Now you'll never miss out on your first choice of an inflight meal
By David Flynn, December 21 2018
Singapore Airlines' Book The Cook service is a long-time favourite of the airline's frequent flyers – with hundreds of quality dishes spanning cuisines from Western to Japanese, Chinese, Malay, Thai, Indian and of course home-grown Singaporean treats, how could it be anything but a reliable go-to?
However, for an assortment of reasons, many passengers stick with the standard onboard menu: and while that one also offers plenty of choice, it's not unknown for some passengers to miss out on their first selection of a popular dish.
Now Singapore Airlines has come up with a solution: the Star Alliance member is putting its first class and business menus online for all flights across the Singapore Airlines network, with any dish available for pre-order. (The airline plans to extend this to premium economy in 2019).
That way, you'll never lose out on the lamb loin...
... be left behind for the beef fillet...
... or have to go without the hanakoireki set.
The only caveat is that, as with Book The Cook, you need to make your selection at least 24 hours before your flight departs so the meal can be prepared to order.
Flying soon on Singapore Airlines? We rate the best business class seats across the international SQ fleet.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jan 2015
Total posts 70
Excellent Move
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
I just noticed this yesterday when I logged in for a flight next month
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Cuts down on wastage. I assume this will result in an even smaller selection for those who don't choose in advance.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 477
Very smart, will also reduce wastage but I agree with moa999, those who don't Book The Cook and don't preorder their meal will probably end up with less choice or at least more chance of their first pick not being available. Honestly I don't know why anybody who can be organized enough to order 24+ hrs before their flight would not use Book The Cook anyway!
05 Dec 2018
Total posts 146
I think it would be more of the awareness that the book the cook service offering exists. Especially for the non-regulars.
02 Jun 2013
Total posts 57
How does this work on non-Book the Cook routes? I flew SQ Stockholm-Singapore recently (via Moscow) and was disappointed not to be able to select my meal in advance.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
This is available on all SQ routes, not just those with Book The Cook.
26 Dec 2018
Total posts 2
Is it? It's only showing Toasted Multigrain Bread for my booking MEL-WLG on SQ247 in January.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
13 Jan 2015
Total posts 580
I have a WLG-MEL flight also in Jan and the usual BTC option is greyed out, however it does give me the option to preorder 1 of 3 options from the inflight menu.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 128
I’ve just booked Y+ for April. It let me choose already... why wouldn’t I pick now?
05 Dec 2018
Total posts 146
SYDINI it says ‘plans’ to extend to Premium Economy in 2019. Corporate speak for we want todo this in 2019 but we won’t verbally commit at this stage, in case we can’t get it together.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1010
I tell people who don't fly a lot, I've booked the cook on the next flight AND they think the chef comes to your seat and cooks the meal or cooks it onboard upfront.
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 55
Airlines advertise how good their food is as part of flying business class therefore it would not be unreasonable expect a refund when the product they advertised is not available.
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