Scoot Business Class Review – is it really the Biz?

Hi Frugalistas!  Now that MissG needs an adult fare we need to think laterally to get the best price on our airfares.  We still like our creature comforts, but we want to save money wherever we can.  On our recent family holiday to Phuket we flew over on Virgin Australia Business Class courtesy of some frequent flyer points (I’ll be reviewing their new Sydney to Perth service on a later post).  But on the way back, we took the plunge and booked Scoot Business Class (or Scoot Biz as it is known).  So is Scoot Business Class really the Biz?  And how does it compare to the Virgin Australia short haul international?  Read on for my Scoot Business Class review.

Scoot Business Class Check in and on the ground experience

We arrive at Changi Airport from Phuket to the news that our flight is delayed.  So we hang around the check in area, until our check in counters open about 4hrs ahead of our re-scheduled departure.

There is a dedicated check in for Scoot Biz passengers, so we don’t need to join the lengthy queue for the Scoot Economy check in.  I hadn’t booked us in to use a Scoot Business Class lounge in Singapore (because we weren’t scheduled for a long layover and it was an additional cost) and enquire about it at check in.  Despite the flight being delayed, we can’t buy Scoot lounge Singapore access at check in – it needs to be done at the time of booking.  With plenty of carry on luggage allowance there’s no questioning of our not checking luggage.  The service is polite and efficient and we are on our way quickly.  Scoot Biz review

Given the lack of lounge we head to some seating near our gate after a stop for some food.  With about 2.5hrs to go before our rescheduled departure the gate suddenly opens and we are heading through the security.  Scoot Biz Class passengers have priority boarding, but when we show our boarding passes at the gate entry we are advised that we should board immediately as they are trying to get us away on time.  Yay!  It’s one time when I don’t mind not getting what I’ve paid for…..

Scoot Business Class in flight

Scoot market their Business Class as having their most experienced flight attendants (or Scootees as they refer to them).  Our flight attendant certainly seems to be in charge during the flight.  The service is Asian efficient, rather than personalised, but is accompanied by smiles and lots of eye contact.

Seating in the Scoot Biz cabin is arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration.  With the pitch, recline and a proper footrest the seat is definitely not a premium Business Class product, but it certainly does compare well with a Premium Economy offering.

Not lie flat, but the Scoot Business seats are very, very comfy all the same

Seating in the Scoot Airlines Business Class seat is soft and supremely comfortable.  We all agree it is a much more comfortable seat than the Virgin Australia 737 Business Class seat used on its short haul international.  With his added height, Mr frugalfirstclass is more comfortable without the footrest, but MissG and I both call it a winner.

When it’s time to sleep we recline the seats, MissG and I put up our footrests, and we all go to sleep.  For hours.  Even MissG who says she can “never” sleep on the plane.  A Scoot Snooze Kit comprising eye mask, blanket and pillow costs extra, but we don’t need one.  The adjustable head rest on the seat is so good it more than makes up for lack of a pillow, and there’s no need for a blanket.

The panoramic view from the window out over the red centre

I’d never been on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, so was intrigued to see what the Scoot 787 Business Class was like.  Marketed to “make everyone’s flying experience better” I do have to say I was impressed.  The lighting is best described as “mood” and was changed during the flight.  The windows are huge.  It was a shame it was night for much of the flight.  But the difference I really noticed was the air quality.  Normally on any flight of over 2hours or so my skin becomes unbearably dry.  Mr frugalfirstclass experiences the same problem.  But not on the Dreamliner.  We both got off the plane with dewy fresh skin like teenagers.  I’m sure it’s why we slept so well too…….. Scoot Business review

Scoot Business Class food

I admit, I was not expecting much from the Scoot Biz food.  So from that point of view I was not disappointed.  A Scoot premium meal is included in the price of Scoot Biz seats and are ordered as part of the online booking process.  Our menu choices are confirmed upon boarding, as is the time we would like our meal (in our case breakfast) served.

Our Western Breakfast

Meals are served Economy class style on a tray.  We had all ordered the Western Breakfast Set, served with our choice of tea or coffee.  The sausages were genuinely delicious – tasty and well cooked.  The eggs were inoffensive, standard issue “plane food” eggs.  It’s hard to ruin baked beans, but the hash brown was soggy beyond belief.  MissG who up till now had never met a hash brown she didn’t like even passed on hers.  Our side orders of coleslaw and sliced fresh fruit were perfectly fresh, well plated, and tasty.

Snacks and drinks are available to purchase throughout the flight, and glasses of water are provided free upon request.

Choose carefully from the menu…..

Final Thoughts on Scoot Business Class

Scoot Biz is not a high end Business Class, but then it doesn’t pretend to be.  At a fraction of the cost of a Business Class or Premium Economy seat on its parent airline, Singapore Airlines, I believe it represents good value for money for what it does.  No, the seats don’t lie flat.  No, the food is not gourmet (or even that good).  You will not fall in love with your flight attendant.  But if you fly Scoot Business Class to Singapore (or beyond for that matter) what you will get is a supremely comfortable seat, in one of the most technologically advanced and comfortable planes I have ever been in.

Its food and service certainly can’t compete with the Virgin Australia short haul, but the seat and sleeping experience on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner beat the 737 hands down.

If you want a comfortable seat and a good sleep on an overnight flight from Singapore to Australia, forget Singapore Premium Economy, save the money, and book Scoot Business Class instead – that’s what we’ll be doing!