Did a short 4 nights trip to Tokyo recently to join my friends who were holidaying there. For the trip, I flew up on Scoot's ScootBiz class on a rather reasonable fare, and return on SQ Business Class.
ScootBiz is Scoot's answer to a premium cabin and offers bigger seats and seat-pitch with meals and baggage included. However, it is nowhere near full-service airlines' Business Classes on mid-long hauls, preferably to compare it with Premium Economy offerings. Anything more than the 1 meal offered per sector and baggage would still be chargeable. But with the regular promotions offered, ScootBiz still offers a value-for-money experience, which sometimes could be quite similar in price with Scoot's Economy, and even much lower than economy on full-service airlines.
Check-in at Terminal 2 where Scoot has 3 rows of counters opened for check-in. Scoot has a large departure bank of flights in the late evening. Check-in was done at dedicated ScootBiz counters, though regularly counters do not have long queues either. Surprised that Scoot does not have common check-in counters for flights, which could make the check-in process more efficient.
No difference between ScootBiz and regularly economy boarding passes.
FIDS
View of the tarmac from T2's Sunflower Garden.
It was a very long trek to the departure gate at F60. Judging by the number of passengers at the gate, the flight seemed to be very full.
09 April 2016
Scoot
TZ 202
Singapore (SIN) - Taipei Taoyuan(TPE) - Tokyo Narita (NRT)
B787-9
9V-OJA
ScootBiz
Flight Time: SIN-TPE 3H58M
ScootBiz pax were invited to board ahead of economy pax and it was another trek to board. Tonight, Scoot's first Dreamliner, 9V-OJA, would be operating the flight.
Boarded through Door 1 and took my seat at 5A, the last row of the ScootBiz cabin. However, the cabin filled up and almost all seats, including the seat beside me, was taken up. 2 crew, including the crew-in-charge, were working in ScootBiz tonight.
ScootBiz seats are in a 2-3-2 configuration. Seatpitch is 38" and recline is reasonable. Seats are equipped with calf rests and power sockets. Inflight power is complimentary for ScootBiz but payable in Economy. Comparable to Premium Economy seats. IFE is through wifi-streaming, though not available on my flights, and internet wifi connectivity is available for a fee. Pillows and blankets are payable though. (Pictures are taken on the TPE-NRT leg).
Welcome drink of a cuplet of water were pre-set on the armrests.
Legroom is decent.
Scoot Magazines
View out the window.
Waiting for the last few passengers to board.
Doors were closed on time and we pushed back for the short 4hr flight to Taipei. Safety demo was performed manually. We taxied to Rwy02L.
Crossing the bridge to Rwy02L.
Departing from Rwy02L.
All dark outside.
Shortly after seatbelt signs were turned off, meal service started in ScootBiz cabin. A meal cart was rolled out and crew delivered the pre-chosen meals to pax, along with a selection of 1 drink from the BOB menu. I had pre-booked the premium meal, which is a Hainanese Chicken Rice dish. The meal came with a starter salad and a Haagen Daz ice-cream. I chose a Choya soda to accompany my meal.
Corn and beans salad and Haagen Daz chocolate ice-cream.
The chicken rice was good. Portion was rather big as well.
Sweet ending.
Cabin towards the end of meal service. Service was very fast and completed within 30min after departure, allowing more time for rest. Crew were efficient and casual, though nothing memorable. Well, this is a budget airline, so expectations have to be moderated.
Visited to the lavatory, which is only equipped with the bare necessities.
Then it was lights off for the rest of the flight where I managed to catch some sleep under my brought-on-board blanket.
Before long, we were already arriving into Taipei, landing well ahead of schedule due the the sub 4hr flight time on the faster-flying B787.
Landing into Taoyuan's Rwy05R.
Only Door 2 was used for disembarking so economy pax in the Quiet Zone had priority disembarkation ahead of ScootBiz. Not much of a big deal though. With the early arrival, there was more than 1.5hrs of transit. For NRT bound pax, we had to bring along all cabin bags and clear transit security again.
