Sun Country Credit Card: Is It the Right Card for You?

Sun Country Airlines offers its co-branded credit card, the Sun Country Airlines Visa Signature Card, in partnership with First Bankcard.

This travel rewards credit card aims to benefit frequent Sun Country travellers through points earned on Sun Country purchases and other bonus categories.

In this blog post, we’ll examine the key features, benefits, rewards program, fees, etc.

Overview of the Sun Country Credit Card

The Sun Country Visa Signature Card is a travel rewards credit card that offers:

3X points on Sun Country purchases
2X points at gas stations and grocery stores
1X point per $1 on all other purchases
25,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 in the first 3 billing cycles
10,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 in a year
$69 annual fee

Cardholders can redeem points for Sun Country flights and other rewards. There are no foreign transaction fees.

Sun Country Credit Card Rewards Program

The Sun Country Visa Signature Card earns:

3X Points on Sun Country Purchases

You’ll earn 3 points per $1 spent directly with Sun Country Airlines. This includes airfare, seat upgrades, bags fees, in-flight food and drinks, vacation packages, and more.

This is a great way to rack up points for free flights quickly if you fly Sun Country often.

2X Points at Gas Stations and Grocery Stores

All gas station and grocery store purchases worldwide earn 2X points per $1. Gas and groceries are major expenses for most households, so this is an easy way to earn extra points.

1X Point per $1 on All Other Purchases

You’ll earn 1 point for each dollar spent on all other purchases with no limits. This includes shopping, dining, entertainment, bills, taxes, and more.

25,000 Bonus Points

New cardholders can earn 25,000 bonus points by spending $1,500 total within the first 3 billing cycles after opening the account. That’s enough for a free one-way flight within the continental U.S.

10,000 Anniversary Points

Spend $10,000 or more on purchases with the card each year, and you’ll get 10,000 bonus points annually.

How to Redeem Sun Country Credit Card Points

Sun Country points can be redeemed in a few different ways:

Sun Country Flights

Each point is worth 1 cent towards Sun Country airfare, so 25,000 points cover $250 in flights. You can also use points for taxes and fees on award tickets.

Gift Cards and Merchandise

Points can be redeemed for gift cards to select retail, dining, and entertainment merchants. There’s also an online shopping mall where points can be used to purchase merchandise.

Cash Back

If you prefer cash, points can be redeemed as a statement credit or direct deposit into a bank account, though at a lower value of 0.8 cents per point.

Booking with Partners

Sun Country partners with some hotel brands and car rental companies where you may be able to redeem points.

Benefits of the Sun Country Credit Card

The Sun Country Visa Signature Card comes with a few useful benefits:

No Foreign Transaction Fees: There are no foreign transaction fees for using the card abroad. This makes it a good option for international travelers.

Premium Beverage Credit: When you show your Sun Country credit card during the flight, you’ll receive one complimentary premium alcoholic or specialty beverage per passenger.

Discounted Baggage Fees and Seat Selection: Cardholders get 50% off baggage fees and seat selection charges when traveling on Sun Country with companions on the same reservation.

Visa Signature Perks: You’ll have access to Visa Signature benefits like rental car insurance, roadside dispatch, and travel and emergency assistance services. There are also shopping and dining discounts.

Annual Fee for the Sun Country Credit Card

The Sun Country Visa Signature Card has a $69 annual fee. It’s charged each year upon account opening.

Additional cardholders also cost $69 per year.

This is a bit lower than some other airline credit cards with $95+ annual fees. But it’s higher than no annual fee options like the Wells Fargo Propel card.

For frequent Sun Country flyers who will use the airline perks and bonus earning categories, the $69 fee should be easy to offset. But it’s something to consider if you won’t use the card much.

Credit Needed for Approval

This card requires good to excellent credit for approval. According to U.S. News’s analysis, you’ll need a credit score of 690 or higher to qualify.

Students or those new to credit may need to build their score with a starter card first before being approved. The bank will review factors like:

Credit scores
Income
Debt-to-income ratio
Credit history length
Types of credit in use

Pros and Cons of the Sun Country Credit Card

Here are some quick pros and cons to help summarize the key factors of this card:

Pros:

3X points on Sun Country purchases
25,000 point signup bonus
No foreign transaction fees
Sun Country flight perks
$69 annual fee

Cons:

Points only valuable for Sun Country redemptions
Not as flexible as general travel rewards cards
Good to excellent credit required
$69 annual fee

Comparison to the Chase Sapphire Preferred

How does the Sun Country Visa Signature Card compare to other popular travel credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

The Sapphire Preferred is one of the top travel rewards cards available today because of its valuable Ultimate Rewards points, large signup bonus, and travel protections. But it also charges a higher annual fee.

Sun Country Card

$69 annual fee
Earns Sun Country points
25,000 point signup bonus
Perks on Sun Country flights
No foreign transaction fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred

$95 annual fee
Earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points
60,000 point signup bonus
Travel insurance and protections
No foreign transaction fees

The Sapphire Preferred offers more flexibility since Ultimate Rewards can transfer to airline and hotel partners or book travel in the Chase portal. But the Sun Country card gives up to 3X back on Sun Country purchases specifically.

Frequent Sun Country flyers who want airline-specific perks may get more value from the co-branded card. But the Sapphire Preferred is better for those who want a card to use with multiple airlines and redemption options.

Who Should Get the Sun Country Credit Card?

The Sun Country Visa Signature Card makes the most sense for:

Frequent Sun Country travelers who can maximize the 3X airfare points and flight perks
Those who spend significantly on gas and groceries to earn bonus points
People who fly Sun Country for international trips and want no foreign transaction fees

Occasional Sun Country flyers can consider the card for the signup bonus. But the ongoing benefits are less valuable if you rarely fly the airline.

This card also pairs well with flexible point cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Gold. You can transfer those points to Sun Country at a 1:1 ratio to boost your rewards.

How to Apply for the Sun Country Credit Card

You can apply for the Sun Country Visa Signature Card directly on the Sun Country website. Just click “Apply Now” and you’ll be taken to the online application.

Or you can apply over the phone by calling 800-444-6938.

The application will ask for personal and financial information such as:

Name, address, date of birth
Social Security Number
Estimated income
Employment details

It will also perform a hard credit check, which may temporarily lower your score by a few points.

Once submitted, you’ll generally receive a decision within 30 seconds. If approved, you can receive your card within 7-10 business days.

How to Log In to Manage Your Sun Country Credit Card Account

To login and manage your Sun Country credit card account online, visit the First Bankcard website and click “Log In”.

Provide your username and password. If it’s your first time, use the last 4 digits of your account number as the username and the last 4 of your SSN as the password.

Once logged in, you can:

Check your account balance
View recent transactions
Make payments
Redeem rewards
Update personal info
Set up alerts

There is also a First Bankcard mobile app you can use to manage your account on the go.

Making Payments on the Sun Country Credit Card

You have a few options to pay your Sun Country credit card bill:

Pay online through your account portal
Mail a check or money order to the payment address
Set up autopay directly from your bank account
Pay over the phone
Pay at select retail stores

Be sure to make at least the minimum payment by the due date each month to avoid interest charges. Pay in full if possible to avoid interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Sun Country credit card have an annual fee?

Yes, the Sun Country Visa Signature Card has a $69 annual fee. Authorized users also cost $69 per year.

What benefits do you get with the Sun Country credit card?

Benefits include a free drink when you show your card inflight, 50% off baggage fees and seat selection when flying with companions, no foreign transaction fees, Visa Signature perks like rental car insurance, and more.

What’s the minimum credit score needed for approval?

You’ll need good to excellent credit, generally a minimum score of 690. But many other factors are considered too when approving applicants.

Can points be transferred to airline partners?

No.

Conclusion

The Sun Country Visa Signature Card offers a competitive rewards program and perks for loyal Sun Country travelers. The 3X airfare points and 25,000-point signup bonus can unlock free flights quickly. Low annual fee compared to some competitors.

But the airline-specific focus also limits flexibility compared to general travel cards. Make sure to evaluate your travel habits before applying. Frequent Sun Country flyers who can take advantage of all the perks can get great value from this card. But infrequent travelers may want a more flexible option.

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