All the things we didn’t realise we missed about flying

It’s the holiday season once more. In any other year, this would be a time when a lot of us in Singapore are clearing our leaves and going on holidays with our family or friends. This year, however, needs no more parley.

But as we slowly but surely inch our way towards normalcy, wanderlusters like you and me can hit the road safely once more in the near future.

For me, the travelling itch was scratched just a little during a recent jaunt aboard Scoot’s airplane. No, I didn’t get to fly anywhere, but I did get a sneak preview of the newly launched one-stop-service-centre ScootHub, and how the airline is keeping passengers safe when travels resume. That means experiencing everything a passenger will go through, sans the actual flying.

Just stepping into the airport brought back all the repressed emotions connected with travelling and Every. Single. Thing I have missed about flying. Here are some of them.

The anticipation of flying

If you don’t already know, Changi Airport has a bespoke fragrance that’s diffused into different areas of every terminal. Coupled with the myriad of pleasant experiences often associated with the airport, anticipation and excitement are often evoked as you step into the premise.

I found myself pleasantly surprised to still get a strong dose of those emotions (or it could be the bespoke scent) as I stepped into the departures area for the first time in forever. There were a handful of passengers hanging around for flights out, but it’s a far cry from the usual hustle and bustle of the beloved airport.

For just a moment, I can pretend that I too, am leaving on a jet plane.

Checking in, waiting and boarding

Everywhere you turn, you can tell safety has been ramped up. There are safety shields between counters and the public. If you’d like to reduce contact altogether, a large number of contactless check-in kiosks are available. Hand sanitisers are omnipresent.

While standing in line at Scoot’s check-in counter, it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that leisure travel is going to take a while to resume.

A short wait later, I’m strolling through the departure gates, through security checks, and finally, the pre-boarding area. Sitting in the nearly empty pre-boarding area was a surreal experience, but the main event was the boarding of the flight.

The jet bridge was a welcome and familiar sight, and as we near the entrance of the airplane, we were greeted warmly by Scoot’s smiling attendants donning face masks and face shields.

Ah, the smell of the airplane has been missed! Interesting fact: Did you know that Scoot’s aircrafts have always been fitted with HEPA filters, which filters the air to the standards of a hospital operating room?

Reaching out for the food menu and inflight magazines

One notable thing that is different from before was the inclusion of a care pack on every seat. Inside Scoot’s care pack are a mask, a hand sanitiser and an antibacterial wet wipe. I stowed it aside for later, settled in, and instinctively reached out for the in-flight menu and magazine. After all, that is all part of the ritual of getting on a flight.

Alas, the magazines have been removed. Guess I’ll just twiddle my thumb.

It turns out that many airlines had to reduce their inflight services to avoid surface transmissions. That means removing all the menu, inflight magazines and all those little comforts that made flying more enjoyable.

Scoot, however, brought back all these in-flight luxuries through the newly launched ScootHub.

Scheduled for launch mid-Dec 2020, ScootHub is a one-stop inflight portal where passengers can access inflight services through the safety of their personal device. Simply connect to the airplane’s localised network via WiFi at no additional cost, scan the QR code available in front of every seat with your mobile phone and voila! Instant access to everything you’ve enjoyed prior, minus the multiple surfaces you might come in contact with.

This low-contact solution allows passengers to order food and shop in flight any time during their flight, read about the destination they’re flying to, observe the flight path, play games and more through the portal. And that’s all just for the first phase of ScootHub’s launch. In its second phase, passengers will be able to book ground activities of their destination while in flight. Talk about efficiency!

Having harped on flying being a chore during happier times, I can’t help but appreciate the fact that while airlines are struggling through what Covid has done to the travel industry, Scoot is still coming up with ways to make the experience during flight safe and smooth for passengers.

What a luxury to be able to be bored, while someone else does all the hard work to get us from point A to B safely!

This content was produced in partnership with Scoot.