SINGAPORE, Dec. 12 -- Some airlines serve cake to passengers celebrating their birthday - but not every airline plays along.

One Singapore Airlines (SIA) passenger identified only as Ong, tried his luck but was denied his request for a birthday cake on his return flight, news portal Mothership reported yesterday.

Ong had booked a return flight to Singapore in the first week of January 2026, planning to celebrate his 37th birthday just two days later.

Hoping for a sweet in-flight surprise, he emailed SIA, noting he would be flying Premium Economy from Shanghai over the holiday period.

SIA replied that birthday cakes are only served if the flight coincides with the passenger's birthday, or one day before or after, leaving Ong disappoint...