Singapore Airlines Book The Cook: How It Works

Singapore Airlines Book The Cook: How It Works

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Airline catering logistics are incredibly complex. After all, in premium cabins the goal is to serve restaurant quality meals, even though airlines are reheating food that was prepared in a catering facility many hours earlier. On top of that, the goal is to minimize waste, while still maximizing the odds of as many people as possible getting their first meal choice.

Nowadays many airlines let you pre-order your meal prior to your flight. On the most basic level, this is great because it ensures you get your first choice. Beyond that, airlines also sometimes offer expanded meal choices when reserving in advance, compared to what you’d find onboard.

However, no airline offers quite as much flexibility with catering choices as Singapore Airlines, with its Book the Cook program. In this post I wanted to take a closer look at that.

What is Singapore Airlines Book The Cook?

With Singapore Airlines Book the Cook, passengers traveling in premium cabins on select flights can pre-order their meals, with a huge selection of dishes that wouldn’t otherwise be available onboard. For example, for flights originating in Singapore, you have your choice of dozens of different options, which is flexibility you won’t find at any other airline.

Singapore Airlines actually has three different kinds of meal pre-order options:

  • There’s the Book the Cook feature, allowing you to choose from a wide selection of options that wouldn’t be available onboard
  • There’s the inflight menu, with the choice to reserve your preferred option from what’s on the menu prior to your flight
  • There’s the special meals menu, for those who have special dietary needs and want to place an order based on that

With the basics out of the way, let’s talk about the logistics of Book the Cook.

Which passengers are eligible for Book the Cook?

Book the Cook is available to passengers traveling in Suites, first class, business class, and premium economy, in select markets. As you can see, this is valid for all premium cabins, and it’s just economy passengers who aren’t eligible for the program. It doesn’t matter how your ticket was booked, so even those who redeemed miles can take advantage of this.

Use Book the Cook when traveling in Singapore Suites

Which routes have Book the Cook?

The availability of Book the Cook is based on which airport you’re traveling out of, with each airport having a different menu. Interestingly the number of airports offering Book the Cook differs significantly based on the cabin you’re traveling in:

  • Book the Cook is available in Suites and first class out of 18 airports
  • Book the Cook is available in business class out of 31 airports
  • Book the Cook is available in premium economy out of 26 airports

You can find all the available airports and menus at this link. Why isn’t this available out of all airports? Keep in mind airlines often use third party airport catering companies, and I imagine some catering companies just aren’t able to offer customized meals in an economical way.

How do you reserve Book the Cook?

After you make your booking, just go to the part of Singapore Airlines’ website where you can manage your booking. Then go to the section about meal preferences, and there you’ll see the option to pre-reserve your meal. You’ll see the option for Book the Cook, the option to select something from the standard menu, and the option to select special meals.

Note that when you use Book the Cook, you’ll still get the standard starters, desserts, etc., as it’s just the main course you’re reserving. So if you have dietary restrictions, you might want to select a special meal, so that you can be sure that you can consume the entire meal.

For longer flights with multiple meal services, you can often select multiple Book the Cook options. This is usually available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s just not available when the meal is described as a refreshment.

Book the Cook selections need to be made at least 24 hours before departure. When departing Auckland (AKL) or Newark (EWR), though, your selection has to be made at least 48 hours before departure.

You’re served standard appetizers when using Book the Cook

How does Book the Cook work once onboard?

Once onboard your flight, the crew should confirm that you pre-reserved your meal at the same time that meal orders are taken. One common question is whether you can change your mind, and order something from the main menu. The answer is yes and no.

If you use Book the Cook, you should expect that you’re going to be served what you ordered. After all, the airline is catering your special dish in lieu of at least one dish that would otherwise be on the menu. That being said, Singapore Airlines isn’t like US airlines, and generally loads more food than needed.

So if there are enough dishes left, you should be able to swap to something else on the menu. However, expect that you’ll get last choice, after everyone else has made their selection.

Singapore Airlines’ Book the Cook program is amazing

I love the concept of Singapore Airlines’ Book the Cook program, and I like the execution even more. While the selection varies based on where you’re originating, it’s really impressive, especially if traveling out of Singapore Changi Airport.

There are dozens of menu choices, including Western, Singaporean, Malay, Indian, and more. Whether you want lobster thermidor, or a grilled angus beef burger, or laksa, or beef rendang, or roti prata, or bibimbap, or nasu dengaku, the selection is never ending.

I also appreciate all the dishes with local flair, whether you want tonkotsu ramen when flying out of Tokyo, or a tandoori grill when traveling out of Dubai, or wok fried black pepper beef when flying out of Hong Kong.

Personally I’m often conflicted about whether to actually order from the menu, though. I find Singapore Airlines’ onboard options to be interesting as well, and sometimes I just don’t know what I’d like to eat in advance. Furthermore, the sheer the number of options you have almost leads to decision paralysis, in my opinion.

Choose from a huge selection of dishes with Book the Cook

Bottom line

Singapore Airlines’ Book the Cook program is the best meal pre-order program you’ll find from any airline. Not only can you make sure you get your first choice, but you can also select from a much larger selection than you’d have onboard.

If you’re flying in a premium cabin on Singapore Airlines out of an eligible airport, I’d highly recommend taking advantage of this.

What’s your take on Singapore Airlines’ Book the Cook program? Do you usually use it, and if so, what’s your favorite dish?

Conversations (24)
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  1. Peter Guest

    Flying out of Auckland business class, departing in six days time.

    Book the Cook displays eight available meals, but there seems to be no way to actually select one.

    Greatly disappointed.

  2. Arshaad Mohiadeen Guest

    Very poor service by SQ235 ..even if book the cook was chosen the meals were raw and uncooked and smelly..so for my elderly parents flying right now in that flight from Singapore to Brisbane they didn't eat and they are 70 + years old and sick..they will get more sick with nothing to replace..not even an icecream or salad or coffee tea..
    How can business class passengers be treated like this
    Seat 18...

    Very poor service by SQ235 ..even if book the cook was chosen the meals were raw and uncooked and smelly..so for my elderly parents flying right now in that flight from Singapore to Brisbane they didn't eat and they are 70 + years old and sick..they will get more sick with nothing to replace..not even an icecream or salad or coffee tea..
    How can business class passengers be treated like this
    Seat 18 F 18 D.

    If anyone can connect to them and let them know it would help

    1. hexagonsarethebestagons New Member

      I'm sorry, what are you expecting the unaffiliated with SQ readers of an internet blog to do for your parents that are apparently on a plane right now? You need to contact the airline if you have a grievance.

  3. Shekar Guest

    Unfortunately, the vegetarian options are too little or unappealing. I even tried the falafel burger ex Singapore, but it was , dry and tasteless. Tried few other options, but nothing was good. So I stick to regular vegetarian options

  4. David Guest

    SQ are useless…BTC functionality not working on J class ZRH-SIN-SYD…for 1 August 2023 flight….completely useless support no idea how to sort it out…call center no idea…

  5. iamhere Guest

    Consider that your taste changes in air and that some foods reheat well but not others.

  6. Steven E Guest

    Ive used this a few times and it’s always nice to know that at least youve reserved your main course and the lobster is usually excellent on SQ, and as you’ve mentioned Ive heard a few passengers asking for something else as they have changed their minds whilst onboard and the crew are gracious in letting people know they will try their best to accommodate them but they would need to wait until all other orders have been fulfilled - can’t get any better than that

    1. LYF Guest

      I've always Booked the Cook (BTC) whenever available. On one of our flights in Premium Economy from Singapore to Newark, the crew messed up on my companion's selected meal (one of several meals on that sector). They were very apologetic and offered her not one but 3 BTC options and told her to take all 3! As for the meals themselves, I've always found them to be of a high enough quality, and the choice is very good.

  7. Patti Guest

    Used it in the past. Already booked the cook for our Sept flights with them. Been pleased.

    They had a waffle on my Sin to Bali that was truly amazing.

  8. Gary Guest

    Flew from Manchester in Feb 2023 and the 'book the cook' was nor available for that flight which was strange.
    It was available for the singapore to Perth leg of the journey.

    1. DaBluBoi Guest

      Might be because the flight doesn't actually start or end in Manchester, as I believe that flight comes in from Houston as a fifth freedom flight before continuing on to Singapore

  9. CE Guest

    The Indian options out of London, Singapore, and India (of course) are terrific... Among others!

  10. Amritpal Singh Guest

    Ordered a book the cook meal 4 months in advance once. It wasn’t loaded on the meal and I showed the FA a confirmation email.

    Super rude and no apologies given. Customer support gaslit me and claimed I ordered within 24 hours.

    Don’t see the magic in SQ anymore personally. Not the airline it was in 2019

    1. Raja Guest

      4 months ago? Book the cook is available only 2 days before flying.

    2. Alex Guest

      not correct, it is available months in advance. Only the choices fro the regular menu are available just a few days before the flight

    3. Patti Guest

      Alex us correct. I booked the cook afore than a month ago on for our Sept flight JFK-SIN and back.

      The regular menu only available a few days before flying

    4. AG Guest

      The way SQ operates is - when all goes well you are our valued guest, but when we screw up its your fault. Happened to me so many times that I don't bother provinding them feedback. I actually dialed back my patronage of SQ because of this attitude.

    5. Liz Guest

      Similar experience. Received confirmation but was informed just before take off, they didn’t have the order for my husband. The purser was super rude, retorted that he couldn’t whip up lobster thermidor for us. I agree completely with you, SQ is becoming complacent. Why should I pay premium for lacklustre service, declining food quality and a narrower business class seat? I enjoyed my flight on Lufthansa more than I did with SQ for the same route.

  11. UGC Guest

    Lobster Thermidor is a must when flying out of SIN

  12. Andy Diamond

    I'm not so enthusiastic about SQ Book-the-Cook, in particular from outstations. The dishes offered are often non-premium (e.g., Chicken Fried Rice). They also lack any logic, e.g. out of ZRH you can order a veal fillet in J (which is a nice and rather premium dish), but in F you can only order veal cheek (which is a typical dish prepared for catering in large quantities, e.g. school canteens).

    1. Sal Guest

      How can you be anything but enthusiastic about an option that simply offers choice? Whether you select more premium or less premium options is up to you.

    2. Andy Diamond

      Well, if I spend a large four (or even a five digit) amount on a ticket, I expect all food options to be premium. It's not about choice, it's about premium food.

  13. LEo Diamond

    Also by SATS:
    Booking the Cookhouse - SAF Future Enlisyee

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Sal Guest

How can you be anything but enthusiastic about an option that simply offers choice? Whether you select more premium or less premium options is up to you.

1
Peter Guest

Flying out of Auckland business class, departing in six days time. Book the Cook displays eight available meals, but there seems to be no way to actually select one. Greatly disappointed.

0
hexagonsarethebestagons New Member

I'm sorry, what are you expecting the unaffiliated with SQ readers of an internet blog to do for your parents that are apparently on a plane right now? You need to contact the airline if you have a grievance.

0
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