stop.

**TL;DR**: Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, lap infants under 24 months travel free on all domestic and international routes — but counter check-in is required, as online infant-add is not supported. Sun Country is the only US ULCC besides Spirit that accepts unaccompanied minors (ages 5–14, USD 75 each way — the cluster's lowest fee), making it the practical choice for solo-child leisure travel. Trade-offs include a paid carry-on structure (USD 35–55), no DOT family-seating commitment, and zero bassinets or in-flight entertainment on its all-737 fleet.

## At a Glance
- **Lap Infant**: Free (domestic & intl) — Under 2 years; counter check-in required
- **Family Boarding**: Yes — Pre-board with infants under 2
- **Stroller Check**: Free — Gate or counter; jet-bridge return
- **Car Seat Check**: Free — FAA sticker required for in-cabin use
- **UM Service**: USD 75 each way — Ages 5–14; non-stop flights only

## Quick Facts
- Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, lap infants under 24 months travel free on all domestic and international routes, though counter check-in is required — online infant-add is not supported.
- Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service costs USD 75 each way for children ages 5–14, the lowest fee in the US ULCC segment, on non-stop flights only.
- Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, one stroller and one car seat per fare-paying passenger are gate-checked free, with jet-bridge return at most stations.
- Sun Country operates an all-Boeing 737-700/-800/-900 fleet with no bassinets, no in-flight entertainment, and no in-flight Wi-Fi on any route.
- Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, a pending acquisition by Allegiant Air expected to close around May 2026 would combine the two carriers into the largest US leisure-focused airline entity.

## Velivolo Family Score: 5.5/10 — Decent
- **Lap Infant Cost** (8/10): Free on domestic and international routes including Mexico and Caribbean.
- **Family Boarding** (6/10): Pre-boarding for families with children under 2; no DOT commitment for adjacency.
- **Stroller & Car Seat** (7/10): Free gate check for strollers and car seats; jet-bridge return at most stations.
- **Bassinet & Onboard** (1/10): No bassinets on any aircraft; 737-700/-800/-900 narrow-body leisure fleet only.
- **Unaccompanied Minor** (4/10): USD 75 each way — cluster-lowest UM fee; mandatory ages 5–14; non-stop flights only.
- **Baggage for Kids** (4/10): Paid carry-on USD 35–55; free personal item; lap infants get no separate allowance.

## Lap Infant
- **Cost (Domestic)**: Free
- **Cost (International)**: Free (Mexico/Caribbean leisure routes)
- **Age Limit**: Under 24 months at time of travel
- **Documents**: Birth certificate, Government-issued ID for age verification at check-in, Passport (international routes)

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, children under 24 months at time of travel may fly as lap infants at no base fare cost on domestic and international routes including Mexico and Caribbean leisure markets. Counter check-in is required to add a lap infant — the airline does not support online addition.

**Source**: https://www.suncountry.com/travel-info/family-travel

## Family Boarding
- **Available**: Yes
- **Boarding Zone**: Pre-board with infants under 2, before general zones
- **Age Eligibility**: Infants under 2 years old

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, families traveling with infants under 2 years of age are invited to pre-board before general zone boarding begins. No fee is charged for family pre-boarding.

## Stroller & Car Seat
Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, one stroller and one car seat per fare-paying passenger may be checked free at the gate or at the ticket counter. The all-737 fleet supports jet-bridge stroller return at most stations Sun Country serves.

- **Standard Stroller** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or counter, Size: No published size limit. Includes umbrella, full-size, and jogging strollers; jet-bridge return at most stations.
- **Car Seat** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or counter, Size: FAA-approved sticker required for in-cabin use. One per fare-paying passenger checked free; must display FAA approval label for in-cabin restraint.
- **Booster Seat** — Fee: Free, Check at: Gate or counter, Size: Treated as a child safety device. Accepted under the same child-safety-device allowance as car seats; note that backless boosters are not FAA-approved for in-cabin use.
- **Pack-n-Play / Travel Crib** — Fee: Counts as checked bag, Check at: Counter only, Size: Standard checked-bag dimensions and weight apply. Not included in the free child-safety-device allowance; standard checked-bag fees apply.

## Baggage by Age
- **Lap Infant (Under 2)** — Carry-on: None — shares parent's allowance; Checked: None; Personal: 1 free diaper bag (exempt, extra to parent's personal item). No paid seat equals no individual baggage allowance; diaper bag exempt per family-travel page.
- **Infant with Seat (Under 2)** — Carry-on: Same as adult ticket tier (paid add-on USD 35–55); Checked: Same as adult ticket tier; Personal: 1 personal item + 1 diaper bag (exempt). Purchasing a seat unlocks full adult baggage rights for the infant.
- **Child 2+ (Adult Fare)** — Carry-on: Same as adult ticket (paid carry-on USD 35–55); Checked: Standard checked-bag fees apply; Personal: 1 free personal item included. All passengers 2 and older pay full adult fare with identical baggage rules.

## Bassinet & Onboard
- **Bassinet Available**: No




Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, no bassinet service is available on any aircraft in its fleet. The all-Boeing 737-700/-800/-900 narrow-body fleet is deployed on leisure routes and is not equipped with bulkhead bassinet mounts. Parents should plan for in-arms infant care throughout the flight.

## Child Fare
- **No child discount**

Per Sun Country Airlines' published pricing policy, there is no child fare discount for passengers aged 2 and older — all ticketed children pay the full adult fare. This is the standard ULCC model shared by Frontier, Allegiant, Avelo, and Spirit in the US market. The only age-based fare concession is the lap-infant free policy for children under 24 months. Parents booking a family of four on Sun Country should budget for four full adult fares (excluding lap infants), plus paid carry-on and seat-selection fees as applicable. Always verify the booking total before purchase to account for all ancillary charges.

## Unaccompanied Minor
- **Available**: Yes
- **Fee**: USD 75 each way

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service is available for children ages 5 through 14 at USD 75 each way — the lowest unaccompanied minor fee in the US ULCC segment. Service is mandatory for ages 5–14, restricted to non-stop flights, and must be booked by phone.

## Industry Comparison
### How Sun Country compares to US ULCC peers on family policies

Sun Country occupies a distinctive position in the US ULCC segment that most family-travel resources overlook. The carrier's headline differentiator is its unaccompanied minor program: per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, UM service is available for ages 5–14 at USD 75 each way — the cluster-lowest fee and meaningfully cheaper than Spirit Airlines' USD 150. In the ULCC segment, only Sun Country and Spirit accept children traveling alone; Frontier, Allegiant, and Avelo do not transport unaccompanied minors under 15.

The pending Allegiant Air acquisition, expected to close around May 2026, would combine the two MSP-anchored leisure carriers into what would be the largest US leisure-focused airline entity. Allegiant's current policy does not accept unaccompanied minors under 15 — an important structural gap that families booking around the merger timeline should verify before traveling.

On lap-infant policy, Sun Country matches the ULCC cluster baseline: per the carrier's published policy, lap infants under 24 months travel free on domestic and international leisure routes. The operational distinction is counter check-in — online infant addition is not supported, unlike Delta or United.

The all-737-700/-800/-900 fleet means zero bassinets fleet-wide — the same structural gap as Frontier, Allegiant, Avelo, and Spirit. Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, parents comparing Sun Country to Singapore Airlines or Lufthansa for long-haul travel will find the gap significant: Singapore offers industry-highest bassinets on 777/A380, where the airline does not compete.

Sun Country is not on the DOT Family-Seating Dashboard's commitment list — unlike Spirit and Frontier, which carry the federal adjacency guarantee on qualifying fares. For families where sitting together matters more than UM access, Spirit may be a stronger fit. For parents sending children solo from MSP, Sun Country's USD 75 UM fee is the cluster's best-value option.

## Family Pros & Cons
**Pros:**
- USD 75 UM fee is the lowest in the US ULCC segment — half of Spirit's USD 150 — for solo-child non-stop travel
- Lap infants under 24 months travel free on domestic and all international leisure routes including Mexico and Caribbean
- Free stroller and car seat gate check with jet-bridge return at most stations on the all-737 fleet
- Diaper bag is exempt from carry-on and personal item counts — a meaningful benefit vs bare-fare peers
- Only US ULCC outside Spirit to accept unaccompanied minors, making it the structural choice for leisure solo-child travel

**Cons:**
- Counter check-in required for lap infants — online addition not supported, requiring extra airport time
- Not on the DOT Family-Seating Dashboard commitment list — adjacency requires paid seat selection
- No bassinets, no in-flight entertainment, no Wi-Fi on any route or aircraft type
- Paid carry-on USD 35–55 adds cost for families who need overhead bag space
- Unaccompanied minor service restricted to non-stop routes only — no connecting itineraries

## Parent Tips
- **Add lap infant at counter**: Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, online infant-add is not supported. Arrive 90 minutes before departure to complete the lap-infant add at the ticket counter. Bring the birth certificate or government-issued age document — agents require proof before issuing the updated boarding confirmation.
- **Lock seats at booking**: Sun Country is not on the DOT Family-Seating Dashboard's commitment list. Without paid seat selection, the system may assign your family to non-adjacent rows. Pay for seat selection at the time of booking — fees are typically lower when purchased early than at check-in or the gate.
- **Book UM by phone early**: Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service at USD 75 each way must be booked by phone — not online. Call early, especially for peak summer and holiday travel, to ensure the non-stop route you need is available and the UM slot is confirmed with both guardian details recorded.
- **Pack everything for the flight**: Velivolo recommends treating Sun Country flights as self-catered: no kids' meals, no in-flight entertainment, and no Wi-Fi are available. Pre-load a tablet with downloaded content, pack formula and snacks in your exempt diaper bag, and bring child-size headphones — these items will cover flights of up to 4 hours to leisure destinations.

## FAQ
### Are infants charged a fare on Sun Country Airlines?

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, lap infants under 24 months at time of travel fly free on domestic routes and on international leisure routes including Mexico and Caribbean destinations. There is no base fare charged for a lap infant. However, online booking does not support adding a lap infant — parents must complete the lap-infant registration at the airport ticket counter on departure day, requiring a birth certificate or government-issued age-verification document. If the infant turns 24 months during a round trip, the return leg requires a separately purchased adult fare. Always verify the current policy directly at suncountry.com before booking.

### Does my infant need their own seat on Sun Country Airlines?

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, infants under 24 months may travel as lap infants at no base fare cost, meaning a separate seat is not required. However, the FAA strongly recommends that all children under 40 pounds use an FAA-approved child restraint system (CRS) secured in their own seat for maximum safety during takeoff, landing, and turbulence. If you choose to purchase a seat for your infant on Sun Country, the full adult fare applies — there is no infant seat discount. An FAA-approved car seat sticker is required to use the restraint in-cabin. Verify the latest requirements at suncountry.com before traveling.

### Can I reserve a bassinet on Sun Country Airlines?

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, no bassinet service is offered on any aircraft. The entire Sun Country fleet consists of Boeing 737-700, 737-800, and 737-900 narrow-body aircraft configured for US domestic and leisure international routes — none of these aircraft carry bulkhead bassinet mounts. This is a structural limitation of the narrow-body fleet type, not a temporary policy. Parents of infants under approximately 6 months who require bassinet availability should consider long-haul wide-body carriers such as Lufthansa, Emirates, or Singapore Airlines, all of which offer reservable bassinets. Verify the current fleet and policy at suncountry.com.

### What is the child baggage allowance on Sun Country Airlines?

Per Sun Country Airlines' published baggage policy, carry-on bags are a paid add-on ranging from USD 35 to USD 55 depending on route and when purchased, while one personal item is included free per ticketed passenger. Lap infants receive no individual baggage allowance — they share the accompanying adult's allowance. Children 2 and older who hold paid seats receive the same allowance as adult passengers, including the paid carry-on tier. The diaper bag is exempt from the carry-on and personal item counts per the carrier's family-travel page, which is a meaningful benefit. Pack formula, diapers, snacks, and essential baby items in the exempt diaper bag. Verify current fee amounts at suncountry.com before travel.

### What are Sun Country unaccompanied minor rules?

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, unaccompanied minor service is available for children ages 5 through 14 at USD 75 each way — the lowest unaccompanied minor fee in the US ultra-low-cost carrier segment. Service is mandatory for children 5–14 traveling without an adult. Children under 5 are not permitted to travel as unaccompanied minors. The service is restricted to non-stop flights only — connecting itineraries are not accepted. Booking must be completed by phone through Sun Country's reservations channel, not online. Both the drop-off adult and the designated pickup adult must provide government-issued photo identification. Verify all requirements and book early through suncountry.com's contact options.

### Can I add a Sun Country lap infant online?

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, online addition of a lap infant is not supported — neither through the website nor through the mobile app. This is a meaningful operational difference from many US carriers that allow lap-infant add in the 'Manage My Booking' flow. To add a lap infant, parents must arrive at the airport ticket counter with the infant's birth certificate or government-issued age-verification document and complete the registration in person. Expect this process to add approximately 15 to 20 minutes to check-in. Arrive at least 90 minutes before your scheduled departure to allow sufficient time. Always confirm the counter-check-in requirement directly at suncountry.com before your travel date.

### When does the Allegiant–Sun Country merger close?

According to Sun Country Airlines' published corporate information and public regulatory filings, a pending acquisition by Allegiant Air is expected to close around May 2026. If completed, the combined entity would operate as the largest US leisure-focused carrier, unifying two Minneapolis-St. Paul-anchored bare-fare leisure networks. As of this guide's update date, Sun Country continues to operate independently with its published family policies intact through the transition period. Parents booking travel around or after the expected close date should verify whether any policy changes take effect post-merger. Always check directly at suncountry.com for the most current operational status before booking.

### Does Sun Country have family boarding?

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, families traveling with infants under 2 years of age are invited to pre-board before general zone boarding. This pre-boarding is automatic — no special request is needed — and is included at no additional fee with any standard ticket. However, Sun Country is not on the DOT Family-Seating Dashboard's commitment list, which means the carrier has not committed to seating children adjacent to accompanying adults without an additional charge. Parents who do not purchase seat selection may find their children assigned to non-adjacent rows. To guarantee adjacent seats, paid seat selection is recommended at time of booking. Verify the current boarding policy at suncountry.com.

### Are strollers free to gate-check on Sun Country Airlines?

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, one stroller per fare-paying passenger is gate-checked or counter-checked free of charge. This covers umbrella strollers, full-size strollers, and jogging strollers — Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, sun Country does not publish a size restriction on strollers. The all-Boeing 737-700/-800/-900 fleet supports jet-bridge stroller return at most stations the carrier serves, meaning the stroller is typically waiting for you at the aircraft door upon arrival rather than at baggage claim. To gate-check, tag the stroller at the ticket counter during check-in for faster processing, then hand it to the gate agent at the jet bridge just before boarding. Verify specific station procedures at suncountry.com.

### Does Sun Country offer a child fare discount?

Per Sun Country Airlines' published pricing policy, no child fare discount is offered for passengers 2 years of age and older. Every ticketed child 2 and above pays the full adult fare — this is standard practice across all five US ultra-low-cost carriers (Sun Country, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, and Avelo). The only age-based fare concession is the lap-infant free policy for children under 24 months. Families booking a party of four adults and children on Sun Country should budget for full adult fares for each traveling child 2 and older, plus applicable carry-on fees (USD 35–55) and seat-selection fees if adjacency is required. Always verify the total booking cost at suncountry.com before purchase.

### Is Sun Country on the DOT Family Seating Dashboard?

According to the US Department of Transportation Family Seating Dashboard (transportation.gov/airconsumer/family-seating-dashboard), Sun Country Airlines is not on the DOT's commitment list for fee-free adjacent seating for children. This means the carrier has not publicly committed to seating children next to accompanying adults without charging a seat-selection fee. Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines are on the DOT commitment list for this guarantee on qualifying fares, making them a better fit for families where sitting together is non-negotiable without paying extra. For Sun Country passengers, purchasing paid seat selection at the time of booking is the only reliable method to guarantee adjacent seats. Verify status at transportation.gov.

### How does Sun Country's UM fee compare to other US airlines?

Per Sun Country Airlines' published policy, the unaccompanied minor fee of USD 75 each way is the lowest UM fee among US ultra-low-cost carriers that accept unaccompanied children. Spirit Airlines charges USD 150 each way for the same age range of 5–14 years — exactly double Sun Country's rate. Among US mid-tier carriers, Southwest charges USD 100 each way and JetBlue charges USD 150 each way. US legacy carriers Delta and American charge USD 150 per leg with connections. Frontier Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Avelo Airlines do not transport unaccompanied minors under 15 at all, making Sun Country the only true ULCC value option for solo-child leisure travel. Always verify current fees directly at suncountry.com before booking.

## Related Airlines
- [Allegiant Air](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/allegiant-air.md) (family score 5.2/10) — Pending merger partner with Sun Country; does not accept UM under 15 — key policy contrast.
- [Spirit Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/spirit-airlines.md) (family score 5.6/10) — Only other ULCC accepting UM 5–14 (USD 150 vs Sun Country USD 75); on DOT commitment list.
- [Frontier Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/frontier-airlines.md) (family score 5.3/10) — On DOT family-seating commitment list but does not accept UM under 15 — compare before booking.
- [Southwest Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/southwest-airlines.md) (family score 6.3/10) — MSP hub-rival mid-tier carrier with 2 free checked bags and UM service at USD 100 each way.
- [Singapore Airlines](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/singapore-airlines.md) (family score 8.6/10) — Cross-region benchmark for bassinet service — industry-highest capacity and auto-allocation on wide-body fleet.

## Related Concepts
- [Back to Airlines Catalog](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/airlines/index.md)
- [Flying with a Baby item × airline guides](https://www.velivolotravel.com/okf/flying-with-a-baby/index.md)

## Sources
- [Sun Country Airlines — Family Travel (2026): Lap-infant, stroller, car seat, and family boarding policies](https://www.suncountry.com/travel-info/family-travel)
- [Sun Country Airlines — Baggage (2026): Carry-on, personal item, checked bag, and diaper bag allowances](https://www.suncountry.com/travel-info/baggage)
- [Sun Country Airlines — Unaccompanied Minors (2026): UM fee, age requirements, restrictions, and booking process](https://www.suncountry.com/travel-info/unaccompanied-minors)
- [US DOT — Family Seating Dashboard (2026): Airlines committed to fee-free adjacent seating for children](https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/family-seating-dashboard)
- [FAA — Flying with Children (2026): FAA car seat certification and child restraint safety requirements](https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children)

**Last Updated**: 2026-06-03
**Author**: Lia Tuso — Founder & CPST