Heading back to Singapore, I decided to fly instead of getting the train as usual since it was cheaper and a lot of faster since I could only spend the weekend here in Hat Yai. On a Sunday, Scoot TR633 departs from Hat Yai at 12.40pm, which is 2 hours earlier than the daily TR635 flight at 2.40pm, and it was cheaper to fly out from Hat Yai on this flight than the later afternoon flight which wasn’t worth the fare difference being paid just for an additional 2 hours in Hat Yai.
I got to Hat Yai International Airport with the taxi service I booked through the Red Planet Hat Yai Tour Desk, so I got dropped off directly at the departure driveway conveniently.
There is a health screening counter before entering the terminal for random checks, probably if you look ill. Security for luggage is conducted upon entry into the terminal, just like Indonesian airports. The staff will ask if you are checking in your bag, in order to place a “security checked” sticker on your bag or otherwise.
Once done with security, the sales counters are just ahead for Thai airlines.
Heading to the check-in rows.
The departure screen showing Scoot’s check-in counters at Counters 18-20.
Counters 1-17 are just in front.
Counters 18-35 are located on the other end of the terminal.
Heading past the domestic and international arrival areas.
Signs continue to point straight for Scoot, New Gen Airways and AirAsia Group.
One of the big advantages of travelling with Scoot is the generous hand-carry cabin baggage allowance they offer. Scoot allows each passenger to carry up to 10kg of cabin baggage on board, limited to a maximum of two (2) pieces, including a laptop, briefcase or handbag. Each cabin baggage cannot exceed dimensions of 54cm x 38cm x 23cm (total linear dimensions 115cm), and this specification might seem to apply to the second personal bag too. As such, my CabinZero 28L and 44L combo allows me to maximise my allowance with ease.
NOTE: Not sponsored. I bought my CabinZero bag from AirAsia’s OURSHOP. And that’s not sponsored either.
The Scoot check-in counters at Counters 18-20. Check-in was a breeze with no check-in baggage.
My boarding pass for my Scoot TR633 flight from Hat Yai to Singapore.
The escalator up to the departures level is just in front of the counters.
At the end of the escalator, the international departures entrance is just ahead, followed by immigration and security screening.
The departure waiting room after security screening.
There is a water dispenser in the middle of the waiting room for you to fill up your bottle.
My flight would be using Gate 6 for boarding.
I decided to board last again.
Heading down the hallway to the gate.
9V-TRC “宝贝” will be flying me back to Singapore today.
9V-TRC “宝贝” also flew me back from Kota Bharu on a previous trip.
The private Hat Yai Airport apron for my flight.
Continuing down the hallway to the end of the terminal building.
Heading into Gate 6.
Heading down the aerobridge.
Boarding the aircraft.
The interior of Scoot’s Airbus A320-200, also known as #A320baes.
My private row at 27D, E and F.
The legroom on board Scoot’s Airbus A320-200.
Once the announcement was made for cabin crew to arm doors, I made my way to another empty row on the left with a window.
My self-declared “quarantine area” on board the flight.
The other filled rows on the plane. Seems like most passengers would have a “quarantine area” for themselves.
Pushing back from the gate.
Taxiing out of the apron.
Turning to the runway to continue to the end on it.
Turning around the end of the runway.
Seems like the taxiway is undergoing some maintenance and expansion.
Taking off from Runway 08.
Passing by the terminal building.
Flying over the airport surroundings.
Turning right towards Sungai Golok.
Hat Yai city from above.
Zooming in on Hat Yai Junction Railway Station and Lee Gardens.
Flying over Ban Phru.
Zooming in on the Ban Phru railway crossing.
Zooming in on Hat Yai Junction.
Heading through the clouds up in to the sky.
The clean toilet on board, though without hand sanitizers this time.
Cruising smoothly.
As this was lunch time and I didn’t have lunch in Hat Yai yet (as I thought there would be food after immigration), I ordered a Chicken Briyani (S$12) from the Scoot Café menu.
The new packaging looks a lot more welcoming and solid than the old flimsy one which requires you to stab the box with a knife to open it.
The first look of my Chicken Briyani. The plastic cover was also very easy to tear off on this new packaging.
I’m not sure who the caterer is, but wow that was a good Briyani even for regular on-ground standards, not to mention for an in-flight meal. I could taste the spices in each bite, and the rice was sufficiently moist like a Dum Briyani, with the chicken pieces not going dry too like most in-flight meals.
This is my overall rating for Scoot’s new Chicken Briyani. I think a picture speaks a thousand words in this case.
Could this be a new trend where the bigger budget airlines in ASEAN are actually offering better meals than full-service airlines?
Flying over RAPID Pengerang.
It was a cloudy day over Singapore.
Flying over Batam.
The Singapore skyline is blocked by the clouds.
The overcast Singapore skyline as seen from the approach.
Lots of ships docked as usual.
Flying over the ECP.
Flying past the upcoming East Coast Integrated Depot.
The future East Coast Integrated Depot beside the existing Changi Depot.
Flying past Changi Depot.
Flying over the PIE into Changi Airport.
Surprised to see a Delta Boeing 767-300 back in Singapore, though for maintenance rather than a flight to Tokyo.
Touched down in Changi Airport at 3.10pm – 5 minutes early.
Taxiing to Terminal 1.
Aaaaand… here comes the rain.
Parked at Terminal 1, the new territory of Scoot.
Disembarking from the aircraft.
Thank you 9V-TRC “宝贝”.
Heading up the aerobridge.
Heading down the pier.
The last travellator was switched off and temperature taking was conducted at both sides of the last travellator.
Once I walked through the temperature taking lane with no issues, it’s business as usual in Changi.
As there was a little bit of crowd at immigration at Terminal 1, I decided to go clear immigration at Terminal 2 instead since I was going to catch the MRT anyway.
Heading to the Skytrain station.
Boarding the Skytrain to Terminal 2.
The interior of the Skytrain.
Heading off to Terminal 2 with a view of JEWEL and the control tower on the right.
Heading out of the Terminal 2 Skytrain station.
The immigration hall is just beside the Terminal 2 Skytrain station.
Back out in Terminal 2 where Scoot used to operate from.
Once out through customs, I turned right to Changi Airport MRT Station.
Changi Airport MRT Station is directly accessible from both arrival and departure levels.
Heading down to the platform.
The wide island platform of Changi Airport MRT Station.
From here, I headed home by MRT, changing trains at Tanah Merah MRT Station to continue on my journey.
Overall, another pleasant flight with Scoot, made better again just like my onward flight with the light load so I have a self-declared “quarantine area” around me, which made it a lot less tense to fly around during this viral period in ASEAN and beyond. And have I mentioned that the airfare with all taxes included was cheaper than the bus or train ticket back?