After a few torrid months that saw the Singapore Airlines Group post its first-ever annual loss and ground more than 96% of its capacity, we’re starting to see some green shoots of recovery. 

Singapore Airlines posted an expanded schedule for June and July, which saw it adding 500 new flights to 11 additional cities. Now Scoot has published its July schedule, which sees 128 new flights to 2 additional cities. 

It’s too early to call this a turnaround, but it’s certainly encouraging. 

Scoot’s Expanded July Schedule

For the month of July, Scoot will add Surabaya and Taipei to its route network, operating a total of 128 flights split as follows:

• to/from Guangzhou (CAN): 8 flights
• to/ from Hong Kong (HKG): 26 flights
• to/from Ipoh (IPH): 18 flights
• to/from Kuching (KCH): 18 flights
• to/from Penang (PEN): 18 flights
• to/from Perth (PER): 26 flights
• to/from Surabaya (SUB): 6 flights
• to/from Taipei (TPE): 8 flights

This means that Scoot will operate approximately 30 flights a week, with connectivity to Australia, South East Asia and North Asia. It’s not a lot of flights in absolute terms, but a  significant increase from the decimated April/May schedules of just 12 weekly flights. 

The details of July’s flights can be found here. If you need to Travel for essential reasons and intend to fly with Scoot, do note that the schedule is subject to change based on regulatory requirements (see below for details on Scoot’s COVID-19 waiver policy).

This expands connectivity options via Changi

Scoot’s schedule will complement the rest of the Singapore Airlines network, and provide a further boost now that Changi is accepting transit passengers once more. As of 22 June, transit passengers from the following cities can connect through Singapore en route to their final destinations.

This means that a passenger could now fly from Auckland to Singapore with Singapore Airlines, then connect to a Singapore to Surabaya flight on Scoot. 

Transit passengers through Changi should not, however, expect the business-as-usual experience. There are strict biosecurity guidelines to keep them as separate as possible from passengers for whom Singapore is the final destination. 

This includes having to wait in a special ‘Transit Holding Area’, which is self-contained with its own restrooms, dining and entertainment options. Passengers will be able to order items from duty-free, but will not be allowed to visit other parts of the terminal. 

Here’s more information on what transit passengers through Changi can expect during this period. 

What if my Scoot flight has been cancelled?

If your flight has been cancelled, you will receive a full refund to your original method of payment. This may take up to 14 weeks to process. 

What if I no longer wish to travel?

Given all the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, some passengers may no longer wish to travel even though their Scoot flight is still operating as scheduled. 

Here’s where Scoot’s COVID-19 travel waiver policy steps in. If your ticket was issued on or before 15 March 2020, with travel dates between 23 January and 31 August 2020, you will be entitled to:

• a 100% refund in cash, or
• a 120% refund in Scoot vouchers, valid for 12 months 

Cash refunds can take up to 14 weeks. Scoot vouchers can be used to pay for any future Scoot booking (multiple vouchers can be used in a single booking), but bear in mind that a 20% bonus may not be enough to cover the fare differences. 

Whether you take the cash or Scoot vouchers really depends on what you think will happen to airfares when the pandemic starts to subside. For what it’s worth, I’d tend to lean towards cash, unless you have plans to rebook straight away. 

What if I’m flying from September 2020 onwards?

As of right now, Scoot has only announced its schedule up till 31 July 2020, and its travel waiver policy covers flights up till 31 August 2020.

If your travel dates are beyond then, sit tight. It’s likely that Scoot is reviewing the COVID-19 situation and route performance on a month-by-month basis, and adjusting flights as necessary. We should expect to get details of August’s schedule by early July at the latest. And if the Singapore government has not lifted its advisory against non-essential travel, you can be sure the waiver will be extended.

Who do I contact for refunds?

If you bought your ticket directly from Scoot, you can get in touch with them directly to process your refund under ‘Manage My Booking’. If your ticket is from a third-party platform like Expedia, you’ll need to get in touch with them to handle all claims.

Conclusion

Scoot’s expanded July schedule brings some hope that the carrier (and air travel in general) is slowly working its way back to some semblance of normalcy. It’s going to be baby steps at first — we’re likely to see incremental increases in route networks and capacity as COVID-19 cases come down and countries start reopening borders.

That said, the IATA has forecast that air travel is unlikely to recover to 2019 levels until 2023, so we may be in this for the long haul yet. 

Although travel might still be some time away, it is never too early to chalk up air miles that can help offset the cost of your air tickets. Use our simple comparison tool to find an air miles card that fits your lifestyle.

Read these next:
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Should You Buy Airline Or Hotel Travel Credits Amid COVID-19?
From Travel Insurance to Flight Hygiene: 5 Questions About Post-COVID-19 Travel
Ultimate Guide To Digital Multi-Currency Accounts

By Aaron Wong
Aaron started The MileLion to help people travel better for less and impress “chiobu”. He was 50% successful. This is his story.

The post Scoot July Schedule And Cancellations (2020) appeared first on SingSaver Blog - We Compare, You Save.