Booked an SIA flight but boarded a Scoot plane? Here's how to spot a codeshare flight.

A recent TikTok video by a Singapore-based content creator has sparked discussion among travellers, after she said she had booked a Singapore Airlines flight, only to realise at the airport that it was operated by Scoot.

But why does this happen? And how can you prevent it from happening to you?

SQ flight turning into Scoot

In the video posted on May 19, the user, also known as Mel, said:

“I booked a Singapore Airlines flight when I got to the airport I realised it became a Scoot flight. I didn’t even know that this was a possibility.”

She added that she had booked the flight through the Singapore Airlines website, and said the experience was disappointing because she had expected to be on an SIA-operated flight.

“It’s not that Scoot is horrible, you know it’s just that the disappointment… I thought I was gonna take SQ, but then when I got to the airport it was Scoot.”

She also claimed that the Scoot flight was S$200 cheaper, and that other passengers on the same flight appeared to be similarly surprised.

The video drew comments from viewers explaining that this was likely a codeshare flight, which is a common arrangement where one airline sells tickets for a flight operated by another airline.

How to tell if your flight is a codeshare

The thing is, Mel’s confusion is not new.

A quick google search shows that similar complaints have surfaced over the years, with other travellers publicly questioning why flights booked with an SQ code were operated by Scoot.

A brief scroll through Mel’s video comments also shows that some viewers shared her confusion, with several saying they had not known that an SQ-coded flight could be operated by Scoot.

So how to stop yourself from facing the same disappointment?

According to Singapore Airlines’ website, travellers can identify Scoot-operated flights on the SIA website or SingaporeAir mobile app by looking out for the Scoot logo in the search results.

SIA also says that when a traveller selects a flight operated by Scoot, more information about the Scoot flight and the services offered will appear.

Another sign? The flight number.

Scoot-operated flights booked through SIA are differentiated by a four-digit SQ code, such as SQ 8534, while flights operated by Singapore Airlines have a three-digit flight code, such as SQ 212, according to SIA.

Checks on the SIA website showed that Scoot-operated flights were labelled with the Scoot logo and the words “Operated by Scoot” beside the four-digit flight number.

When the flight details were expanded, the booking page stated: “Part of your itinerary is operated by Scoot, our low-cost carrier”.

The expanded details also stated that "a hot meal or snack and a bottle of mineral water" will be provided for flights that are "90 minutes and longer".

What is a codeshare flight and will the experience be the same?

A codeshare flight is an arrangement where one airline places its flight number on a flight operated by another airline.

SIA’s own codeshare partner page explains that codesharing is one of its closest forms of cooperation with partner airlines, where SIA places its flight numbers on partners’ services.

SIA says this gives customers “enhanced frequency and greater choice of destinations”.

SIA’s page on checking in with partner airlines also states that passengers who book with Singapore Airlines may be flying on a flight operated by a partner airline “even if the flight code begins with SQ”.

It's not just Scoot either, with SIA having partnerships with a number of different airlines, like Japan's ANA, Germany's Lufthansa and Malaysia's Malaysia Airlines.

But the question that is on the top of everyone’s minds — will the experience be the same?

Not exactly.

SIA’s own website states that passengers on Scoot-operated flights will experience Scoot’s own aircraft and services.

On its SIA-Scoot codeshare page, SIA describes that on SIA-Scoot codeshare flights, passengers get baggage allowance that matches their SIA flight, as well as complimentary meals or snacks.

Why the price may differ

In her video, Mel said the Scoot flight was “S$200 cheaper”, adding that she could have saved the difference if she had booked directly and that she had been “bamboozled”.

In past cases, other customers have raised similar sentiments about why they paid more through the SIA website for an SQ-coded flight that was ultimately operated by Scoot.

In a CNA explainer Aaron Wong, the founder of travel website "The MileLion", said many factors affect airline ticket prices, including dates, how full the flight is and where the passenger is flying.

“It’s hard to say definitively if it’s the same price or less,” he said.

He also suggested that passengers compare airfares under the partner airline before booking a codeshare flight.

What to check before booking

So. What to check before booking an SQ flight?

First, look for the operating airline. On the SIA website, Scoot-operated flights, for example, should show the Scoot logo and the words “Operated by Scoot”.

Second, check the flight number. A four-digit SQ flight number, such as SQ 8534, indicates a codeshare flight, while SIA-operated flights have three-digit SQ codes.

Third, compare prices. If the same route is operated by another carrier, travellers may want to check carrier's website as well before deciding which fare and inclusions work best for them.

Fourth, if you somehow still miss all of the above, well — small comfort, you are not the first, and you probably won’t be the last.