Sun Country Airlines Flight Compensation Rights
Up to USD 1,550 per passenger for involuntary denied boarding (bumping). Sun Country Airlines is not required by US law to pay cash for delays or cancellations — but you're entitled to a full refund on cancellations + significant schedule changes (2024 DOT rule).
Compensation rules per jurisdiction
| Denied boarding (involuntary bump) — 0-1h delay to destination | No compensation |
| Denied boarding — 1-2h delay (domestic) / 1-4h (intl) | 200% of one-way fare, max USD 775 |
| Denied boarding — 2+h delay (domestic) / 4+h (intl) | 400% of one-way fare, max USD 1,550 |
DOT 2024 rule: automatic refunds for cancellations + significant changes. NO cash for delays unless denied boarding. Tarmac delay >3h domestic / >4h intl → USD 26,975 per pax fine on airline (paid to DOT, not passenger).
| Short-haul (up to 1,500 km) | EUR 250 |
| Medium-haul (1,500-3,500 km OR EU-EU) | EUR 400 |
| Long-haul (>3,500 km) | EUR 600 (delayed 4h+) · EUR 300 (delayed 3-4h on long-haul EU-non-EU) |
Reduced 50% if airline rebooks with delay <2h short / <3h medium / <4h long. "Extraordinary circumstances" (weather, ATC strike) exempt airline — bird strike + tech faults NOT exempt (post-2015 rulings).
Sun Country Airlines is a United States-registered carrier. Its own contract of carriage (Conditions of Carriage) may offer additional compensation beyond the regulatory minimum — check the airline's terms for details on meals, accommodation, and re-routing during disruptions.
How to claim from Sun Country Airlines
Gather documentation: booking reference, boarding pass, flight number, scheduled + actual departure/arrival times, airline's stated reason for the disruption. → File directly with Sun Country Airlines's customer relations first — many airlines resolve valid claims within 30 days. → If refused or ignored (>30 days), escalate: EU261 → national civil aviation authority. UK261 → Civil Aviation Authority ADR. US DOT → aviation.consumer.dot.gov. Canada → CTA. Brazil → Reclame Aqui + consumer court. → Or use an AirHelp-style service: they take 25-35% commission but handle the whole process. Worth it for delays over 3 hours where you don't have time.
Common mistakes
- Assuming compensation is automatic — you must file a claim; airlines rarely offer proactively.
- Believing "weather" always exempts the airline — only genuinely extraordinary weather does; localized fog, moderate turbulence, and most tech faults are NOT exempt under EU261.
- Missing the claim window — EU261 claim windows vary by country (Germany 3 years, UK 6 years). File early.
- Accepting travel vouchers instead of cash — you have the right to cash under EU261, DOT, and most regimes.
- Not knowing that transit passengers can claim if the delay caused a missed onward connection.
Free AirHelp eligibility check — 60 seconds.