There are 33 seats in ScootinSilence, 21 up front in Business, and 281 down the back.
Seat: 5D. An aisle seat.
Flight time: Trick for young players — always check your flight status before heading to the airport. Like daft chooks, we reached the Tegel terminal in time to be told there was a three-hour delay Anyway, our 9.40am take off eventually became 1.40pm. Once airborne, we pretty much hit the scheduled 12hr, 10m to Changi.
Airport experience: Berlin's planning-related airport woes makes Mangere look like Doha.
Still, we used our extra time to good effect with people watching and clothes purchasing.
I found time to down a tall beer and eat a really good chicken burger (both purchased with a $17 voucher we were given for the delay). Chaps should take a minute to admire the vending machines by the urinals that sell sex toys — you thought Auckland Airport had tapped into all revenue options …
Fellow passengers: A broad mix with plenty of Aussie representation.
How full: Of the 33 seats in our cabin 12 were empty (meaning I got a row of three to myself). Economy is pretty packed while on my quick recce into Business I spotted three empties.
Food and drink: Here's where the low-cost factor kicks in. This is not a full-service flight.
You can buy a meal package before the flight (on our flight: beef or chicken; both were pretty good) or purchase them on the spot (S$12). There are light meals and snacks at various prices — best deal to plug the gap is probably the instant noodles at S$5). Even drinking water comes at a cost (S$4 for a 330ml of Evian). Be aware: You're not meant to bring your own food or drink on board (though I spotted a few illegitimate water bottles).
It's quite astounding to go for 12 hours without free water. I can understand paying for water on shorthaul, but this is 12 hours — half a day! Part of me thinks consumer reaction (and — y'know — the basic need for humans to consume fluid) will see a change in this, but the other part knows that travellers love a bargain and will book regardless.
Entertainment: Being low cost means no seatback screens. It's actually quite lovely. I read Jess Berentson-Shaw's A Matter of Fact before getting some work done and snoozing.
About a quarter of the passengers watched their own devices, some having downloaded the Scoot app.
The final word: A fascinating, fabulously low-cost option for getting into and out of Berlin, Europe's coolest city. Just be sure to allow for a couple of bottles of water in your budget.
