National Day 2026 Cheapest Flights from Singapore: Scoot vs AirAsia (and Where Jetstar Asia Left)

For the National Day 2026 long weekend (Fri Aug 8 to Mon Aug 10), the LCC choice from Singapore has narrowed. Jetstar Asia wound down its Singapore operations in July 2025. Scoot and AirAsia are the two live options for most short-haul and long-haul budget travel. Scoot wins on route breadth. AirAsia wins on base fare into KL, JB, Bali, and Bangkok. The real cost gap opens on baggage and seat fees, not headline price.

Start your flight search on Scoot on ShopBack for cashback on the ticket total. New to ShopBack? Sign up at shopback.sg/signup in one tap. ShopBack is Singapore's largest cashback and rewards platform, and cashback applies on flight and hotel bookings across Scoot, Booking.com, Agoda, Trip.com, and Klook. On a S$400 National Day return fare, cashback on the ticket alone often pays for a decent meal at the destination.

The Jetstar Asia situation: what actually happened

Jetstar Asia (the Singapore-based Qantas Group LCC that operated as 3K from Changi since 2004) wound down its Singapore operations in July 2025. The intra-Asia network out of Singapore (Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Manila, Bali, and secondary Chinese cities) is no longer operated by Jetstar Asia.

Jetstar-branded flights from Singapore in 2026 are operated by Jetstar Airways (the Australian parent) on Australia routes such as Melbourne and Sydney via Denpasar. For most SEA short-haul from Singapore, the practical LCC choice today is Scoot or AirAsia.

The routes Jetstar Asia used to serve competitively have largely been absorbed by Scoot (which added frequency on Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, and secondary China) and by AirAsia (which continues its KL-hub model).

Scoot: route breadth and long-haul reach

Scoot is a wholly-owned Singapore Airlines subsidiary flying Boeing 787 and Airbus A321 aircraft. Route coverage from Singapore is the widest of any LCC serving Changi:

• Long-haul: Athens, Berlin, Amsterdam, Honolulu, Jeddah
• Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth
• North Asia: Tokyo (Narita, Haneda), Osaka, Sapporo, Seoul, Kaohsiung, Taipei
• SEA: Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Manila, Cebu, Denpasar, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Yangon, Phnom Penh
• South Asia: Male, Chennai, Coimbatore

Baggage and fees. Scoot's checked-baggage add is cheapest at booking, moderate at pre-flight, and steepest at airport check-in. Seat selection is optional; standard seats are free at check-in.

KrisFlyer. Yes, at lower rates than SQ. Roughly 50 to 75 percent of SQ mile earning depending on fare class. Add KrisFlyer number at booking.

Book Scoot on Scoot on ShopBack for cashback on the ticket total. The Scoot direct booking channel supports KrisFlyer stacking and easier post-booking changes.

AirAsia: cheapest base fares into KL, JB (Senai), Bali, and Bangkok

AirAsia's Singapore operations are handled primarily by AirAsia Berhad (Malaysia) and Thai AirAsia. The hub model routes most flights via KL, which gives depth into secondary Malaysian and Indonesian destinations but adds transit for some SEA destinations.

Strongest routes from Singapore:

• KL, JB (Senai), Ipoh, Kota Kinabalu, Penang
• Bali (both direct and via KL)
• Bangkok (Don Mueang and BKK via KL)
• Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi via KL

Baggage and fees. AirAsia's baggage gradient is steeper than Scoot's. Adding checked baggage at airport check-in is typically S$20 to S$40 more per bag than adding at booking. This is the single biggest cost trap on AirAsia; always add baggage at initial booking.

Loyalty. AirAsia has its own BIG Loyalty programme. It does not partner with KrisFlyer.

Booking. AirAsia flight tickets are not sold via ShopBack's Scoot-style direct partnership, but AirAsia flights are commonly bookable via OTAs on ShopBack including Trip.com, Klook, and Agoda flight bookings.

Head-to-head on National Day 2026 long weekend

Long weekend fares are 30 to 80 percent above regular-week prices. Booking window closes for the best fares around end of July; last-minute (post Aug 5) pricing climbs sharply.

Route	Scoot	AirAsia
KL direct	Not competitive (limited frequency)	Cheapest, multiple daily
Bangkok	Competitive, direct 2 to 3x daily	Cheaper via KL, longer total transit
Bali (Denpasar)	Direct, higher base fare, better luggage terms	Cheaper base direct, luggage adds up
Ho Chi Minh	Direct, competitive	Via KL, cheaper base
Tokyo, Seoul	Scoot wins (direct, no AirAsia equivalent)	Not applicable
Sydney, Melbourne	Scoot wins	Not applicable
Athens, Honolulu, Berlin	Scoot only	Not applicable

Rule of thumb: for anywhere outside SEA short-haul, Scoot is the only LCC choice from Changi. For SEA, run both fare searches side by side and add baggage before comparing.

Where to book each

Scoot: scoot.com direct or via Scoot on ShopBack for cashback on the ticket total. The Scoot app supports KrisFlyer number entry, seat selection, and post-booking changes.

AirAsia: airasia.com direct or via OTA. For cashback layering, book via Trip.com, Klook, or Agoda flights through ShopBack.

Compare bundle deals on Trip.com on ShopBack for Scoot or AirAsia flight-plus-hotel bundles into Bali or Bangkok.

Bundle activities and airport transfers on Klook on ShopBack for the destination end of the trip.

National Day booking window and price trend

Base-fare trend for National Day 2026 across both carriers:

• Now to July 30: last window for near-base fares. Book if dates are fixed.
• Aug 1 to Aug 4: prices climb 15 to 30 percent per day as inventory tightens on Aug 8 evening departures and Aug 10 evening returns.
• Aug 5 to Aug 7: peak walk-up pricing. Return-flight inventory on Aug 10 and Aug 11 morning sells out first.
• Aug 8 onward: cheapest departures shift to Sun Aug 10 morning outbound (return Wed Aug 13), but this is a rebook, not a fresh booking.

If your dates are flexible by one day, Fri Aug 8 morning outbound and Mon Aug 10 late-night return is usually 20 to 40 percent cheaper than Fri evening outbound and Mon evening return.

On-time performance and delay risk

Both Scoot and AirAsia run competitive on-time performance from Changi in normal weeks. Long weekend departures (Aug 8 evening, Aug 10 evening return) sit in the highest-delay slots because both terminals are near capacity.

For Tue Aug 11 morning commitments, book the earliest morning slot Tue Aug 11 return rather than Mon Aug 10 late-night. The safety margin against a 60 to 120 minute delay is worth the modest fare uplift.

Frequently asked questions

Is Jetstar Asia still flying from Singapore in 2026? Jetstar Asia wound down its Singapore-based operations in July 2025. Jetstar-branded flights from Singapore in 2026 are operated by Jetstar Airways (the Australian parent) on select Australia routes, not by the former Jetstar Asia intra-Asia network. For most SEA short-haul from Singapore, the choice has narrowed to Scoot and AirAsia.

Which LCC is cheapest from Singapore for National Day 2026 long weekend? For KL, JB (Senai), Bali, and Bangkok, AirAsia typically leads on base fare. For Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Phuket, Manila, and long-haul (Tokyo, Sydney, Athens, Honolulu), Scoot is often equal or cheaper on total price once baggage is included. Long weekend pricing is 30 to 80 percent above regular-week fares regardless of carrier.

What routes does Scoot cover from Singapore that AirAsia does not? Scoot flies long-haul from Singapore to Athens, Berlin, Honolulu, Amsterdam, Jeddah, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Osaka, Sapporo, and Seoul, plus a full SEA network. AirAsia focuses on SEA and North Asia short-haul via KL and Bangkok hubs. For anywhere outside SEA and North Asia, Scoot is often the only LCC option.

What is the baggage fee trap on National Day flights? AirAsia charges S$5 to S$15 more per checked bag if you add baggage after booking, and S$20 to S$40 more if you add at airport check-in. Scoot has a similar gradient but shallower. Always add checked baggage at initial booking, particularly for long-weekend return flights where inventory is tighter and prices climb.

Does Scoot fly to Bali for National Day weekend? Yes. Scoot operates Singapore to Denpasar (Bali) daily. AirAsia also operates the route via KL or Kuala Lumpur direct. For a Fri departure Aug 8 and Mon return Aug 10, expect base fares S$180 to S$420 return on Scoot and S$140 to S$380 on AirAsia (KL routing longer).

Can I earn KrisFlyer miles on Scoot National Day flights? Yes, at lower rates than Singapore Airlines. KrisFlyer miles on Scoot are typically 50 to 75 percent of the equivalent SQ earning depending on fare class. You need to add your KrisFlyer number at booking or check-in. AirAsia has its own BIG Loyalty programme but does not partner with KrisFlyer.

What is Scoot's Singapore National Day 2026 promotion? Scoot typically runs an SG61 or Singapore-themed sale in late July with reduced base fares on select regional and long-haul routes, plus bonus KrisFlyer miles for KrisFlyer members. Sale windows are usually 3 to 7 days and departure dates fall outside the peak National Day weekend itself. Check the Scoot booking page for current sale terms.

Should I book Scoot direct or through a third-party site? For Scoot: book direct on scoot.com or through the Scoot app when possible. The direct booking allows KrisFlyer miles earning, extended baggage, and easier change or refund handling. Third-party sites (Trip.com, Klook) sometimes bundle Scoot with hotel deals; that trade-off is worth it only when the bundle is materially cheaper.

How reliable is AirAsia on-time performance out of Singapore? AirAsia's on-time performance from Singapore is competitive with other LCCs; delays cluster around KL turnaround windows during monsoon or peak holiday periods. Long weekend departures (Aug 8 evening, Aug 10 evening return) are the highest-delay slots. Book the earliest morning slot on Aug 11 return if you have a Tuesday morning commitment.

How do I stack cashback on National Day flight bookings? Book Scoot through the ShopBack app or browser extension to earn cashback on the ticket total. AirAsia flights can be earned via ShopBack's travel and OTA partners including Trip.com, Klook, and Agoda flight bookings. Cashback applies on the fare base; taxes and baggage add-ons follow the individual merchant's terms.

Book the long weekend

For anywhere outside SEA: Scoot is the LCC. For KL, JB Senai, Bali, or Bangkok base-fare depth: AirAsia via OTA. Layer cashback on Scoot on ShopBack directly, or use Trip.com on ShopBack for AirAsia flight bookings. Deeper trip planning at ShopBack Travel.

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