Flying Sunwing Airlines with Babies, Toddlers & Young Children
Sunwing Airlines is a Canadian low-cost charter airline. They fly out of over 33 airports across Canada and the USA to over 45 of the most popular vacation destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Florida. Sunwing also offers seasonal winter and summer domestic flight services across Canada, from Saint John to Victoria and everywhere in between.
They were recently acquired by Westjet .
Their in-flight service includes a complimentary sparkling wine toast, and non-alcoholic beverage service. String bags filled with games and toys are handed out to children. Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef Lynn Crawford consulted on Sunwing ‘s buy-on-board selection of light meals and snacks.
Sunwing Carry-On Baggage Allowances:
As a fare-paying passenger, you are allowed to bring on board one carry-on item ($25 fee) and one personal item. Your carry-on item must not be heavier than 5kg ((11 lbs) and cannot be larger than 23 cm x 40 cm x 51 cm (9″ x 16″ x 20″). Soft-sided bags are recommended. Any items that exceed the weight and/or size limit must be checked and excess baggage fees will apply.
You can pre-book and pre-pay your carry-on item in advance or at the airport.
Complimentary Personal Item
A personal item is considered to be a purse, messenger bag, laptop bag (holding a laptop and related items), or camera bag (holding photographic equipment only).
If you are traveling with an infant (older than eight days, under 24mos.) you may also bring on board a diaper bag (holding only items for the care of an infant) but it must fall within the weight and size restrictions.
Sunwing Checked Baggage Allowances:
If your Sunwing flight is part of a Sunwing Vacations package, your first checked bag, up to 23 kilograms (50 lbs), is free. If you’ve upgraded to Elite Plus , your max bag weight is 30kg (65 lbs). A second checked bag is $70 each way if paid more than 48 hours before departure, and $90 if it’s less than 48 hours prior. Overweight and/or oversize bags (bicycles, scuba gear, golf clubs, etc.) will cost CAD $115 each way to check and cannot be booked in advance.
If your Sunwing flight is air-only, your first checked bag will run you CAD $50 each way if you book more than 48 hours before your flight. The cost is $70 if less than 48 hours before your flight. A second checked bag is $70 each way if paid more than 48 hours before departure, and $90 if it’s less than 48 hours prior.
Lap infants are not granted additional free checked bags. However, you are allowed to check two complimentary items such as a stroller , car seat ( please don’t check your car seat! ), or playpen.
Sunwing Check In Procedure:
You can begin Sunwing’s web check in process 12 hours before your flight, up to 60 minutes before departure. You must have your valid passport with you and at the airport you will drop off your luggage at the Sunwing Check-in or Bag Drop counter. With web check in, you can check-in for your flight, choose your seats, and get your boarding pass via email. You can’t purchase extra baggage, you’ll have to do that in person at the airport .
Advance seat selection is CAD $20 for regular seats and $30 for “Preferred.” Elite Plus seats are included in the $50 upgrade.
Sunwing recommends arriving at the airport three hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time. Sunwing check in can be incredibly busy. Even three hours prior to our flights the line-up has been a mile long!
Sunwing Elite Plus:
When you’re flying with kids, Sunwing ‘s baggage and seat selection options can feel restrictive and could end up costing you a lot of extras in fees if you go over. Sunwing ‘s Elite Plus service is an extra $100 per person round trip ($50 one way) and that may be money well-spent if you consider the extras it buys you.
With Sunwing Elite Plus , you receive roughly six extra inches of extra leg room, free advance seat selection, priority check-in, boarding, baggage handling, and security line access. That alone right there is worth $50 to my husband! Also, the extra 5kg (11lbs) of baggage allowance really adds up.
It’s outrageously expensive to upgrade on most airlines. For most it’s simply not an option to do so. Honestly, for us, just bypassing the lines at the airport with Elite Plus is worth the cost right there.
Truly the Friendly Skies
