HUGE s-q-u-e-e-z-e on Scoot

update at 10am Jun 5: TZ2 touched down in Sydney to a water canon salute, arrival delayed by 100 minutes thanks to last night's technical.

update at 1.16am Jun 5: Aircraft is back on runway and ready to Scoot!


update at 12:22am Jun 5: TZ2 back to gate, pilot cites maintenance issue. Hope it won't be a long night for everyone.


update at 11:44pm - TZ2 has pushed back and is on its way. Here's a collection of "live" twitter pics taken onboard the flight.

This post is being "lived" as the inaugural Scoot flight TZ2 prepares for take off from Changi to Sydney. I cannot say it heralds in a new era of budget travelling, because Jetstar clinched the frontrunner position when they launched flights between Singapore and Melbourne in 2010, followed by Auckland and Beijing.

However, Scoot's selling point has been CHEAP and they play the numbers game well. They promise $158 all-in one-way fares to Australia all year round, and it is indeed significantly cheaper than full service carriers, if you stick to these basic fares without add-ons. 

We all know they use B772s from SIA, have 10-abreast seating in Economy class, and an all-inclusive ScootBiz. Here are the pictures released this morning.

ScootBiz (2-4-2, 38" legroom)

Scoot Economy stretch (front section of cabin, 3-4-3, 35" legroom)

Scoot Economy (3-4-3, 31" legroom)

Major difference (other than the obvious legroom) between ScootBiz and rest of the cabin - one seat less per row and no adjustable head rest on economy seats.

Do note that most full service carriers install only 3-3-3 or 9 seats per row on their B777s, Scoot's 10-abreast economy cabin means everyone will be in for a good squeeze should the flight runs above 80% load. Emirates is the only other carrier that has 10 seats each row, and you really don't want that when you're paying "full" fares.

Also, the absence of winglets may cause significant discomfort if you're on the seat for 4 hours and above, I feel.

I also noticed there's no leg rest (not foot rest) on ScootBiz seats, which I think should be a basic component on any seat that calls itself  "Biz".

Jetstar's A330 Business Class (2-3-2, 38" legroom)

Economy (2-4-2, 31" legroom)

I've travelled on Jetstar's A332 Economy and the seats are frankly pretty comfortable, with really good recline and the 31" legroom-also on Scoot Economy-seemed decent too. Also, the 2-4-2 or 8-abreast seating is in line with the configuration of full service carriers using the A330, including SIA.

Just by looking at stats and pictures, Jetstar's comfort level seems alot higher (in both classes), but Scoot has emphasized from the start that its target market "wants value...they just want to get from A to B in many aspects", so it is only right they draw a clear line somewhere, and offer the best value product significantly different from its parent.

AirAsia X's A330 Premium cabin (2-2-2, angled lie-flat seat)

Economy class (3-3-3, 31" legroom)

I have tried both classes and I can only say AirAsia X is a great way to fly, especially the lie-flat Premium seat, if the price is right (to offset the troublesome transit). Until either Scoot or Jetstar starts flights to Seoul, I may still be tempted if the fare is super low, say S$150 one-way all-in from KL. 

With low margins and high fuel prices, you wonder how long these long haul budget flights will last, so I say enjoy while the fun lasts. 

Sorry it should be S$102 not S$81.50

Here's the list of the latest promo fares for AirAsia X's long-haul flights from Singapore via KL.

Compare it with ex-KUL fares, and the difference is huge.

As you can see, Osaka, Tokyo and Seoul is going for RM250 or S$102 all in from KL, but if you would to purchase a "Fly-thru" fare from Singapore, it's a whopping S$159.

Apologies on the previous post where I mentioned the Osaka, Tokyo and Seoul fare as RM202 or S$81.50.

From Tokyo/Osaka to KL, one way fare is going for RM450 or S$165.50, whereas Seoul to KL is just RM284 or S$116.

Therefore, a return trip from Kuala Lumpur to Japan will go for approximately S$267.50, Seoul for S$218. Do add in RM5 for credit card payment fee per passenger per sector.

If you're booking tickets tonight, do be patient as the system will put your "request" in a queue and may take awhile for the fares page to load. Do set up an account with your details so you do not have to waste time filling in details, and re-entering the fields all over again should you have to repeat the booking process.

Patience is key. If nothing loads, try again tomorrow, no point getting angsty, and yes its fastest finger first.

Good luck!

AAX to PEK schedule

AirAsia X has revealed the schedule for their new Beijing service, and Centre for Aviation (CAPA) got it right, it will be a midnight slot. In fact, the timing is almost similar to Jetstar's.

KUL - PEK: 1845 - 0050 (+1)

PEK - KUL : 0250 - 0830

(Schedule only available on AirAsia's China page)

Jetstar

SIN - PEK: 1835 - 0100

PEK- SIN: 0210 - 0850

With Beijing now opened to budget carriers, many expect Shanghai to be next on the cards. Currently, LCCs are still banned from landing at Shanghai's Pudong or Hongqiao airport, mainly for protectionism reasons. They are however, welcomed to fly to nearby Hangzhou, which both Jetstar and AirAsia X fly to.

On the other hand, Scoot will be starting Singapore's first direct connection to Tianjin from August 23.

SIN - TSN: 0130 - 0730

TSN - SIN: 0900 - 1500

Do you have any desire to travel to China for leisure holidays? Or do you fly wherever cheap fares are available, even if flight timings are ridiculous (like the above)? Let us know!

AirAsia to Beijing

AirAsia has unofficially announced they will be ditching Tianjin for Beijing, a route that they've lobbied long and hard.

The inaugural KUL - PEK flight will take off on June 22, with details on launch fare to be revealed soon. Business Times Malaysia quoted a source who said tickets will go on sale May 14.

Follow @realdeals4eva for latest news on the deal.

AirAsia's booking system has yet to reflect the change, with Tianjin flights still on sale for June 22 and beyond.

Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation's analytical piece on the new route suggests that since PEK is running at full capacity during daytime peak hours, there's a high chance AirAsia may be given slots that are less attractive. But because it is such a prized route, something is better than nothing at all.

Similarly, Jetstar's direct flight from Singapore arrives in Beijing at an ungodly 1am, returning at 2.10am. But if fares are really cheap, like the current Take A Friend for Free promo where it is just $278 for two, then I suppose the inconvenience of having to cab to town, staying awake past midnight, navigating a foreign city in the wee hours, fear of highway robbers, can somewhat be "compensated".