How does tucking into a decadent lobster or authentic Singaporean chicken rice at 30,000 feet sound? If you’re flying in a premium cabin on Singapore Airlines, you can choose your main course from a unique Book the Cook menu for a customised dining experience in the air.
You’ll find a tantalising selection of options across the airline’s hub in Singapore and when departing from many destinations overseas. Updated in 2024, new menu options out of Singapore include Gyu Yakiniku (grilled Wagyu beef) and Suzuki Teriyaki (grilled Chilean bass marinated in a savoury teriyaki sauce).
Here’s how to dine your way onboard Singapore Airlines.
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What is Book the Cook?
Book the Cook (BTC) is an optional service offered to passengers flying Singapore Airlines Premium Economy, Business Class, First Class, and Suites. It’s not currently offered in Economy Class, but watch this space… You can pre-select your main course from the BTC menu, which has many more options than the standard inflight menu.
Of course, you can still reserve something from the inflight menu or skip pre-ordering altogether and just order onboard, as you would with many other carriers. But if the BTC menu has something that catches your eye, why not indulge in it? This way, you won’t miss out on your first choice of meal.
However, Book the Cook is not available on all flights. Browse the full BTC menu here and see which departure ports are included. Out of Australia, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Cairns have Book the Cook.
Key points on Book the Cook
- For those starting their trip from Australia, BTC is available on flights from all airports that Singapore Airlines serves, except for Darwin.
- Some options may only be available for breakfast.
- It’s available to all passengers except those in Economy Class, including on award tickets booked through partners such as Avianca LifeMiles, United MileagePlus, and Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer.
- However, if you are booked on a codeshare flight (non-SQ flight number), you may not be able to Book the Cook. Phone KrisFlyer to see if you can choose a meal.
- For longer flights with two main meal services (i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner or supper), you may be able to select two BTC meal options. However, ‘Refreshment’ courses are not eligible for BTC. For ultra-long-haul flights such as Singapore-New York, you may be able to select three choices.
- You should be able to Book The Cook from roughly four months before departure up to 24 hours before. After that, you can’t change your selection.
How to Book the Cook with Singapore Airlines
- Go to the Manage booking page on the Singapore Airlines website.
- Input your booking reference number and surname.
- Select your flight.
- Order your meal from the options presented.
- Look out for a confirmation email.
Summing up
Book the Cook offers an exciting range of additional dishes on Singapore Airlines flights, unmatched by any inflight menu. Whether you’re craving simple hawker dishes or something heartier, you can’t go wrong with pre-ordering your inflight main meal.
Given you’re guaranteed to get your meal selection, you’ll often be served before others. It’s also easier for the cabin crew because they know exactly what you want. That’s a win-win!
Tell us about your experience with Book the Cook in the comments.
Booked on the ULR to New York next month and we currently can’t put our order in for “book the Cook”, I’ll see if I can bet my own record for the amount of Lobster Thermidor meals I have between Sydney and New York.
I should add,,,,, what is the chance of the plane having new business class seats??????
If you’re unable to select a meal, double check that the booking has been properly ticketed as this may be the issue. As for the seating, we’ve reviewed the Singapore-JFK flight in Business Class – you can find all the details, including the seat, here in our review.
Hi Chris, One of the ULR went in for maintenance hours in May 2024 with the other 6 to follow over the coming months. There is a bet on whether they release the new business class seats that were planned and delayed on the 777X.
This doesnt seem to be available until seven days prior to departure now.
Hi David, pre-ordering the onboard menu is available from 7 days before. But ‘Book the Cook’ should be available many weeks or months ahead of the flight – at least that has been the case for my recent flights.
How much extra does it cost or is it included in the price
Hi Rosemary, this is included with all eligible Premium Economy, Business and First/Suites tickets where offered.
I’m booked on a Virgin marketed but Singapore operated flight next month. Even though I can log into the Singapore website with my booking reference, I can’t see the in-flight menu or select my book the cook meal. Has anyone had experience flying SQ J on a VA marketed flight? Can you book the cook via the call centre?
Sounds great……..but i am booked business class 7th December on SQ 345 Zurich to Singapore,
When i clicked manage my booking and then meals there are no options for book the cook
SQ345 says “Meal selection is unavailable on this segment as it is managed by another airline.”
I realise this is a codeshare flight LX9000, but it is operated by SQ
Do you have any idea why its now showing ?
Thanks
hi Nigel,
You can’t access the online menu when you’re on a codeshare booked through a partner airline (same with seat selection) but you can still book it over the phone. Just check out the menu options on the SQ website and then call them. I’ve just done it for an SAS ticketed flight.
The article says all Australian ports except Darwin, yet CNS isn’t mentioned in the list of cities that do offer it?
Great to see a refresher on the Book the Cook & the other Main Course option, new to me: Thanks PH.
Two helpful tips, maybe: Don’t take the 24 hours literally. I was deeply disappointed on my very first J class with SQ, a short notice longhaul, that in the load to get away, I was down to the wire. The call centre assured me it was 24 hours Singapore time, so I was in time with about an hour or so to spare, but the meal was NOT provided.
Secondly, as a bit of a ;foodie’ I delayed booking it so as to enjoy the choice process (then ran out of time!) because of the massive number of choices. In fact, at least last year, it’s huge overall yes, but NOT on every flight ie the 70 Daniel mentions I think will be the total choices: go through the booking process to get what’s on YOUR flight. And enjoy.
Around 30 days Andy
Does anyone know how far in advance this is available?
We’re booked for June 2019 and are very muck looking forward to it but there’s no option to BTC on our booking.
Cheers,