Every time I mention booking a budget flight to Southeast Asia, someone asks the same question: “Should I go with Scoot or Jetstar?”
I’ve flown both. Multiple times. On routes from Sydney to Singapore, Melbourne to Bali, and various hops around Southeast Asia. I’ve had genuinely great experiences on both airlines and I’ve had delays on both too. So I’m not going to give you a cheerleader answer for either one.
What I’ll give you is an honest comparison based on what actually matters when you’re trying to get somewhere cheaply without losing your mind.
The Quick Summary
Choose Scoot if: You’re flying from Singapore or connecting through it, you want slightly more legroom, or you’re flexible on routing and want to save $30–$80.
Choose Jetstar if: You want a direct flight from an Australian city, you value consistency and familiarity, or you’re travelling with kids and want a simpler booking experience.
They’re genuinely similar on: Price (when comparing apples to apples), in-flight experience, and baggage policy headaches.
Price: Who’s Actually Cheaper?
This is the question everyone leads with, and the honest answer is: it depends on the route and the timing.
On Australia–Bali routes, Scoot is often $30–$80 cheaper return — but that’s partly because Scoot routes via Singapore, adding connection time. If you factor in the value of your time, the gap narrows considerably.
On pure Singapore-hub routes — say, Singapore to Bangkok or Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City — Scoot is the local carrier and often has better base fares than Jetstar Asia.
On Australian domestic connections into international Jetstar flights, Jetstar has an obvious advantage because of its extensive domestic network. You can book a through-fare from Cairns or Adelaide to Bali on one ticket, which Scoot simply can’t offer.
The practical move: Always compare both on Skyscanner before committing. Set the search to “cheapest month” and look at both carriers side by side. I’ve found deals on each that surprised me.
Baggage: Read This Carefully Before You Book
Both airlines operate on a base fare + add-on model, which means your carry-on-only ticket price will jump significantly once you add a checked bag. This catches a lot of first-time budget flyers off guard.
Scoot baggage in 2026
- Carry-on: 10kg included on most fares
- Checked baggage: starts at around $25–$45 per leg for 20kg, depending on route and how early you add it
- You save money by adding baggage at booking rather than at the airport — airport bag fees can be 2–3x the pre-booked rate
Jetstar baggage in 2026
- Carry-on: 7kg included (stricter than Scoot on the weight limit)
- Checked baggage: bundled in “Starter Plus” fares or added separately from around $30–$55 per leg
- Jetstar is known for enforcing carry-on weight checks more strictly than some carriers — if you’re a “stuff it all in a carry-on” traveller, know that 7kg goes fast
My take: Scoot’s 10kg carry-on allowance is genuinely more generous. If you travel light, this can make Scoot the better deal even when the base fare is similar.
Punctuality: Who’s More Reliable?
Both airlines have had their rough patches. I’ll be honest — neither is going to beat Singapore Airlines or Qantas on this metric. Budget airlines run lean operations and delays cascade.
That said, from my own experience and what I hear consistently from other travellers:
Jetstar has had a historically patchy punctuality record on Australian routes. There have been years where it ranked near the bottom of Australian on-time performance data. It has improved, but “will Jetstar be on time?” is still a legitimate question to ask.
Scoot operates predominantly out of Changi Airport in Singapore, which is one of the most efficiently run airports in the world. This gives Scoot a structural advantage — when your hub is Changi, your turnaround times are better. In my experience, Scoot has been more consistently on-time on Southeast Asian routes than Jetstar.
The caveat: If you’re flying Scoot via Singapore with a connection, you’re adding a transfer and therefore another point of potential delay. A direct Jetstar flight with a 30-minute delay might still get you to Bali faster than a Scoot routing via Singapore.
Comfort: Legroom, Seats, and the In-Flight Experience
Neither of these is a premium airline. You’re not getting lie-flat beds or three-course meals. But there are differences worth knowing.
Legroom: Scoot generally offers slightly more pitch (the distance between seat rows) on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. I’ve done the Sydney–Singapore leg on Scoot’s 787 and it’s surprisingly manageable for a 7–8 hour flight. Jetstar uses Airbus A320s on shorter routes and A321neos on medium haul — comfortable enough for a 6-hour flight, not ideal for much longer.
Seats: Both have basic economy seats with limited recline. Neither has great IFE (in-flight entertainment) included in the base fare. Scoot has ScootTV — a paid entertainment system. Jetstar has a similar paid system.
Meals: Both require you to purchase food. Both are mediocre. Bring your own snacks — this is genuinely the best advice I can give for any budget long-haul flight.
Scoot’s ScootPlus cabin: Scoot offers a mid-tier “ScootPlus” product on long-haul routes that sits between economy and business class. For an extra $60–$120, you get more legroom, a meal, and priority boarding. If you’re doing a 7+ hour Scoot flight and you find a good deal on ScootPlus, it’s worth considering.
Routes: Where Each Airline Actually Flies
This is often the deciding factor and people overlook it.
Jetstar’s strengths:
- Dense Australian domestic network (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Adelaide, Perth and more)
- Good coverage of Bali, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam from Australian cities
- Codeshare and interline with Qantas — useful if things go wrong
Scoot’s strengths:
- Hub at Singapore Changi — excellent jumping-off point for all of Southeast Asia
- More routes within Southeast Asia than Jetstar
- Growing European network from Singapore (Athens, Berlin, Barcelona, Rome)
- Good for onward connections if you’re doing a multi-stop Asia trip
If your trip starts in Australia and ends in Bali — Jetstar. If your trip involves multiple Southeast Asian stops, especially from Singapore — Scoot.
The Booking Experience
Both apps and websites work fine. Both have the same up-sell gauntlet: travel insurance, seat selection, baggage, meals, car hire. You will be presented with approximately 47 opportunities to spend more money before completing your booking.
My approach: decline everything except the baggage I actually need. Add a seat if it’s a night flight and I want a window. Skip the travel insurance through the airline and buy it separately — it’s almost always cheaper and better coverage.
One genuine Jetstar advantage: their customer service line is easier to reach and generally more responsive than Scoot’s if something goes wrong mid-journey. Scoot’s support can be slow, especially outside Singapore business hours.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Scoot | Jetstar | |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on allowance | 10kg | 7kg |
| Long-haul aircraft | Boeing 787 (more comfortable) | A320/A321 (shorter routes) |
| Punctuality | Generally better (Changi hub) | Variable, improving |
| Australian routes | Via Singapore only | Direct from most AU cities |
| Intra-Asia routes | More extensive | More limited |
| Customer service | Slower response | More accessible |
| Mid-tier cabin | ScootPlus available | Jetstar Business on some routes |
| Base fare | Often cheaper on Asia routes | Often cheaper on direct AU routes |
My Honest Recommendation
If I’m flying from Sydney or Melbourne to Bali: I check Jetstar first because the direct routing is more convenient, then compare Scoot via Singapore. If Scoot is more than $50 cheaper, I’ll take the stopover. If it’s less than $50, I take the direct Jetstar.
If I’m flying anywhere within Southeast Asia: I check Scoot first. Their network out of Singapore is excellent and the 787 makes longer hops genuinely comfortable.
If I’m doing a multi-country Southeast Asia trip: Scoot through Singapore, no question. The hub connectivity is unbeatable for that kind of itinerary.
Both are legitimate budget airlines. Neither will make your flight luxurious. But both will get you to Bali — or Bangkok, or Hanoi — for a fraction of what full-service carriers charge.
The best airline is whichever one has the lowest total price on the day you’re searching, for the route you’re flying. Compare both. Every time.
Looking for more ways to save on flights? Check out my post on the cheapest day to fly to Bali from Australia — the day you fly matters more than you’d think.
