Sun Country has quietly joined the ranks of low-cost carriers that charge passengers an additional fee when booking flights online or by phone, adding another $44 or more to the cost of each and every roundtrip flight for the vast majority of Sun Country flyers.

The Minnesota-based budget carrier now lists a “passenger interface charge” of at least $22 per segment, per passenger – an extra $44 or more on every roundtrip ticket. The airline never directly informed passengers about its newest fee, but investor documents show the airline began charging it back in April 2022.

Sun Country isn't the first to charge these fees. But unlike other budget carriers like Spirit and Allegiant that levy similar charges, Sun Country does not explicitly list it during the checkout process. That means virtually all Sun Country flyers are likely unaware they've been paying more for their flights for nearly two years, simply by booking online or by phone with Sun Country – or even via any third-party site like Expedia.

An airline spokeswoman confirmed the airline added this fee last April, defending it as merely a piece of the total ticket cost that consumers see from the start.

“We are disclosing throughout that there are taxes and fees,” spokeswoman Wendy Burt said. “From the consumer's perspective, they're seeing the total fare.”

It's not a flat, $44 fee on each roundtrip ticket – it could be even more. Sun Country's terms clearly state they charge “from $22 per passenger, per segment,” leaving the door open to an even steeper surcharge.
 

passenger interface charge sun country 

This is an optional fee, but there's just one workaround to save at least $44 per ticket: Go to the airport and book your Sun Country flights in person. 

But heading to the airport to purchase flights is a step many travelers are unwilling to take – if they even know it's an option. And budget airlines are counting on it.

 

A Familiar (But Little-Known) Fee

Hundreds of thousands of Americans book airline tickets online every day, and no major U.S. carriers like American, Delta, United, or even Southwest levy a similar charge for doing so. But in the world of budget airlines – which make their real money charging passengers for extras like seat assignment, bags, and even water onboard – these additional booking fees are fairly common … though still little-known, even among many frequent flyers.

These fees go by many names. Spirit tacks on a “Passenger Usage Charge” of nearly $23 per segment, while Frontier calls an identical amount a “Carrier Interface Charge.” Allegiant levies a $22 “Carrier Usage Charge” when booking online or by phone, and newcomer Breeze Airways adds $14 for each segment for what it calls a “Technology Development Charge.”
 

spirit passenger usage charge
Spirit Airlines' “Passenger Usage Charge” is one of many examples

But they're all the same thing: A penalty for booking online or by phone. And given many of these airlines sell flights for $40 each way or less, that fee can eat up a majority of what passengers are actually paying for their flights.

Why don't these carriers just raise their actual fares? Airlines are on the hook to pay a 7.5% federal excise tax on their fares … but not for these separate fees. The same is true for extras like seats, bags, and more. It's part of the reason why add-ons are a core part of budget airlines' business models.

Sun Country began that transition from Minnesota's beloved hometown airline to a low-cost carrier six-plus years ago, raising fees while ripping out first class seats. But the airline has tried to split the difference between full-service legacy carriers like Delta and ultra-low-cost carriers like Frontier and Spirit: Seats have more padding and legroom than their low-cost competitors. In-flight service is closer to the bigger carriers, too, with free drinks for all passengers.
 

sun country seats 

Read our review of flying Sun Country!

But with this online booking fee, Sun Country has taken a far less consumer-friendly approach than its competitors.

 

Why Sun Country's Fee is Even Worse

It's not a surprise fee. Sun Country isn't adding another $44 or more between the time you first search for a roundtrip ticket and when you click “purchase.”

But while other airlines disclose this booking fee during the checkout process by breaking out an itemized mix of fares and fees, Sun Country simply lists the total cost, which it says “includes all applicable air taxes, fees, and carrier-imposed charges.”

The Passenger Interface Charge of $22 (or more) each way isn't explicitly listed anywhere. Unless they click a link saying “bag fees may apply” and scroll to the bottom of the airline's dedicated “Bags and Optional Services” page, Sun Country customers are likely unaware they're paying it when booking online.
 

sun country reservation 

So while customers willingly add a seat selection for $12 or so and a carry-on bag for $20 or more, there's no notice during the check-out process that this optional fee is part of the final price tag. That also means customers have no way to know exactly how much they could save by booking at the airport instead. Is it the starting rate of $44 roundtrip? It can be even more, as several Thrifty Traveler readers have found out firsthand with savings of $50 or over $60 by booking in person.

In contrast, all of Sun Country's low-cost competitors explicitly disclose this fee, like Frontier.
 

frontier carrier interface charge 

It might have escaped travelers' notice … but likely not investors' attention. In a June 2022 investor presentation, Sun Country noted that its new, $16 Passenger Interface Charge would help the airline grow its revenue from additional fees, on par with the likes of Spirit and Frontier. That fee has since increased to $22 per passenger, per segment.
 

sun country investor presentation 

Along with rising fees for bags, seat selection, and other extras, that new charge has helped Sun Country grow how much it collects per passenger in ancillary fees to nearly $65 as of the third quarter of 2023. That's a 50% increase since the same period in 2021 before this new fee was in place.

No matter how much they charge or how they disclose it, the federal government has one rule for airlines: These fees must be optional. And that opens an avenue to avoid paying it altogether.

 

How to Save $44 or More Flying Sun Country

No matter whether they book online at SunCountry.com or through another site like Expedia or Orbitz, travelers are paying an extra $22 or more on each segment for the convenience of booking from home.

That can add up fast. For a family of four, it's at least an additional $176 on roundtrip tickets. There's a solution: Buy your tickets at the airport.
 

sun country desk 

That's a step many travelers are simply unwilling to take, given the extra cost and inconvenience of driving to and parking at any airport. But depending on how much this additional fee will cost you, it could easily be worth it.

Sun Country operates at Terminal 2 in Minneapolis, with slightly cheaper parking rates than neighboring Terminal 1. It's also connected by public transit, with the Blue Line light-rail train running between downtown Minneapolis and the airport.

Burt from Sun Country confirmed that agents at check-in desks at the airport are equipped to sell tickets in person. And she said those desks are staffed throughout the day – not just during peak hours when flyers are checking in for flights.

Thrifty Tip: Rather than make a separate trip, head to the Sun Country desk after arriving in Minneapolis to purchase your tickets.

The same goes if you're flying a different low-cost carrier like Spirit, Frontier, or Allegiant. You can avoid the online or phone booking fee by buying your ticket on those airlines at the airport as well.

 

Thanks to Thrifty Traveler reader Jeb R. for flagging this fee for us!