For travellers searching for the cheapest flights between Australia and Singapore, the choice often comes down to two names: Scoot and Jetstar. But while both position themselves as low-cost carriers, the experience and choice they offer can differ depending on the route. So which airline delivers the best value overall — Scoot or Jetstar? We compared pricing, comfort, inclusions, frequent flyer benefits and safety to find out.
The Low-Cost Alternatives: Scoot and Jetstar
Scoot, the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines flies to three major cities within the Australian continent: Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Qantas Group subsidiary Jetstar Airways operates on two of the same routes being Melbourne and Perth however at a much lower frequency of just 9 flights per week compared to Scoot’s 38.
How do the Scoot and Jetstar cabins compare?
Whilst both operate as true low-cost carriers, the key difference between them lies in the aircraft types used on each route. Scoot operates the wide-body Boeing 787 on all Australia–Singapore routes, whereas Jetstar operates the 787 from Melbourne, featuring its award winning low cost product, and the narrow-body A321 on the Perth–Singapore route.
The other key differentiator is their ‘business class’ products, which are more akin to a discounted premium economy offering, with extra legroom and recliner-style seating. However, these are only available on the 787 aircraft, meaning a comparison between the carriers on the Perth–Singapore route is quite different.
Focusing on the economy cabin, which remains the core product for the vast majority of Scoot and Jetstar passengers, the comparisons on the 787 aircraft are only notable when it comes to seat recline. Scoot offers a 30 inch seat pitch, 18 inch seat width and 6 inch recline. Jetstar’s 787s have similar seat dimensions but with a far lesser seat recline of 2–3 inch. For travellers on Jetstar’s A321 between Perth and Singapore, the seat pitch reduces to 28–29 inches, making it considerably tighter in regards to seating.
Who offers the better value? Scoot or Jetstar
Price remains one of the most important factors for budget-conscious travellers. To ensure a fair comparison between Scoot and Jetstar we have compared a return Singapore–Melbourne itinerary during the mid-year peak travel period. The pricing, all in Australian dollars, is based on a return fare from Melbourne to Singapore departing on July 7th and returning on July 14th 2026.*
Scoot:
The base return fare of $894 includes 10kgs of cabin baggage only. To add seat selection and 20kg of checked luggage the fare increases to $1094.
Given the length of flight we suggest allowing $50 per person return for meals and drinks given no water is provided complimentary
WiFi packages are available on Scoot from AUD$7 though ScootPlus passengers are entitled to 200mb of complimentary WiFi.
Between Melbourne and Singapore, Scoot offers both day and night flight options, as well as its Scoot-in-Silence cabin for passengers seeking a child-free section. It also provides a range of extra-legroom seating options, which the AirlineRatings team has reviewed and recommends.
Jetstar:
The base fare of $819 includes only a 7kg cabin bag. To add a seat and 20kg of checked baggage its worthwhile changing the fare to a Starter plus bundle that will also give you a choice between two meals and one drink on each flight. This brought the fare up to $955.
We would suggest allowing another $25 per person return to purchase a second meal and a couple of drinks. Jetstar do often provide complimentary cups of water on international services.
Jetstar currently only offers inflight Wi-Fi on its revamped 787s. However, the airline does provide inflight entertainment through seatback screens for $14. On the newer 787s entering the fleet, IFE will once again be available for a fee, but streamed directly to passengers’ own devices instead. It’s also worth noting that on A321 flights, IFE is available via streaming to personal devices for $9 per device, or $6 for children.
On our Melbourne-Singapore comparison Jetstar only offer a daytime flight to Singapore and an overnight flight back to Melbourne.
Frequent Flyer Programmes
A common denominator between Scoot and Jetstar is their status as low-cost subsidiaries of Singapore Airlines and Qantas respectively. Frequent flyer rewards are therefore available when flying within each airline group.
With a KrisFlyer membership, Scoot flights can earn travellers between 10–25% of the total miles travelled. A Jetstar flight between Singapore and Melbourne can yield up to 7,800 Qantas Points and 80 Status Credits, while a return Business Max fare can offer up to 16,900 Qantas Points and 250 Status Credits per passenger.
Scoot vs Jetstar for Safety
Both Scoot and Jetstar are accredited with a Seven-star Safety Rating with no significant differentiating factors to put one ahead of the other in this case.
Which Low Cost Carrier is better?
With little separating them in cost or safety, the main differences come down to flight times, the need for Wi-Fi and frequent flyer programs.
On the Melbourne–Singapore route, Jetstar has the edge for cost-conscious travellers, with its lower fare that includes a meal. However, for many customers, Scoot will likely come out on top simply because it offers a much higher flight frequency.
For the Perth–Singapore route, Scoot is our preference, primarily due to its widebody aircraft and the greater number of weekly flight options it offers.
*Fare comparison performed on May 22nd 2026 in Australian Dollars
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