Booking a flight from Minneapolis to the West Coast usually means staring at a screen for two hours, toggling between Delta’s sky-high prices and the budget allure of the "hometown" carrier. It’s a classic Twin Cities dilemma. You want to get to the beach without spending your entire vacation fund on the seat itself. Honestly, Sun Country Airlines MSP to LAX has become the go-to secret for locals, but there’s a lot of noise about how they actually operate, especially with the massive news that dropped this week.
If you haven't heard, the airline world just got rocked. On January 11, 2026, Sun Country and Allegiant announced they are merging. It’s a huge deal. They’re creating this massive leisure-focused airline, but for now, it's business as usual. You still book through the Sun Country app. You still fly the purple and orange planes. But the landscape is shifting, and if you’re planning a trip to Los Angeles soon, you need to know the reality of the experience versus the myths.
The Terminal 2 Factor: Why it Matters
Most people forget that MSP is a tale of two cities—or at least two terminals. Sun Country operates out of Terminal 2 (Humphrey). This is a big win if you hate the sprawl of Terminal 1. It's smaller. It's faster.
But there is a catch.
Since Sun Country runs what they call a "banked schedule," the terminal goes from a ghost town to a mosh pit in about twenty minutes. Basically, they have a huge rush of departures between 6:00 AM and 9:30 AM. If your flight to LAX is in that window, don't show up twenty minutes before boarding thinking you'll breeze through. You won't. The line at the Sun Country check-in counter can get gnarly because everyone is heading to a sunny destination at the exact same time.
Once you’re through security, Terminal 2 is actually pretty chill. There’s a Cocina del Barrio that makes a mean breakfast taco, and the seating areas usually have plenty of outlets. It’s a far cry from the endless walking required at Terminal 1.
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Getting Comfortable on the Boeing 737-800
Let's talk about the seats. Sun Country flies a fleet of Boeing 737-800s. They aren't fancy, but they’re functional. If you’re used to the old-school legacy carriers, the first thing you’ll notice is that there are no seatback screens.
Don't panic.
They have a system called AirFi. You connect your own phone or tablet to their onboard Wi-Fi (which is free for entertainment, by the way) and stream movies directly to your device. It works surprisingly well, but you’ve got to bring your own headphones. And for the love of everything holy, charge your device before you board. While most seats have USB ports, only the "Best" seats have full AC power outlets.
Decoding the Seat Tiers
Sun Country basically has three "flavors" of seating.
- Best: You get 4 inches of extra legroom, a free alcoholic drink, and priority boarding. If you’re over six feet tall, this is basically mandatory.
- Exit Row: You get a ridiculous 9 inches of extra legroom, but the seats might not recline as much, and you have to be ready to help in an emergency.
- Standard: This is your basic 29-to-30-inch pitch. It’s tight. It’s a 4-hour flight. You’ve been warned.
The Baggage Trap
This is where they get you. Sun Country is a low-cost carrier, which means they unbundle everything. Your ticket includes one under-seat item. That’s it. A small backpack or a purse.
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If you try to sneak a roll-aboard suitcase into the overhead bin without paying, the gate agents will catch you. And it will be expensive. Paying for your bags at the time of booking is significantly cheaper than doing it at the airport. In 2026, we're seeing carry-on fees start around $30, but that price jumps the closer you get to the gate.
Also, watch the weight. Their checked bag limit is 50 pounds, but their overhead bag limit is surprisingly strict at 35 pounds. Most people don't realize there's a weight limit for carry-ons until they're asked to put it in the sizer.
Landing at LAX: The Long Haul to the Curb
When you finally touch down in Los Angeles, you’re usually heading into Terminal 1 or sometimes a satellite gate. LAX is a beast.
If you're flying Sun Country Airlines MSP to LAX, be prepared for a bit of a trek once you deplane. Depending on the gate, you might end up taking a shuttle to the Tom Bradley International Terminal or just a long walk to baggage claim.
If you need to catch an Uber or Lyft (LAX-it), remember that you can't just walk out the door and hop in a car. You have to take a green shuttle to a specific parking lot. It’s a bit of a headache, so factor in an extra 30 minutes for your ground transportation plans once you land.
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Is the Sun Country Rewards Program Still Worth It?
With the Allegiant merger on the horizon, people are worried about their points. Currently, the Sun Country Rewards program is still active and separate. You earn points based on how much you spend, not how far you fly.
The good news? The merger announcement explicitly stated that all existing rewards will be honored. Eventually, the programs will merge, which might actually be a benefit since Allegiant has a much larger network. For now, keep earning those points. They’re still the easiest way to snag a "free" flight back to the land of 10,000 lakes.
Essential Tips for the MSP to LAX Route
Flights on this route usually take about 3 hours and 55 minutes to 4 hours and 15 minutes. It’s a long enough flight that you’ll want snacks. Sun Country sells food on board—mostly snack boxes and sandwiches—but it’s all credit card only. No cash.
- Download the App: Do this before you leave your house. It makes the AirFi entertainment much easier to access.
- Check In Early: Set an alarm for exactly 24 hours before departure. Sun Country doesn't have a massive fleet, so if a flight is overbooked or there's a swap, being at the top of the check-in list helps.
- Bring a Portable Charger: Even though there are USB ports, they can be finicky. Having a backup battery pack is a lifesaver when you're 30,000 feet over Nebraska and your iPad hits 5%.
- Water is Your Friend: The air on those 737s is incredibly dry. Buy a big bottle of water at Terminal 2 after you pass security.
The reality is that Sun Country is a tool. It's a way to get from point A to point B for a fraction of the cost of the big guys. If you go in expecting a luxury experience, you'll be disappointed. But if you know how to navigate the baggage rules and the Terminal 2 rush, it's the smartest way to fly to Southern California.
To make the most of your next trip, your first move should be to log into your Sun Country Rewards account and verify your current point balance before the Allegiant integration begins later this year. This ensures you have a record of your status as the two airlines start the technical process of merging their systems. If you're traveling with more than a backpack, pay for your bags now through the "Manage Trip" section of the website to avoid the significantly higher fees at the Terminal 2 check-in counter.