This review compares the Scoot and ScootPlus flight experiences from Sydney to Athens. The author details the significant differences in comfort and amenities between the two classes, particularly during the overnight leg of the journey.
The ScootPlus cabin on the Boeing 787-9 offers generous legroom (38-inch pitch) and width (22-inch). However, the leather seats are slippery, and the leg rest is less effective than advertised. The experience significantly improves on the 787-8, with a more comfortable recline and a quieter cabin, making it ideal for sleeping. The author notes that the 18-seat cabin size makes it feel more exclusive.
The author highlights the lack of entertainment and power outlets in the standard economy class, which is problematic on the long flight to Athens. They note the disruption caused by groups of bored passengers without entertainment, contrasting it to their better experience in ScootPlus where they could make use of available Wi-Fi.
The author recommends ScootPlus for the overnight leg, especially for solo travelers. The added comfort, amenities, and meal make the upgrade worthwhile for long-haul flights. However, they express reservations about traveling with children in economy given the lack of entertainment and snacks.
Return fares from Sydney to Athens are approximately $1029 for economy and $3180 for ScootPlus. The author suggests ScootPlus is worth the added cost for the overnight flight.
In the first 35-seat cabin, I’m adrift in a sea of blue leather. The amount of personal space is a vast 38-inch (96-centimetre) pitch with 22-inch (56-centimetre) width in a 2-3-2 configuration that includes bulkhead-style rigid armrests. However, that leather is a little slippery, and at 161 centimetres tall, my feet dangle midair. The leg-rest rises partially, more dying sigh than potential DVT lifeboat. In transit, I do what no passenger has ever done (apparently), requesting a downgrade to the (unfortunately full) “Scoot in Silence” quiet zone in economy, with its non-leather seats. ScootPlus? ScootMinus.
But wait, redemption ahoy. The 12-hour overnight second leg on the slightly different 787-8 couldn’t be more different – for sleeping, I fully appreciate the generous recline and I love my cosy window seat, the smaller 18-seat exclusive-feel cabin of the 787-8 and the Dreamliner quiet. In fact, I actually snooze, having engineered a handbag tower at legrest’s end. For Orwell fans, ScootPlus has become ScootDoublePlusGood.
Having flown 300 hours in economy last year, I’m an “aviation raw dog” veteran (flying without entertainment, having watched every onboard movie ever). There are no screens, which didn’t deter the 26,000 Australians who flew with Scoot to Athens in 2024, and as devices die in (powerless) economy towards Europe, bored chatting gaggles disturb the night flight. Meanwhile, I sleep before using the free ScootPlus 30 megabytes of snappy fast Wi-Fi and seat power (oddly minus a USB outlet) to research and write this review.
The staff are called Scooties and embody that perky moniker in navy mini-dresses (or pants) with yellow accents and plenty of “Scootitude”. Whatever that is, it sounds positive, and I’m here for it.
Economy passengers must produce boarding passes to verify their meal purchases, reminiscent of producing ID at nightclubs which, with the right Scootitude, makes it semi-thrilling. In ScootPlus, there’s no such thrill, the meal (selected when booking) simply arrives – but the black-pepper beef with soft drink, Pringles and chocolate cookie is piping-hot good. The night flight’s gelatinous, watery chicken stew with potato was a poor choice.
Points for its young and fuel-efficient fleet, but the carbon offsetting program lives outside the booking flow on a microsite – you’d never know it exists.
If you’re looking to go further into Western Europe on a budget flight, Scoot adds Vienna to its routes from June 5.
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For standard economy, you can get a return airfare from Sydney to Athens for $1029. ScootPlus will set you back about $3180 return. After this experience, I’d recommend upgrading to ScootPlus for the overnight sector.
Scoot throws everything at ScootPlus passengers – power outlets, meals, a generous luggage allowance, all for a cheap pointy-end experience. Would I take my small kids with me on such a long, snackless, entertainment-less odyssey? I’d rather stick a biodegradable bamboo fork (from the meal set) in my eye. But if winging it solo and counting coins, the night flight is where the value lies.
★★★★
The writer flew at their own expense.
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