Sun Country sold; new Delta baggage fees

The Minnesota owners of Sun Country Airlines are selling the Eagan-based carrier. Apollo Global Management, a New York-based investment group, will purchase the airline for an undisclosed sum. Mitch and Marty Davis, the current owners, said they decided to sell Sun Country to a group that could help grow the company faster. The headquarters will stay in Minnesota and Jude Bricker will remain president and chief executive. "It's been a good journey, but the airline needs to grow and it needs a hands-on operator," said Marty Davis. "They're the right ones to steward the next journey," Davis said of Apollo. "I think it's an opportunity to really become a big player in U.S. air travel."

Kristen Leigh Painter

Travelers looking to take a cheap flight on Delta Air Lines will soon need to pay for even one piece of checked baggage when flying to Europe or North Africa. The airline now charges Basic Economy passengers $60 for the first bag and $100 for a second. The fees apply to tickets bought after Dec. 6 and for flights after April 10 originating from the U.S. and Canada. There is no change in policy for more expensive international flight tickets or for flights to other regions. Delta is currently expanding its Basic Economy flights for overseas travelers. For domestic travel, Delta already charges $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second.

Associated Press

Go Ahead has a year-end sale with up to 20 percent off its tours around the world. For example, the 14-day Scandinavia: the Capitals & the Fjords trip starts at $2,799 per person double (down from $3,099) and includes 10 nights' hotel stays in Bergen, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki; two nights aboard a cruise ship; 12 breakfasts and six three-course dinners; six guided tours; motorcoach transportation; flights from Bergen to Oslo and from Copenhagen to Stockholm; and taxes. Depart April 12 for the lowest rate. Book all trips by Dec. 31 (1-844-428-0289, goaheadtours.com).

Washington Post

ToneEscapes is a new company offering five small fitness retreats throughout the year in locales like Marbella, Spain; Santorini, Greece; and Saint Lucia. The retreat in Marbella (March 23-29) will have morning workouts that incorporate the surrounding environment, like bike rides along the Andalucia Coast and hikes through the Sierra de las Nieves mountains. Afternoons will include visits to historic villages and meeting local olive oil and wine producers. Meals will emphasize the abundance of seafood and produce in the area, and local wine will be served at lunch and dinner. Prices start at $3,900 (tone-escapes.com).

The airline that passengers love to hate is figuring out how to arrive on time. Spirit Airlines rose to third place in the Department of Transportation's monthly tally of U.S. airlines' on-time performance in October, with 87.2 percent of its flights arriving within 14 minutes of their scheduled time. Spirit remains the industry leader in terms of customer complaints, with 3.84 nasty notes per 100,000 passengers. Spirit also remains 10th in on-time performance over the prior 12 months; Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Air Lines are first and second respectively.

Bloomberg