Sun Country Airlines gives every passenger one free personal item — and charges for everything else. That covers the overhead carry-on, the first checked bag, the second, and the third. As an ultra-low-cost carrier, Sun Country keeps base fares low by unbundling luggage entirely, which means the amount you pay for bags depends almost entirely on one thing: when you buy them. The structure of Sun Country Baggage fees is straightforward once you know it, but it punishes anyone who waits until the airport. This guide breaks down everything from what are Sun Country baggage fees and size limits to who qualifies for free or discounted bags, and how to keep the total cost down.
Sun Country Baggage Fees at a Glance
| Bag Type | At Booking | After Booking | At the Airport / Gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal item | Free | Free | Free |
| Overhead carry-on | $25–$40 | $50 | $55 + $10 gate fee |
| First checked bag | $30–$40 | $50 | $55 + $10 gate fee |
| Second checked bag | $45 | $60 | $65 + $10 gate fee |
| Third checked bag | $45 | $60 | $65 + $10 gate fee |
All fees are per bag, per person, each way. The at-booking price varies by route — Sun Country does not publish a single fixed price because it uses dynamic pricing on bags. To get the exact cost for your specific flight, use the Bag Pricing calculator on suncountry.com before you pay.
Sun Country Carry-On Baggage Fees
The Personal Item — Free
Every Sun Country fare includes one free personal item. This is the bag that fits under the seat in front of you — a backpack, purse, laptop bag, or small duffel. The maximum size for a personal item is 17 x 13 x 9 inches. Sun Country staff check personal items against a sizer at the gate, so pack within the limit. If your personal item does not fit under the seat, it gets treated as an overhead bag at the gate price.
The Overhead Carry-On — Paid on Every Fare
Sun Country calls the overhead bin bag an “Overhead bag,” and it is a paid add-on on every single fare type. Nothing about a standard ticket includes it for free. The overhead carry-on must not exceed 24 x 16 x 11 inches and 35 pounds. That 35-pound weight limit is stricter than many airlines enforce on carry-ons, and Sun Country does apply it.
What Sun Country carry-on baggage fees cost in 2026:
- At booking: $25–$40 (varies by route)
- After booking, online or by phone: $50 flat
- At the airport or gate: $55 plus a $10 gate handling fee
A carry-on that costs $25 at booking can reach $65 at the gate — the same bag, a $40 difference, purely based on timing. If you miss paying at booking, pay online before you leave for the airport to avoid the gate handling fee.
One important note: if you pay for an overhead bag but board late and the bins are full, Sun Country will check your bag at the gate at no additional charge. The reverse is not true — if you did not pay for an overhead bag and show up at the gate with one, you will be charged the gate price plus the $10 fee.
Sun Country Checked Baggage Fees
Sun Country charges for all checked bags. The first checked bag runs from $30 to $40 at booking, depending on your route, then rises to a flat $50 after booking and $55 at the airport plus a $10 gate handling fee. The second and third checked bags cost $45 at booking, $60 after booking, and $65 plus the $10 fee at the gate.
The checked bag size and weight limits are:
- Maximum weight: 50 pounds
- Maximum size: 62 linear inches (length + width + height combined)
- Hard maximum: 100 pounds — bags above this are not accepted at all
- International routes to or from Canada, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico: 70-pound maximum
Sun Country Overweight and Oversize Fees
Any checked bag that exceeds 50 pounds or 62 linear inches faces an excess fee on top of the standard checked bag price. Sun Country restructured these fees on 3 September 2025, and the tiered excess fee now starts at $25, rising to approximately $100 depending on how far over the limits the bag is. Confirm the exact charge for your bag using the Bag Pricing calculator at suncountry.com before travel.
| Excess Type | Fee Range |
|---|---|
| Overweight (50–100 lbs) | $25–$100 |
| Oversize (over 62 linear inches) | $25–$100 |
| Maximum accepted weight | 100 lbs (70 lbs on select international routes) |
The $10 Gate Handling Fee Explained
The gate handling fee is an additional $10 charge applied to any bag you pay for at the gate — on top of the already-higher gate price. It applies to both overhead carry-ons and checked bags. If you miss adding your bags online, pay during web check-in or at the airport check-in counter to avoid it. The fee is avoidable entirely by paying before you reach the gate.
Who Gets Free or Discounted Bags on Sun Country
Sun Country Airlines baggage fees are not unavoidable for every passenger. A few specific groups receive free or reduced-cost bags.
| Traveler | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Active duty military (with Common Access Card) | 1 free overhead bag + 2 free checked bags; overweight and oversize fees waived on up to 2 checked bags |
| Sun Country Visa Signature cardholder | 50% off the first checked or overhead bag when booked online at suncountry.com before the flight |
| First Class fare | Checked bags included in the fare |
| Ufly Rewards Elite members | One free checked bag included; Ufly points can also be used to pay for bag fees at booking |
| Sun Country vacation package | Baggage may be included in the package price — confirm at booking |
| Strollers and car seats | Checked free at the ticket counter or gate for all passengers |
| Infants | One free diaper bag per infant, in addition to the adult’s personal item |
The Sun Country Visa discount is worth noting on a round trip: 50% off one bag each way adds up quickly and can cover a significant portion of the card’s annual fee for frequent flyers.
Special Baggage: Sports Equipment, Instruments, and Medical Devices
Sports equipment and musical instruments travel as checked baggage and are subject to the standard checked, overweight, and oversize fees if they exceed the limits. A small instrument that fits within the carry-on dimensions can travel as a paid overhead bag instead. Mobility aids and medical devices do not count as checked bags and are not included in the baggage fee structure.
How to Pay Less in Sun Country Baggage Fees
The single most effective move is adding bags at booking rather than at the airport. On a round trip with one overhead carry-on, buying at booking versus at the gate saves up to $80 per passenger — $40 per direction. For a family of four with carry-ons, that difference is more than $300.
Beyond timing, the practical ways to reduce Sun Country baggage fees are:
Pack into the personal item only. The free personal item is the only bag that never costs anything on Sun Country. A 17 x 13 x 9-inch bag holds more than most travellers expect, particularly for short trips. This is the only guaranteed way to fly Sun Country bag-fee-free.
Add bags at booking. At-booking prices are the lowest available and can be 40–60% cheaper than gate prices on the same bag. The Bag Pricing calculator on suncountry.com shows exact prices per route before you commit.
Use the Sun Country Visa Signature card. The 50% discount on the first bag, applied at booking, is the strongest per-trip saving available on the airline outside of a military or First Class benefit.
Keep checked bags under 50 pounds. Excess fees stack on top of checked bag fees and the pricing is tiered — going slightly over the weight limit costs significantly more than staying under it. Pack light or redistribute weight between bags to avoid the threshold.
Fly First Class if bags would otherwise be expensive. For passengers who routinely check bags, the all-in cost of a First Class fare including checked baggage can compare favourably to a base fare plus multiple bag fees.
Radical Storage: A Budget Hack for Sun Country’s Bag Fees
If you are trying to travel with only a free personal item, navigating a long layover or a gap between hotel checkouts can leave you stuck carrying heavy gear. Walking into the terminal overpacked increases your risk of getting flagged by airline staff, trapping you into a costly $55–$65 bag fee plus that dreaded $10 gate handling penalty.
A luggage storage service like Radical Storage offers a quick, budget-friendly workaround. By partnering with local businesses—like cafés, shops, and hotels—it lets you securely drop off your bags for a low, flat daily rate.
This service helps Sun Country flyers beat the system in a few distinct ways:
- Avoid Multi-Bag Fees: Sun Country charges progressively more for a second or third checked bag ($45 to $65+ each way). Storing extra gear at your destination is often much cheaper than paying the airline to fly it back and forth.
- No Weight or Size Restrictions: Unlike Sun Country’s strict 35-pound overhead limit or 50-pound checked bag threshold, Radical Storage charges the exact same flat rate regardless of how heavy your bag is.
- Hands-Free Flexibility: You can explore your destination completely hands-free right up until web check-in opens, keeping your transit stress-free.
Instead of paying high, double-sided airline fees to drag extra baggage through the skies, utilizing local short-term storage keeps your wallet intact and your travel light.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sun Country Baggage Fees
Sun Country includes one free personal item per passenger. The overhead carry-on costs $25–$40 at booking (varies by route), $50 after booking, or $55 plus a $10 gate fee at the airport. The first checked bag costs $30–$40 at booking, $50 after booking, or $55 plus a $10 gate fee. The second and third checked bags cost $45 at booking.
Yes. Sun Country baggage fees carry-on policy is that a personal item that fits under the seat is free. The overhead bin bag — which Sun Country calls an Overhead bag — is a paid add-on on every fare. Buying it at booking gives the lowest price.
A first checked bag runs from $30 to $40 at booking, depending on route; $50 after booking; and $55 plus a $10 gate handling fee at the airport. Second and third bags are $45 at booking, rising to $65 plus the gate fee at the airport.
The overhead carry-on must not exceed 24 x 16 x 11 inches and 35 pounds. The free personal item must not exceed 17 x 13 x 9 inches and must fit under the seat.
Travel with only the free personal item (17 x 13 x 9 inches, under-seat), add any additional bags at booking rather than at the gate, use the Sun Country Visa Signature card for 50% off the first bag, or fly a First Class fare which includes checked baggage.
Conclusion
Sun Country baggage fees follow a clear logic: one free personal item, then paid carry-on and checked bags priced by how early you buy them. The gap between booking price and gate price is large enough that timing your bag purchases correctly is one of the most useful things you can do before a Sun Country flight. Check the Bag Pricing calculator on suncountry.com for exact per-route pricing, add everything you need at booking, keep checked bags under 50 pounds, and the fees become predictable rather than a surprise.