TZ1 is Scoot’s flagship flight from Sydney to Singapore. Scoot operates a growing fleet of mostly Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and is a low-cost carrier subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.

The Flight

We are scheduled to depart Sydney at 12:30 pm, though I’m told that we are delayed until 1:20 pm at check-in. The check-in process was smooth, and perhaps because I arrived at the last minute, there was no queue. When we board, there is a problem with the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit, and we don’t end up pushing back until around 3 pm. During the delay, the captain keeps us informed of what is going on and gives estimates on the duration of the delay, which is appreciated.

The cabin crew is young and friendly enough, though they lack the service focus that their parent airline, Singapore Airlines, is renowned for. The low-cost carrier model is to get you from Point A to Point B, so the lack of service doesn’t damage the experience.

What you’ll love:

  1. The price It was cheap! My flight from Sydney to Singapore cost AUD170, and I paid an extra AUD40 to sit in the “quiet zone,” a child-free zone up the front of the plane.
  2. Business class for the price of a full-service economy Well, almost business class… Scoot doesn’t operate the flatbed, full-service business class with lounge access that has become the norm for full-service airlines. However, for the price of a regular economy ticket, you can sit in what would be the premium economy equivalent on a full-service carrier.
  3. Fleet of new Dreamliners The Dreamliner is a great plane. It is quiet, handles turbulence better than its predecessor, and has better cabin humidity, so you don’t leave the plane feeling like you are sitting in the desert for eight hours. The cabin has a more spacious feel than older planes like the Airbus A330, and the seats are mostly comfortable.
  4. The Wi-Fi Onboard Wi-Fi changes the flying experience. With a connection to the outside world, some people love it, and others yearn for the days when it was impossible to check work emails. I’m happy to have a good Wi-Fi connection during the flight, and Scoot has plans ranging from USD5 for 20 MB of data to USD 21.95 for unlimited data for 24 hours. If you are making connecting flights with Scoot, the latter option is a good deal. The speed is adequate for a low-quality YouTube video (with some time out for buffering) and fine for emails.

What’s not-so-great:

  1. It’s cramped Scoot is a low-cost carrier, and the more seats in the plane, the lower the cost. Unless you pay extra to sit in a more spacious seat, the standard seats are cramped and are less comfortable than a full-service airline like Qantas. Roomier seats range from AUD 39 to around AUD60.2. The add-ons If you haven’t flown low cost before, be prepared for a rude shock if you expect free check-in baggage and a delicious hot meal. It’s all available on Scoot, but for a fee. Anything more than the seat you are best to pay for at the time of booking, as buying at the last minute will always cost you more.
  2. The food Meals are available to purchase onboard, though having had the food on a previous flight, I elected to bring my food. While some of the meals are reasonably ok (by airline standards), they are not great. I don’t see any option on the menu that would be considered “healthy,” and I’m “going healthy.” The dry laksa at AUD22 looks good, though it must be purchased in advance.
  3. There’s no entertainment Load up an iPad with films. The 7 hours 30, minute flight to Singapore can be a long way without the latest blockbusters that I’m accustomed to Qantas screening. The Wi-Fi keeps me occupied, and I use the flight to catch up on some overdue work, though if I didn’t have a spare laptop battery, I’d be paying around USD5 for the use of the in-seat power. Image credit: Yagan Kiely
  4. It’s a hectic flight! It’s a long flight for everyone, especially for children. There are a lot of families on the flight, and that makes for some pretty loud kids – even in the kid-free zone!

The verdict?

Scoot is surprisingly pleasant to fly. While it lacks the creature comforts of full-service carriers, they pass a more modern aircraft than Qantas or British Airways on the Sydney-Singapore route (though Singapore Airlines flies the Airbus A380), and for the price, I can’t complain. Although the onboard Wi-Fi is slow, the time on the plane can be used to catch up on some overdue projects.

Keep an eye out for the sale fares.

Final tip

Bring your neck pillow, eye mask, earplugs, and even consider a blanket. You will be more comfortable with these since Scoot provides just the seat.

If you want more tips, we have 52 of them over here…

Great value for a smooth product

  • Price 4.5 Stars
  • Quality of aircraft 4.2 Stars
  • Comfort 3 Stars
  • Hassle factor 2.5 Stars Overall Score 3.6

Summary

Scoot is excellent on price, has incredible new aircraft, and is surprisingly pleasant to fly (providing you buy a few extras here and there). Standard seating is cramped, and you will need to bring your entertainment, and the Wi-Fi is a plus. In summary – friendly service and lots of lovely extras to choose from. Thumbs up!