So Sun Country Airlines are going to make a bash of a Summer route, linking Minneapolis St Paul with London Stansted. But who are they, why should you care, and what are they on?
Sun Country has been through the mill, and is coming out of Chapter 11 reorganisation, and seems to be in the mood to try something different, namley running an over the pond service.
Running through Mid June to Mid August, it’s a short enough deployment to not risk any losses, but long enough to see if it’s a good idea or not – the idea being that one LCC connects onto another LCC.
The route is the interesting part. As they are operating the route with a 737-800 and aiming for a full load, it doesn’t exactly have the legs to make it all the way from/to Minneapolis St Paul to Stansted without running out of juice. Therefore, it’ll be making a stop in Gander, Canada.
This makes a map look a bit like this:
Which according to the Great Circle mapper gives the following information:
| From | To | Initial Heading |
Distance | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 segment path: | 4202 mi | ||||||||
| STN (51°53’06″N 00°14’06″E) | YQX (48°56’13″N 54°34’05″W) | 287° | (W) | 2371 mi | |||||
| YQX (48°56’13″N 54°34’05″W) | MSP (44°52’55″N 93°13’18″W) | 276° | (W) | 1831 mi | |||||
It’s return leg to London is pretty much the same again with a fuel stop at Gander (YQX).
Prices are meant to start at $399 per leg (but pricing nearer $500), or $1000 for a first class seat. Whilst Y class is tolerable at 31″ seat pitch, First is a staggeringly awful 39″ seat pitch.
Hunt around. There are slightly better prices if you want Business/First Class. Even United are doing Z class fares for £1500ish….
