If anyone knows the ins and outs of scoring a great deal when booking flights, it’s the people who work in the industry. In line with the resumption of daily flights between Perth and Singapore, we spoke to the General Manager of Scoot Australia, Adam Kelly, about finding the best deals and taking advantage of a long layover. He also shared some of his favourite holiday destinations that may spark ideas for your next trip. 

Planning

When booking a holiday, earlier is always better. Generally speaking, prices increase the closer you try to book to your intended departure date. Not to mention, travelling at popular times — like school holidays and peak season at your desired destination — can add some extra dollars to your fares. Getting in early, you can often catch a sale or make use of any flight and hotel deals that might be running. “The adage ‘the early bird gets the worm’ still applies to travel and absolutely for the popular destinations that book out early,” says Kelly. 

To get those airfares down even further, Kelly suggests being strategic about what day of the week you leave. “I recommend flying out on a Thursday and returning on a Monday when airfares are usually cheaper. Since people tend to choose Friday departures and Sunday night arrivals, you might want to avoid those as they tend to be pricier.” 

While hunting for the best price saves the bank account, the cheapest fares aren’t always the most practical. If something unexpected happens, having flexibility in your tickets can save you hundreds of dollars and heartache. Consider spending extra to upgrade to flexible tickets that allow fee-free date and time changes. 

If you’re travelling on a low-cost carrier like Scoot and there’s a chance you’ll need to check in luggage, Kelly always recommends pre-purchasing baggage allowance. It’s cheaper to add the check-in baggage to your booking online than it is to purchase at the airport. The cheapest and easiest option is to, of course, travel with carry-on only. 

Rest And Relaxation 

Spending hours on a plane is taxing on everyone, regardless of age. 

As cabin air is drier than that on the ground, staying hydrated is key to arriving at your destination with a little bit left in the tank. While having alcohol on a plane isn’t a bad way to unwind and get into the holiday spirit, overdoing it only adds to the dehydrating nature of the plane air. “I recommend drinking water,” says Kelly. “But my onboard favourite is a vitamin C drink called Vida C. It tastes great and gives you an extra boost of vitamin C.”

When travelling with kids, keeping clear of overnight flights and sticking to day flights helps keep any crankiness at bay (for both you and the children). If avoiding red-eye flights isn’t an option, BYO or pre-order a snooze kit — which, on Scoot, comes with an eye mask, blanket, and neck pillow — to make sleeping that little bit easier. 

Space is a premium on planes, and while it might cost you more to get extra legroom in an exit row or premium economy, it can be worth the splurge to keep the family happy. “Scoot offers extra legroom seat options… that have up to 30% and 50% more legroom, respectively, than standard seats,” says Kelly. 

Layovers 

Sometimes, layovers just can’t be avoided. Rather than look at them as a nuisance, think of the positives: they break up longer flights and can be a catalyst for getting out and exploring a new place. 

If your layover is less than six hours, time will pass quickly when you’re in an airport like Singapore’s Changi Airport. There’s luxury shopping for you and a butterfly garden for the kids, but its claim to fame is the Jewel, a ten-level landmark with forests, eateries, stores, entertainment, gardens, and the central 40-metre-tall Rain Vortex.  

“[At Changi] There is something for everyone: movie theatres, playgrounds, indoor climbing, and so many restaurants and cuisines that you may spend half the time deciding what you want to eat,” says Kelly. 

For layovers between six to 12 hours, Kelly advises leaving the airport and going into the city for a meal. It’s easy for travellers with an Australian passport to leave Changi Airport; all you need to do is complete a Singapore Arrival Card online. Make sure you leave enough time to get back to the airport to arrive on time for your next flight. 

If you want to skip the less-than-a-day layover altogether, take a break in the layover destination for a few days. This is a great way to adjust to any time differences (if any), and you’ll get two holidays in one trip. 

Destinations 

Short flight times and the relatively inexpensive price tags of Bali mean it’s long been a favourite for holidaying Perth-based families. But look a little further afield, and a whole stack of other destinations represent the same kind of value for money. Kelly suggests venturing to other South East Asian destinations like Krabi in Thailand, Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, or Lombok in Indonesia. “They all represent fantastic value, have a wealth of activities, great value hotels, and you can immerse yourself in the local culture.” 

Flying Scoot to any of these destinations means a stopover in Singapore. The city state is more than just an ‘on the way’ destination, though. “With its culture and the multitude of places to visit, Singapore is also a family-favourite destination,” says Kelly. “From exploring the variety of hawker food centres to admiring the mix of old and new architecture, it’s a charming place to bring your family.” Plus, it’s safe, clean, and easy to navigate.

Once in Singapore, the connecting flights are endless. Keep your total holiday expenditure down by heading on to India, or use the dollars you saved by booking Scoot’s reasonably priced fares on the ground in the likes of Tokyo or Seoul. 

Love travelling? So Perth has you covered.

Lead image: supplied