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Scoot 787 Dreamliner to Athens & Greek islands: Mykonos and Santorini

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  • I also used my Visa card to pay for drinks and snacks onboard...

    Mrs yflyer had the foresight to keep her cheese and crackers from the first meal service, and ate them midflight along with a Buy-on-Board bottle of red wine...



    I also paid for a single serve of Vodka and Sprite, as well as a cup of Nong Shim Spicy Cup Noodles...



    Maybe it was because we had gone a week without eating any Chinese or Asian food...the cup noodles tasted really great.

    Scoot serves better cup noodles than SQ (!). The water Scoot pours into the cup is really hot and filled right up to the mark, unlike the warm-but-not-that-hot water SQ uses. This makes a difference -- believe me! Of course SQ's cup noodles are complimentary...sometimes stocked on long haul flights and given to hungry passengers on request, even though they are not listed on the Y menu. Still why can't SQ use hot water too?

    On Scoot, the spicy Korean style cup noodles really hit the spot. They were so good, I ordered a second cup a few hours later.
    Last edited by yflyer; 26 September 2017, 09:17 AM.

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    • The sun set about 5-6 hours into the flight...



      At about the 6 hour mark, 5 hrs before arrival, the light meal was served...(This is another departure from the SOPs of most other carriers, including SQ, who typically serve the 2nd meal about 2 hours before arrival.)

      This was also part of the pre-ordered meal selection.

      You were given a bottle of juice (Or water if you preferred), a chocolate biscuit, and an enormous turkey and cheese baguette (There is also a vegetarian baguette available).



      The baguette tasted ok...and in terms of portion size, it was the largest sandwich I had ever seen on a flight. If you are worried about starving on Scoot's long haul services, don't worry -- it's not going to happen.

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      • With 3 seats to share between the two of us, both Mrs yflyer and I managed to find reasonably comfortable sleeping/resting positions, and managed to snatch some sleep in the remainder of the flight...

        We landed in Singapore after 5am in the morning, which was just after midnight Greek time...



        As usual, immigration and baggage claim in Changi were quick, and we were in a taxi on the way home before 6am.

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        • Final reflections? Going back to the questions I posed at the start of the TR...

          1. What is the long haul experience on Scoot?

          It is actually very good. We had a very comfortable 11 hour plus ATH-SIN sector in economy, and SIN-ATH ScootBiz was very good too (More on ScootBiz in the next point).

          In the Y cabin, you have to pay for everything: food, drinks, blanket, IFE. You even need to pay your electricity bill if you want to plug in your devices...but that said, the cabin Y hard product is a good one, and in terms of seat pitch, width and comfort, is no different (Except for seat back IFE) from many full service carriers. And the cabin crew we had were also very good...Asian style, warm, friendly and attentive service.

          And with the right choice of paid options/extras, the flight can be very comfortable indeed. They do need to add more F&B options to their long haul menu, though.

          Overall, I would be very happy to fly Scoot long haul anywhere, even as far as from SIN to the USA, if the price was right.

          2. What is the difference in experience between ScootBiz and Economy?

          I found ScootBiz to be a great way to fly longhaul on vacation when you don't want to splurge on J, but want something more comfortable than Y, especially for overnight sectors. In terms of hard product, it is equivalent / slightly better than PEY on a full service carrier. Is it more comfortable than Y? Much more comfortable (Unless you can engineer a situation where you have 3 Y seats to yourself...).

          Is it worth the difference in price? ScootBiz prices do fluctuate as well. If the ScootBiz fares were reasonable, I would be quite happy to select ScootBiz at time of booking. And I would definitely bid for ScootBiz on the overnight sector, maybe the daytime return too, if I was on a Y ticket.

          3. What is a reasonable itinerary for an 8 day holiday in Greece?

          8 Days is just about the minimum for a satisfying trip covering Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. 10-11 days is probably ideal, and would have enabled us to cover a few other activities, such as an excursion to the island of Delos, and a tour of the wineries on Santorini, but overall we had a very satisfying trip in 8 days, and saw everything we really wanted to see. Definitely doable, and very enjoyable!

          4. Should you take a ferry or plane between the Greek islands?

          Ferry is a good option, at least one way, as sailing the Aegean is a lot of fun if the weather is good. I would recommend the large Blue Star ferries and, if the weather is good, the Seajets Champion Jet 1 as well (I know for sure the Champion Jet 1 has an open sun deck and balcony for great views, which not all fast ferries have). For our return, the flight from Santorini to Athens is a good way to save time, and wasn't too expensive either. On a related note, when it comes to boat cruises or excursions involving a boat ride, best to book when you arrive, and ideally know what the weather forecast is, because the weather can be variable, and sailing in rough seas, especially on small vessels, is not something to be taken lightly!

          5. Is the end of August / start of September a good time to go to Greece?

          It is a great time to go! This is considered the tail end of the high season...so it was still busy, but not too congested. And weather was decent too...a few hot days in Athens, and warm comfortable yet sunny weather on Mykonos and Santorini.

          ____

          In all, a very memorable holiday -- with sights and experiences that were just unique and unforgettable. Greece has so much to offer for visitors, history, scenery, cuisine, wine and culture...and everyone we met along the way was so warm, friendly and welcoming too, in a very real and sincere way.

          And getting there and back on Scoot's nonstop Dreamliner service was great, whether in ScootBiz or Economy. As I said earlier in this thread, I think Scoot's new service to Greece is a winner, and I can't wait for other long haul LCC routes to be launched.

          Thanks for reading!
          Last edited by yflyer; 24 September 2017, 11:13 AM.

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          • What can I say? Another fantastic and epic TR, yflyer!

            A trip to Greece has long been on my bucket list, and it looks like later summer is a much better time to visit, as the crowds in your pictures don't look anywhere near as big as in pictures I have seen that were taken in July.

            Athens also looks pretty nice, as I have heard mixed opinions about it from other travellers.

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            • Originally posted by SQGamespeed View Post
              What can I say? Another fantastic and epic TR, yflyer!
              Thanks, SQGamespeed!


              Originally posted by SQGamespeed View Post
              A trip to Greece has long been on my bucket list, and it looks like later summer is a much better time to visit, as the crowds in your pictures don't look anywhere near as big as in pictures I have seen that were taken in July.
              Yes, end Aug/Early Sep looks to be a good time to go. I would not dare go at the height of peak season! Apart from the crowds, prices are probably higher too...

              Originally posted by SQGamespeed View Post
              Athens also looks pretty nice, as I have heard mixed opinions about it from other travellers.
              We found the historic centre of Athens quite wonderful to explore. Definitely worthy of a place on anyone's bucket list!

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              • Thanks for the great review and photos yflyer. Was totally immersed in your photos and detailed activities of your holiday. Any idea what its like after the tail end of the high season? Are most of the restaurants and shops closed? Or will we still be able to visit most of the sights and try out those eateries mentioned in your TR?

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                • As someone else rightly pointed out, what an EPIC TR!

                  You've just published the perfect itinerary for an 8 days trip to Greece! Why bother planning when I can simply refer to this TR!

                  What was the temperature like during your trip? The temperatures in the Mediterranean can be searing between August and September.

                  You sound like a long haul LCC convert. I wonder if your ATH-SIN sector would have been written less positively if you did not manage to snag an empty seat next to you. I could tell that you did not hold back on the Buy On Board items. Was the total airfare + f&b + reserved middle seat + wifi + power + amenity kit comparable to what you would have paid for a full service airline or still significantly lower?

                  Can't wait for your next adventure...to HNL perhaps??
                  Last edited by icn.sg; 25 September 2017, 01:10 PM.

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                  • Originally posted by PPSFlyer View Post
                    Thanks for the great review and photos yflyer. Was totally immersed in your photos and detailed activities of your holiday.
                    Thanks, PPSFlyer!

                    Originally posted by PPSFlyer View Post
                    Any idea what its like after the tail end of the high season? Are most of the restaurants and shops closed? Or will we still be able to visit most of the sights and try out those eateries mentioned in your TR?
                    On Mykonos, I believe many places (restaurants, hotels, tours) shut down in the low season (Nov-April)...for example Kiki's on Mykonos is closed, and even some hotels are closed in the low season.

                    For Santorini, quite a few places do close in low season, but it appears Santorini still gets visitors in the winter months.

                    I would personally avoid winter / low-season and also avoid peak summer season (July/Aug) on both these islands.

                    There are several websites (Like SantoriniDave.com) that specialise in info on vacations in Greece and the Greek Islands, which I found quite useful.

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                    • Originally posted by icn.sg View Post
                      As someone else rightly pointed out, what an EPIC TR!
                      Thanks, icn.sg!

                      Originally posted by icn.sg View Post
                      You've just published the perfect itinerary for an 8 days trip to Greece! Why bother planning when I can simply refer to this TR!
                      Yes, I can recommend this itinerary as a reasonable starting point for a trip...a day or two can be added to each destination if more time is available...

                      Originally posted by icn.sg View Post
                      What was the temperature like during your trip? The temperatures in the Mediterranean can be searing between August and September
                      It was hot in Athens (A dry 30-32 degrees in the afternoon) and a very pleasant, sunny and breezy 23-26 degrees on Santorini and Mykonos. For those used to Singapore heat, this would not be too hot.

                      As for those used to cooler weather, many visitors to the islands went everywhere in just swimwear, just soaking up the sun...riding on ATV's, climbing up volcanic islands, even doing the walking trail from Fira to Oia in nothing but swimming trunks and slippers on...

                      Originally posted by icn.sg View Post
                      You sound like a long haul LCC convert.
                      Yes, I am. And a Scoot convert too. I might miss the FF points and status benefits when flying LCCs, but at the price I pay, I am willing to forego that for leisure travel. And if I really need a perk, I can pay a little more to get it (Even priority boarding or SIN lounge access is available for a small fee.)

                      Originally posted by icn.sg View Post
                      I wonder if your ATH-SIN sector would have been written less positively if you did not manage to snag an empty seat next to you.
                      The flight would definitely have been less pleasant if the middle seat had been taken up. But no worse than on a full service carrier. And I did like the fact that I could pay a little extra (S$79) to request to block out that middle seat, which you can't do on SQ and most other full service carriers.

                      Originally posted by icn.sg View Post
                      I could tell that you did not hold back on the Buy On Board items. Was the total airfare + f&b + reserved middle seat + wifi + power + amenity kit comparable to what you would have paid for a full service airline or still significantly lower?
                      In the end the BoB items and options did add up, but not by that much. I think for many scenarios LCC+Extras+BoB is still cheaper than a full service carrier.

                      Total return economy airfare including long haul meal package, one piece of luggage each, and regular seat selection was just over S$1900 for two. The successful bid for ScootBiz one way was just over S$600 for two. Paid-in-advance wifi for one on the return leg was S$30, max-your-space empty middle seat was S$79, in-seat A/C power was S$11, and BoB F&B was about S$60.

                      My impression is that even if you pay for a lot of BoB options, long haul LCC will still be cheaper than a full service carrier on an equivalent sector.

                      There are rock bottom deals on full service carriers on SIN-ATH for S$900 a person as well, but these involve an awkward stopover either in the Middle East or in Europe, and there is no direct flight for comparison.

                      I would not rule out full service carriers, though. For future trips I would evaluate both LCC and full service carriers on each trip and decide based on the specific deal, schedule and price. Given how heavily some carriers discount these days, I would not be surprised if the pricing occasionally comes out in favour of the full service carrier.

                      And while the LCC options and extras did add up, what I liked was the ability to tailor the options specifically to what I needed, and only what I needed.

                      Originally posted by icn.sg View Post
                      Can't wait for your next adventure...to HNL perhaps??
                      Next up, likely MEL for work! But as mentioned, I am eagerly awaiting new Scoot LCC sectors!
                      Last edited by yflyer; 26 September 2017, 10:48 PM.

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                      • yflyer can i congratulate you on another wonderfully detailed and comprehensive TR! You literally brought me to Greece, immerse me in your travels, as if my eyes if not the other senses are are seeing as they are.

                        But even through yr TR, no matter how elegant you made them to be,i dont think I'll take up LCC - even ScootBiz - as a long haul option. I'm asking myself what's the threshold and i guess 7 hrs is abt my limit. What puts me off a bit is the many purchases one needs to make, where I'm conditioned to just completely let myself go and not make any decisions once I'm on a plane (well except what movies to watch).

                        One question - what app do you use to track your runs (and hikes)?

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                        • Originally posted by jammed View Post
                          yflyer can i congratulate you on another wonderfully detailed and comprehensive TR! You literally brought me to Greece, immerse me in your travels, as if my eyes if not the other senses are are seeing as they are.
                          Thanks very much, jammed!

                          Originally posted by jammed View Post
                          But even through yr TR, no matter how elegant you made them to be,i dont think I'll take up LCC - even ScootBiz - as a long haul option. I'm asking myself what's the threshold and i guess 7 hrs is abt my limit. What puts me off a bit is the many purchases one needs to make, where I'm conditioned to just completely let myself go and not make any decisions once I'm on a plane (well except what movies to watch).
                          That is a valid point of view. I think everyone has a different threshold and price point for their trips.

                          If you fly long haul on premium airline like SQ in economy, or JL on their 8-abreast Dreamliners, then your experience overall will be far better than a long haul low cost carrier.

                          But many airlines are also in a race to the bottom...whether by charging for F&B inflight (BA just started doing this in short haul) or cramming their planes with more seats, like the trend of putting 10-abreast on 777's and 9-abreast on 787's. On planes and carriers like that, the gap between budget and full service carriers is not big, you might as well try the LCC.

                          I find LCC front cabin products to be very enticing too...something like ScootBiz gives you a comfortable PEY-style seat for long haul, for a reasonable premium.

                          It would be interesting to see how Norwegian's new long haul service between Singapore and London Gatwick will do. If the prices are low enough, I suspect it will do well for leisure travellers. Between a stop in the Middle East on a full service carrier, or direct on LCC, I might prefer the LCC nonstop.

                          As for paying for very little thing onboard, whether it is a blanket or a bottle of water, that is very much a matter of mindset. It takes some getting used to. If you objectively add up the cost of the LCC ticket + onboard extras, it will often still end up cheaper than a full service airline ticket.

                          Oh well, at least for now reclining your seat is still free...


                          Originally posted by jammed View Post
                          One question - what app do you use to track your runs (and hikes)?
                          My main app is Runkeeper. They have a good website and iPhone app. Many serious runners/cyclists seem to prefer Strava but I am quite happy with Runkeeper.

                          I use a Garmin Forerunner 235 GPS watch to track my runs/walks. There is a Garmin app on my iPhone which automatically synchs with my Runkeeper account. I occasionally also track runs directly with the Runkeeper iPhone app.
                          Last edited by yflyer; 28 September 2017, 08:09 PM.

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                          • Thank you for sharing your vacation with us. I felt I went there as well.

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                            • Originally posted by 9V-JKL View Post
                              Thank you for sharing your vacation with us. I felt I went there as well.
                              Thank you for hopping onboard this virtual tour, 9V-JKL!

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                              • Well done, yflyer!! Definitely an epic TR that will become reference material for anyone heading there.

                                I'm definitely taken aback by your endorsement of Scoot's long haul! But I trust your judgement, will definitely consider it.

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