This review compares the Scoot and ScootPlus experiences on a Sydney to Athens flight. The author found the ScootPlus cabin on the Boeing 787-9 to be spacious, with ample legroom (38-inch pitch). However, the leather seats were slippery, and the leg rest was less effective than hoped.
The overnight flight on a Boeing 787-8 proved significantly better. The smaller, 18-seat ScootPlus cabin offered better quiet and recline, allowing for comfortable sleep. The author appreciated the window seat and found the overall experience much more positive.
A return economy ticket cost $1029, while ScootPlus was $3180. The author recommended ScootPlus specifically for the overnight leg of the journey due to the enhanced comfort. The author would not recommend it for families with small children due to the lack of onboard entertainment in ScootPlus.
Scoot uses a young, fuel-efficient fleet. However, the carbon offsetting program is not easily accessible within the booking process.
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 economy zone behind, 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.
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