Trip Reports - Sun Country Trip Report DFW-CUN Feb 17




clbish
Mar 29, 05, 2:13 pm
My husband and I have both been AA PLT for years. However this year, I have become a Stay at Home Mom, and my status has slipped to gold. When we were planning our trip to Cancun, we started looking at prices. From DFW-CUN, AA was over $600.00 for the round trip in coach. We looked at Sun Country, and they were $203.00 round trip. We decided to make it a special trip and pay for First Class. On Sun Country, first class was just over $500.00 per person. So we could fly first class on Sun Country for less than coach on AA.

RESERVATIONS:
We made our reservations on line at suncountry.com. The website is not flashy, but it works. On Sun Country you cannot prereserve seats, so this is the down side.

CHECK IN AT DFW:
On February 17 we head to DFW terminal E. Since Delta has cut 200 flights a day out of DFW, it is a ghost town. Sun Country does not have a separate first class check in, but we were only 4th in line. The check in was fast and easy. We got our assigned seats, and boarding cards, and proceeded to the gate.

BOARDING AT DFW:
We boarded on time. The first thing I noticed as we settled into our seats was the lack of crumbs and stains from drinks being spilled on the floor. This plane was VERY clean. The flight attendant came by introduced herself, and asked if we would like a drink. We each ordered a mimosa. Once we took off, we each had a margarita. I am sorry I can't remember all the drinks they had available. They did not have a list. I remember they had Mai Tais, Margaritas, Strawberry Daiquiris, and Rum Punch. I tried the Strawberry Daiquiri, but it was too sweet for me. Being on a plane, it was not frozen. I also tried the Rum Punch and Margaritas. They were very good.

MEAL SERVICE:
The in coach was a hamburger with chips and cookies for desert. In first class we got a steak sandwich, chips, and cheesecake. The meal was not fancy for first class, but the steak sandwich was very tasty. Let me add that I had drank a few Margaritas by this time, so maybe I remember it being better than it was :)

ARRIVAL IN CANCUN:
We landed in Cancun and taxied over to the charter terminal. They do not have the nice ramp that comes out to the plane at this terminal. We had to walk down the stairs and over to immigration, but that was not a big deal for us even though we had carry on luggage. What I liked about this terminal was immigration. We have not been to Cancun since they renovation of the other terminal, so I don't know what immigration is like there now. But, immigration at the main terminal was a nightmare before. It always seems that the planes all land at the same time, and the line for immigration is always long. However, at the charter terminal, we walked right up to immigration and never had to wait in line. We then proceeded over to the customs area and pressed the dreaded button. We thankfully got a green light and went right through customs without any problems.

BAGGAGE:
Sorry I can't comment on the baggage service as we only had carry on. If it doesn't fit in my roll aboard bag, it doesn't go.

CHECK IN AT CANCUN:
Checking in at Cancun airport is always an adventure. Sun Country does not have a separate first class line. The best advice no matter what airline you fly in Cancun is to get to the airport early.

We got in line. If you had luggage to be checked, they were checking EVERY piece of checked luggage by hand. Since we were not checking any luggage, we had to wait to be escorted up to the ticket counter. We got our boarding pass, and proceeded to security. The security is the same BS that we have here, shoes off and all of that. We waited to board the flight, and my husband was one of the lucky ones to get picked for the secondary screening at the gate. I went ahead and boarded.

The service on the return was the same. We got drinks before departure. The meal was a grilled chicken sandwich. Again it wasn't fancy, but it was tasty. Also, we were drinking Margaritas on the return.

In my opinion, Sun Country is a no frills airline, but it seems all U.S. airlines are becoming no frills. What I am sad to say is the service was much better and the plane much cleaner than the AA flight I am used to. I would definitely fly Sun Country again.

I hope this helps anyone who is considering fly Sun Country in the future.

CLBISH


ETA: I forgot to mention that they had a curtain between First and coach. It was mad of a mesh type material so that you could see through it, but that there was a boundry between first and coach.


PresRDC
Mar 29, 05, 4:08 pm
Interesting. Thanks for posting!

With the exception of the lack of pre-assigned seats and a first class check-in line, you described a premium experience equal, if not superior, to that offered by any U.S. carrier.

auh2o
Mar 29, 05, 4:50 pm
Interesting. Thanks for posting!

With the exception of the lack of pre-assigned seats and a first class check-in line, you described a premium experience equal, if not superior, to that offered by any U.S. carrier.

Actually, United does not even have a first class check in line at CUN ... :mad:


Blumie
Mar 29, 05, 6:57 pm
Actually, United does not even have a first class check in line at CUN ... :mad:
We flew UA in F to CUN last month. When we arrived at CUN, the check-in area was a madhouse. I told the skycap who was helping us with our luggage that we were flying F, so he walked up to one of the agents and told her, and she took us right away. Everyone else in line was pissed, and airport security got involved, but the agent just shooed them away and everything was fine. So it seems that there is a UA F line in CUN -- if you're flying F, just go to the front of the line, identify yourself as an F traveler, and then endure the stares and remarks of the hoards of others facing an interminable line.

BenjaminNYC
Mar 29, 05, 9:23 pm
In my opinion, Sun Country is a no frills airline, but it seems all U.S. airlines are becoming no frills.

Speak for AA! UA is a full service carrier to Mexico, including free hot meals and alcoholic beverages, even in Y (other than TED flights). My last experience from LAX-MEX-IAD in UA's Business compared to full international Business Class service.

cerealmarketer
Mar 29, 05, 9:33 pm
Speak for AA! UA is a full service carrier to Mexico, including free hot meals and alcoholic beverages, even in Y (other than TED flights). My last experience from LAX-MEX-IAD in UA's Business compared to full international Business Class service.

You'll definitely get the premium service to the business markets like MEX, but to beach markets like Cancun, it really isn't much more than free drinks and a sandwich in F for most carriers.

BenjaminNYC
Mar 29, 05, 9:41 pm
You'll definitely get the premium service to the business markets like MEX, but to beach markets like Cancun, it really isn't much more than free drinks and a sandwich in F for most carriers.

I don't have experience with the beach markets, but I would bet that UA's Business Class to these destinations (again, non-TED) would have far better service than AA.

pb9997
Mar 29, 05, 11:45 pm
I don't have experience with the beach markets, but I would bet that UA's Business Class to these destinations (again, non-TED) would have far better service than AA.

I second BenjaminNYC's comment; AA is nothing superior to clbish's description, not even to Mexico City, where only a beverage service is available in coach and service upfront is only good.

I'm glad to know that this new carrier has very good service. This way incumbent carriers won't be able to lower much more their service.

clbish If someone is interested, Thanks for your post and your comparison towards AA. ;)

aamilesslave
Mar 30, 05, 3:48 am
So, it looks like Sun Country has moved from the madhouse Terminal B to the ghost-town Terminal E? (Although I assume, perhaps incorrectly, that this flight would operate from Terminal D once that terminal opens?)

I wouldn't call Sun Country a new carrier; they've been doing charters for years. I do not believe they have operated "regular service" flights since 2001 or 2002.

HKG_Flyer1
Mar 30, 05, 7:51 am
Interesting coincidence, I was thinking about using Sun Country for my next trip to Cancun from DFW, and was particularly interested in their F class service.

The service you describe appears to be superior to AA's in every single item other than:

a) jetbridge in Cancun; and
b) lack of frequent flyer lounge.

Based on the trip report, I will use Sun Country for my next trip down.

sftrvlr
Mar 30, 05, 3:48 pm
Good report. Nice to hear about the smaller carriers that don't pop up too much on FT. Sounds like a great deal for the price.

Dugernaut
Mar 30, 05, 4:48 pm
Nice report, what were the entertainment options in first?

Eastbay1K
Mar 30, 05, 5:15 pm
Nice report, what were the entertainment options in first?

Although I was not on the flight, I bet the only entertainment in F were steak sandwiches, mimosas, margaritas, et al. :p

gkbiiii
Nov 30, 07, 4:19 pm
In 2008 it looks like they are adding ANC and two citys in Mexico. I just wish they would add MSY so they would be closer!

OPFlyer
Dec 2, 07, 7:36 pm
Does anyone have any pics on Sun Country, preferably in the FC cabin? Trying to decide whether to take them or not to MSP.

HKG_Flyer1
Dec 9, 07, 10:55 am
Does anyone have any pics on Sun Country, preferably in the FC cabin? Trying to decide whether to take them or not to MSP.
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