Scoot flights Syd-Sing June 6-July 30 will be SIA

[mrbraun]

Just an FYI that if you are flying between Syd - Sing on the above dates range, that due to "tighter aircraft utilisation" the flights will be chartered by SIA instead.

 

[dajop]

Some discussion here ... Scoot Is Leasing A Singapore Airlines 777 - But Is It Good Or Bad News For Passengers? - One Mile at a Time

 

[mrbraun]

Some discussion here ... Scoot Is Leasing A Singapore Airlines 777 - But Is It Good Or Bad News For Passengers? - One Mile at a Time

ha! according to that article i'm one of the losers...

 

[clifford]

ha! according to that article i'm one of the losers...

You mean you are still on the 787?

 

[mrbraun]

You mean you are still on the 787?

nope, but that article pretty much confirms that a scoot-in-silence customer has no choice but to be downgraded. so that's me and my family on these flights

 

[davidj]

downgraded

Hmmmm. I'm pretty sure I'd still prefer the SIA seat and cabin, certainly no downgrade.

 

[mrbraun]

Hmmmm. I'm pretty sure I'd still prefer the SIA seat and cabin, certainly no downgrade.

that was my initial reaction, but the article seems to say that the SIA seat will now be smaller than the scoot silence one i had paid for, though if my cabin and baggage allowance have increased that's on the positive side.

and we almost bought scootbiz at the time. coulda woulda shoulda

 

[dajop]

that was my initial reaction, but the article seems to say that the SIA seat will now be smaller than the scoot silence one i had paid for, though if my cabin and baggage allowance have increased that's on the positive side

Slightly less legroom, but from experience SQ’s 777 seats are both wider and better padded than Scoot’s 787 seats. Scoot in silence seats, unlike the rest of the Scoot Cabin have adjustable headrests, but these are standard on all SQ economy seats.

 

[moa999]

but the article seems to say that the SIA seat will now be smaller than the scoot silence one i had paid for,

In seat pitch yes.

But the article is incorrect about seat width.
All 9-abreast 787s will be about 17.2" versus the 777 at closer to 19"

 

[mrbraun]

ah, i see. that all makes me feel a bit better about the situation

baggage remains the same as what was paid with scoot, instead of the SIA standard 30kg. the lack of IFE is a pity.

 

[OZDUCK]

Can't they please do the same for Perth in late September? I have booked ScootBiz so I would be very happy.

EDIT: On thinking again, I should be careful what I wish for. On this trip QR have already subbed in a LATAM 787 with 2-2-2 J instead of a 1-2-1 QR 787 for the Doha/Barcelona legs. With that sort of record the Scoot 787 would probably be replaced by a Silkair A320.

 

[dajop]

With that sort of record the Scoot 787 would probably be replaced by a Silkair A320.

Or worse, one of Scoots own A320s.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

ah, i see. that all makes me feel a bit better about the situation

baggage remains the same as what was paid with scoot, instead of the SIA standard 30kg. the lack of IFE is a pity.

I'm pretty sure too that the 'scoot in silence' cabin is being pretty generously represented on websites regarding additional legroom. I'm pretty sure a friend of mine paid to sit there but said the legroom still felt tight - not the 34-36 inches advertised.

 

[mrbraun]

so, updates on how this panned out for us:

scoot advised on the phone that the scoot-in-silence and priority boarding would be "refunded" as that particular level of service was not available about an SIA flight. fair enough, money back...all good.

at the airport we enquired about business class upgrades on the SIA flight, which we were told would be $200 a pop each way. with the incoming refund, this didn't seem like a bad deal at all. we paid the amount and received our SIA business class boarding passes (with the lounge access scrubbed off in pen).

in reality, it was more like a premium economy/business class hybrid. we were seated in the SIA business class section, the seats were nice and roomy (the style was kinda cute in a retro kinda way) and fully reclined into beds (something to be thankful for on a red eye)

unlike true business class, there's no toiletries or pjs available, which was fine by us. the meals were basic economy level meals, again that was fine but i was let down that on the flight back from singapore, they had no milk/creamer for coffee and tea... which was a little poor for what were essentially the best seats on the flight.

as per the scoot service, there was no in flight entertainment but all in all, i was fairly satisfied with the change over to SIA "business" or "diet business" if you prefer.

the sour point being that scoot have recently issued my refund for the s-i-s and priority checkin/boarding as vouchers not as a true refund. the terms and conditions state that i have only until feb 2019 to use them and that i can not exchange them for cash and that no other alternatives are available. this wouldn't have even been so bad if the 2 call centre agents hadn't used the words "refund", which to me imply that it would be put back on my card. if they had been clearer about this, maybe it wouldn't have been such a bad surprise.

knowing that money wasn't coming back to me, it might also have influenced whether we purchased business for both outbound and inbound flights.

so, i've gone from what was a pleasant and recommendable experience with scoot to not wanting to use them again.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If you purchased your tickets in australia i don’t believe the airline can only give you vouchers. This would be covered by australian consumer law... no service, full cash refund allowed. It’s probably a case of your ‘refund’ being handled by singapore staff who may not be across AU law. You might want to call/email them back pointing this out (scoot are aware that they are required to offer cash refunds from australia, so it just needs to get to the right person).

 

[moa999]

Otherwise what are the transfer conditions on the voucher.

 

[mrbraun]

If you purchased your tickets in australia i don’t believe the airline can only give you vouchers. This would be covered by australian consumer law... no service, full cash refund allowed. It’s probably a case of your ‘refund’ being handled by singapore staff who may not be across AU law. You might want to call/email them back pointing this out (scoot are aware that they are required to offer cash refunds from australia, so it just needs to get to the right person).

excellent advice, and just what i was wondering just the same. i was unclear how local consumer law applied for online purchases made via their website. i'll follow up this line of enquiry and report back

 

[mrbraun]

Otherwise what are the transfer conditions on the voucher.

It says transferable.


Full T&C:

Terms & Conditions:

• This voucher entitles the holder to credit (of amounts specified) that may be applied toward travel on Scoot marketed and operated flights (Designator Code "TR") in a single booking only. Interline bookings are not permitted.
• Voucher may not be exchanged for cash. No cash or credit alternative will be offered if this voucher is not redeemed.
• Travel must be booked before 06 February, 2019. Date cannot be extended.
• Travel booked or redeemed with voucher is not eligible for frequent flyer mileage accrual and cannot be used in conjunction with any other upgrade awards.
• All standard fare rules and conditions of the fare(s) purchased apply, however bookings redeemed with this voucher may not be changed, cancelled, refunded or credited towards other flights.
• If the value of the itinerary exceeds the voucher value, you must pay the difference with a credit card. Depending on country of booking, processing fee may apply.
• If a voucher balance remains after purchase, it will be forfeited.
• A voucher once redeemed, becomes void for further use and cannot be refunded.
• Voucher is only valid for the payment of airfare, airport/government taxes and any ancillary services/ fees directly levied and provided by Scoot at the time of booking.
• Third-party services marketed by Scoot including, but not limited to, travel insurance, hotel packages, car hire, etc. must be paid separately by the guest.
• Scoot does not accept any responsibility in the event that you are unable to utilize the voucher.
• Scoot also reserves the right to cancel your booking, even if payment has been made, in the event of any breach of the terms and conditions and you will forfeit the voucher and any payment made without refund, and acknowledge that Scoot has no liability to you.
• Voucher is transferable.

 

[mrbraun]

update:

spoke to scoot call centre who advised they aren't bound by australian consumer law. when i asked for escalation they attempted to avoid doing so (telling me that if i had received vouchers that meant that the highest levels of scoot had already reviewed the case and there was nobody else to escalate to).

i finally secured a call back for whatever that might be worth.

from research online (accc did not pick up my call), both accc and dept of fair trading have no power in singapore. there was a suggestion of the Consumer Association of Singapore, but seems like a long shot.

it appears that even dire circumstances don't always result in a $ refund from scoot:
Netizen calls out Scoot for failing to refund tickets after her grandfather was diagnosed with cancer

i'll keep trying but it seems i'm stuck with vouchers that have to be used by feb 2019. either that or i become one of those angry social media people

 

[MEL_Traveller]

update:

spoke to scoot call centre who advised they aren't bound by australian consumer law. when i asked for escalation they attempted to avoid doing so (telling me that if i had received vouchers that meant that the highest levels of scoot had already reviewed the case and there was nobody else to escalate to).

i finally secured a call back for whatever that might be worth.

from research online (accc did not pick up my call), both accc and dept of fair trading have no power in singapore. there was a suggestion of the Consumer Association of Singapore, but seems like a long shot.

it appears that even dire circumstances don't always result in a $ refund from scoot:
Netizen calls out Scoot for failing to refund tickets after her grandfather was diagnosed with cancer

i'll keep trying but it seems i'm stuck with vouchers that have to be used by feb 2019. either that or i become one of those angry social media people

You have purchased your tickets in Australia, departing from Australia. They are bound by Australian law.

It’s no different to the operation of EU261... non European airlines are bound by it for flights departing the EU. It’s all part of them operating there.

You can call your local state consumer affairs office... they provide free advice over the phone.