Later this month, Singapore Airlines will add a new five times weekly service to and from London Gatwick Airport, its 14th destination in Europe located around 30 miles south of the UK capital, as the carrier seeks an overflow capacity option to slot-congested Heathrow.
This wasn’t exactly ‘Plan A’ for the carrier – an initial request to operate an additional daily Heathrow flight was knocked back by the slots regulator, and the Gatwick backup option only yielded approval for five flights per week, rather than the daily sevice the airline was asking for.
Nonetheless SIA is pushing ahead on this new route with its usual gusto, and the carrier will no doubt be buoyed by initial booked loads of 90% in the Business Class cabin and 85% in Premium Economy during the first week of operation, according to GDS data sighted by Mainly Miles.
If you were perhaps put off booking or redeeming from London Gatwick, there’s confirmation this week that at least one nice perk won’t differ from a Heathrow-originating service – SIA’s Book the Cook option.
Gatwick now has Book the Cook
While Singapore Airlines offers its Book the Cook service for all Suites, First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy passengers departing from its Changi hub on flights of 1 hour 30 minutes or more, the option is only extended to flights departing from selected airports elsewhere on the network.
The goods news is that London Gatwick will join the carrier’s Book the Cook list from the get-go.
That’s quite unlike the airline’s latest Europe route, Brussels, which now sees four times weekly service to and from Changi but without any Book the Cook option in the Brussels – Singapore direction.
Better still, both Business Class and Premium Economy Class passengers departing from London’s second airport will benefit.
On SIA’s United Kingdom network, Manchester remains ‘the odd one out’ as far as Book the Cook is concerned, with no such option when departing the northern city on any of the carrier’s 10 weekly flights to either Houston or Singapore.
The menus
SIA’s Book the Cook option allows customers to select a specific main course from an expanded list of options, as an alternative to the usual inflight menu.
Selections must be made at least 24 hours in advance of the departure time (or 48 hours in advance if you’re jetting off from Auckland).
Here’s how the menu currently looks for flights departing from London Gatwick in Business Class on SQ309, which will offer a Lunch service after its 10.15am departure, followed by Breakfast prior to landing.
London Gatwick Singapore
Book the Cook
Business Class
- Slow Braised Short Ribs
Truffle cauliflower puree, pomegranate, Mac and Cheese. - Roasted Chicken Breast with Pesto Sauce
Salt baked yellow and red beetroots and quinoa salad. - Poached egg with Shakshuka sauce
Grilled sour dough, wilted spinach, avocado and feta crumbs.
Meatless - Roasted Cauliflower Steak
Truffle cauliflower puree, pomegranate, Mac and Cheese.
Meatless - Grilled Angus Beef Fillet
Grilled Aberdeen Angus fillet of beef with vegetable medley and chef’s potatoes. - Grilled Monkfish
With roasted new potatoes, grilled vegetables, and wild mushroom sauce. - Thai Beef Red Curry
Beef simmered in Thai red curry and served with stir-fried vegetables and steamed Jasmine rice. - Singapore Chicken Rice
Poached chicken, sliced and served on long-grain rice cooked in chicken broth. Accompanied with dark soya sauce, tangy ginger and fresh chilli and lime sauces. - Sesame Coated Fried Fish in Chinese Black Vinegar Sauce
With stir fried Asian vegetables and egg fried rice. - Chicken Biryani
Fragrant basmati rice cooked with aromatic herbs and spices, topped with chicken and served with raita.
The Business Class BTC menu on this route is subject to change – view the latest version here.
Here’s the Premium Economy Class menu for SQ309 departing from London Gatwick.
London Gatwick Singapore
Book the Cook
Premium Economy
- Breakfast Mini Pancakes
Cherry compote, vanilla crème and crumbles. - Breakfast Mushroom Stuffed Crepes
Pan-fried turkey sausages, spinach and potato roesti. - Western Breakfast Porridge with Chia Seeds and Pears
Fruit compote, crumble with walnut, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. - Braised Short Rib with Red Wine Jus
King oyster mushrooms, baby carrot and millet risotto. - Pulled Duck Leg with Cranberry Sauce
Bread dumplings, beet root, turnips, and pickled red onion. - Rustic Slow Braised Lamb stew
Sauteed savoy cabbage, carrots and roasted potatoes. - Pan Roasted Halibut Fillet with Beurre Noisette
Bulgur risotto, salsify, beans and sea asparagus. - Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks with Shallot Jus
Buttered broad beans, diced potatoes and onion puree. - Tortellini Stuffed with Lemon Mascarpone
Semi-dried cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and pesto cream sauce.
Meatless - Opor Ayam
Marinated chicken in spice, simmered in turmeric and coconut milk, vegetables and steamed jasmine rice. - Stir Fried Pork with Ginger Sesame Oil Sauce
Asian vegetables and egg noodles. - Slow Poached Chicken with Oriental Sauce
Asian greens and fragrant jasmine rice.
The Premium Economy BTC menu on this route is subject to change – view the latest version here.
If you’re a regular traveller in these cabins from London Heathrow, these selections may look quite familiar.
It looks like Singapore Airlines will contract the same caterer at London Gatwick as it does at London Heathrow, because the Book the Cook menus from both airports are actually identical.
That also suggests the inflight menus for SQ309 out of Gatwick will likely be similar to those on SQ317 from Heathrow, with an almost identical departure timing.
Here’s how those menus look for reference.
SQ317 Business Class
Inflight Menu
SQ317-J
SQ317 Premium Economy
Inflight Menu
SQ317-PY
Actual in-flight menus for the London Gatwick route will be available for viewing from 13th July 2024, eight days in advance of the inaugural flight, and they are subject to change on a monthly basis thereafter.
It’s usually a good idea to wait and see if anything on the inflight menu stands out before committing to a Book the Cook option, so do check this out within around a week of your departure.
From the start of the winter 2024/25 season on 27th October 2024, SQ309’s departure timing moves forward to 9.20am, and that should see the meal service switch across to Breakfast followed by Supper, so expect to see some menu changes for that period.
How to pre-order
You can make a main course selection from the Book the Cook menu for your trip online via the Manage Booking portal.
At the ‘Passengers and preferences’ section, click on the ‘Select / Skip’ shortcut in the meals section, which defaults to ‘Inflight Menu’ if no selection has previously been made.
You’ll then see a link to the Book the Cook option.
From there you can select and add your BTC meal choice to your booking, which will then reflect at the ‘Passengers and preferences’ section.
It’s also possible to make a Book the Cook selection over the phone, or using Kris the Chatbot (click “Chat with a live agent”).
Monica Galetti menus coming from late 2024
Earlier this year Singapore Airlines announced that it would be partnering with acclaimed UK-based chef and TV personality Monica Galetti to offer seasonal menus for Suites, First Class and Business Class customers departing from the UK.
“As guest chef, Monica will curate seasonal menus in collaboration with the Airline, showcasing the finest British ingredients with an emphasis on provenance and local suppliers. With a nod to her South Pacific roots, the collection will feature a number of signature dishes from her London restaurant Mere.”
Singapore Airlines
These dishes will be available on Singapore Airlines flights departing from London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester from the fourth quarter of 2024. The menu is set to feature “exclusive dishes, including soups, starters, main courses, and desserts”.
Book the Cook menus will continue to be available alongside these new inflight menu options for those departing in Suites, First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy from London Gatwick and London Heathrow.
London Gatwick schedule
Here’s how Singapore Airlines’ schedule for the new route looks for the summer 2024 season.
Singapore London Gatwick
21 Jun 2024 – 26 Oct 2024
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ312 A350 LH |
||||||||
| SIN 23:55 |
LGW 06:25* |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:30 | |||||||||
* Next day
London Gatwick Singapore
22 Jun 2024 – 26 Oct 2024
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ309 A350 LH |
||||||||
| LGW 10:15 |
SIN 06:20* |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:05 | |||||||||
* Next day
From late October 2024, some timing changes apply for the winter season, as shown below.
Singapore London Gatwick
27 Oct 2024 – 28 Mar 2025
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ312 A350 LH |
||||||||
| SIN 23:55 |
LGW 06:25* |
||||||||
| Duration: 14:30 | |||||||||
* Next day
London Gatwick Singapore
27 Oct 2024 – 28 Mar 2025
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ309 A350 LH |
||||||||
| LGW 09:20 |
SIN 06:15* |
||||||||
| Duration: 12:55 | |||||||||
* Next day
KrisFlyer awards (with lower taxes)
These are the KrisFlyer miles needed for the Singapore – London Gatwick route.
| KrisFlyer Redemption (one-way) Singapore ⇄ London |
||
| Saver | Advantage | |
| Economy | 42,000 | 70,000 |
| Premium Economy | 71,000 | n/a |
| Business | 103,500 | 123,000 |
As we highlighted last month, award space on this new route is quite good so far, with some dates featuring up to six Saver redemptions in the Business Class cabin.
One benefit of departing from Gatwick rather than Heathrow on an KrisFlyer award ticket is that lower taxes and fees are in force, as we highlighted last month.
While there’s still the very high Air Passenger Duty (APD) payable on award tickets departing from the United Kingdom to contend with out of Gatwick, taxes and fees are GBP 35.24 (around S$61) less than from Heathrow.
That’s not because APD is less (it’s the same), but because Gatwick’s Passenger Service Charge is only GBP 20.57, while Heathrow’s is a steep GBP 55.81.
SIA KrisFlyer Award Taxes & Fees
Business Class, ex-UK
| Airport | APD | PSC | Total |
| London Heathrow | GBP 202 | GBP 55.81 | GBP 257.81 (~S$444) |
| London Gatwick |
GBP 202 | GBP 20.57 | GBP 222.57 (~S$384) |
That makes Gatwick the cheapest UK airport to redeem KrisFlyer miles from, though let’s face it – APD still stings!
Full list of SIA’s Book the Cook cities
You can take advantage of Singapore Airlines’ Book the Cook service when departing from the following cities, as of June 2024. Simply click on the icon in each case to see the full selection.
As well as London Gatwick, Cairns is a new addition in Business Class this year, a change that took effect when the route switched to wide-body Airbus A350 Medium Haul aircraft from late March 2024.
As you can see from the list, with the addition of Gatwick only five of SIA’s 14 European destinations do not offer Book the Cook in Business Class.
- Barcelona
- Brussels
- Copenhagen
- Istanbul
- Manchester
Summary
Singapore Airlines is preparing to launch a new Europe service later this month, with London’s second main airport Gatwick set to see five times weekly Airbus A350 flights for the first time, from 21st June.
This will be the carrier’s second European route launch this year, with Brussels having its service reinstated after a 21-year hiatus.
Unlike Brussels though, Gatwick is getting a Book the Cook menu for passengers departing in both Business Class and Premium Economy, with the same menu offered to those departing ‘up the road’ from Heathrow.
(Cover Photo: Singapore Airlines)