Singapore Airlines operates ten weekly flights from Manchester Airport in the north west of the United Kingdom, with five departures per week to Singapore and another five to Houston, USA, making it the carrier’s second largest UK hub in terms of flight frequencies.
While the city has been on SIA’s route map since 1986, it has never been included on the list of departure points that benefit from Book the Cook – a popular meal preordering service for First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy Class passengers that was first launched in 1998.
On SIA’s United Kingdom network, Manchester has always been ‘the odd one out’ as far as Book the Cook is concerned, while London Heathrow and Gatwick passengers have benefited from this option, but there’s good news to report.
Manchester 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 good news is that Manchester has at last joined the carrier’s Book the Cook list, effective from 1st September 2024.
Both Business Class and Premium Economy Class passengers departing from Manchester can now benefit from this new option, with the airport becoming the 34th on the SIA network to offer Book the Cook.
With Houston and Singapore already offering the carrier’s Book the Cook service in these cabins, it also means those travelling the entire length of this route can expect the option on all four sectors of the round-trip journey.
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.
- SQ52 MAN-IAH offers a Lunch service after its 10.05am departure, followed by Dinner prior to landing.
- SQ51 MAN-SIN offers a Lunch service after its 10.45am departure, followed by Breakfast prior to landing.
(Photo: Singapore Airlines)
Here’s how the Book the Cook menu currently looks for flights departing from Manchester in Business Class, either on SQ52 to Houston or on SQ51 to Singapore.
Manchester Singapore
Manchester Houston
Book the Cook
Business Class
- Biryani Chicken
Fragrant basmati rice cooked with aromatic herbs and spices, topped with chicken and served with raita. - Grilled Monkfish
With roasted new potatoes, grilled vegetables, and wild mushroom sauce. - Roasted Cauliflower Steak
Truffle cauliflower puree, pomegranate, Mac and Cheese.
Meatless - Roasted Chicken Breast with Pesto Sauce
Salt baked yellow and red beetroots and quinoa salad. - Sesame Coated Fried Fish in Chinese Black Vinegar Sauce
With stir fried Asian vegetables and egg fried rice. - Slow Braised Short Ribs
Truffle cauliflower puree, pomegranate, Mac and Cheese. - Wanton Tong*
Oriental noodle soup with prawn-pork wantons, shiitake mushroom and pak choy.
* Sole BTC option for Breakfast MAN-SIN
Here’s the Premium Economy Class menu for SQ52 and SQ51 departing from Manchester.
Manchester Singapore
Manchester Houston
Book the Cook
Premium Economy
- Breakfast Mini Pancakes*
Served with cherry compote, vanilla creme and crumbles.
* Only available for Breakfast MAN-SIN - Breakfast Mushroom Stuffed Crepes*
Pan-fried turkey sausages, spinach and potato roesti.
* Only available for Breakfast MAN-SIN - Western Breakfast Porridge with Chia Seeds and Pears*
Fruit compote, crumble with walnut, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
* Only available for Breakfast MAN-SIN - 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.
Of course you can always opt for the inflight menu selection on your flight departing from Manchester if nothing on the Book the Cook list takes your fancy, or you’ve left it too late to make a selection.
Here’s how that looks on board SQ52 and SQ51 flights departing from Manchester, based on September 2024 menus.
SQ52 MAN-IAH
Business Class Inflight Menu
SQ52-J
SQ52 MAN-IAH
Premium Economy Inflight Menu
SQ52-W
SQ51 MAN-SIN
Business Class Inflight Menu
SQ51-J
SQ51 MAN-SIN
Premium Economy Inflight Menu
SQ51-W
These menus also show the appetiser and dessert you can expect on board, which doesn’t change even when you make a Book the Cook selection.
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 via the inflight menu portal.
(Photo: Singapore Airlines)
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.
(Photo: Singapore Airlines)
“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 Manchester, London Gatwick and London Heathrow 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 and Manchester.
Manchester schedule
Here’s how Singapore Airlines’ schedule for its Manchester flights looks for the northern winter 2024/25 season.
Singapore Houston
via Manchester
27 Oct 2024 – 30 Mar 2025
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
SQ52 A350 LH |
||||||||
| SIN 02:10 |
MAN 08:55 |
||||||||
| Duration: 14:25 | |||||||||
|
SQ52 A350 LH |
||||||||
| MAN 10:05 |
IAH 14:25 |
||||||||
| Duration: 10:20 | |||||||||
* Next day
Houston Singapore
via Manchester
27 Oct 2024 – 30 Mar 2025
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ51 A350 LH |
||||||||
| IAH 19:50 |
MAN 09:30* |
||||||||
| Duration: 08:40 | |||||||||
|
SQ51 A350 LH |
||||||||
| MAN 10:45 |
SIN 07:55* |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:10 | |||||||||
* Next day
Book the Cook is now available to Business Class and Premium Economy passengers travelling on all of these flights, whether originating in Singapore, Manchester or Houston.
(Photo: Bradley Caslin / Shutterstock)
Manchester getting dedicated flights (Houston ending)
As we reported last month, Singapore Airlines is ending its five times weekly Manchester – Houston flights from April 2025.
The good news is that Manchester will retain its five times weekly connection to and from Singapore, which will switch to being a dedicated terminator service for the summer 2025 season, with new flight numbers in the ‘European’ 3xx sequence, as shown below.
Singapore Manchester
1 Apr 2025 – 25 Oct 2025
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ302 A350 LH |
||||||||
| SIN 02:10 |
MAN 08:55 |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:45 | |||||||||
* Next day
Manchester Singapore
1 Apr 2025 – 25 Oct 2025
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ301 A350 LH |
||||||||
| MAN 11:15 |
SIN 07:40* |
||||||||
| Duration: 13:25 | |||||||||
* Next day
That means passengers flying from Manchester to Singapore on SQ301 next year can continue to expect a Book the Cook option prior to departure, when travelling in Business Class or in Premium Economy.
KrisFlyer awards
The following award rates apply for KrisFlyer members redeeming miles between Singapore and Houston via Manchester, or between Manchester and Houston, or between Singapore and Manchester.
| KrisFlyer Redemption Rates Singapore ⇆ Houston |
||
| Saver | Advantage | |
| Economy | 44,000 | 75,000 |
| Premium Economy | 80,500 | n/a |
| Business | 111,500 | 143,500 |
| KrisFlyer Redemption Rates Singapore ⇆ Manchester |
||
| Saver | Advantage | |
| Economy | 42,000 | 70,000 |
| Premium Economy | 71,000 | n/a |
| Business | 103,500 | 123,000 |
| KrisFlyer Redemption Rates Manchester ⇆ Houston |
||
| Saver | Advantage | |
| Economy | 25,000 | 40,000 |
| Premium Economy | 52,000 | n/a |
| Business | 81,000 | 87,500 |
Unfortunately Manchester flights are not immune from the UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD) stealth tax for departing passengers.
That means those flying in premium cabins (either Business Class or Premium Economy) can expect to pay upwards of S$400 in addition to the miles needed when departing from Manchester to either Houston or Singapore.
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 September 2024. Simply click on the icon in each case to see the full selection.
Note that Singapore Airlines has not yet updated its Book the Cook website page to reflect the availability of this service for those departing from Manchester, but the menus we outlined above are now available, since 1st September 2024.
Update 12 Sep: Manchester menus are now loaded and linked in the table.
As well as Manchester, London Gatwick and Cairns are new additions to the Book the Cook list this year.
As you can see from the list, with the addition of Manchester only four of SIA’s 14 European destinations do not offer Book the Cook in Business Class.
- Barcelona
- Brussels
- Copenhagen
- Istanbul
Summary
Manchester has become the 34th airport on the Singapore Airlines network to have a Book the Cook menu added for those departing in Business Class or in Premium Economy, meaning all of SIA’s UK departures now offer the popular option in these cabins.
A selection of up to seven main courses is now available for those in Business Class, with up to 12 options for Premium Economy passengers.
This also means Book the Cook is available on all four sectors of the airline’s longest direct flight, from Singapore to Houston and back, though the US extension of the service is sadly being discontinued from April next year.
Nonetheless Manchester will retain its own five times weekly service, and Book the Cook is set to stay.
(Cover Photo: Singapore Airlines)
While Beijing is a BTC station, it has not been offered since pandemic and has not resumed.
I got BTC in J PEK-SIN in mid August, less than a month ago. SQ801.