Airlines are Finally Stepping Up with Vegan and Gluten-free Options

I recently flew on Qantas and requested gluten free meals. They provided excellent meals and snacks for me. Except for one meal. They didn't have it and it was on a 14 hour flight. The good news is that I brought a backup: a shelf stable dehydrated gluten free meal called Good To-Go (from LL Bean) with me on board. They were able to prep it for me (add hot water) and I was able to eat. I will always bring my own backup. I was also able to bring unopened gluten free snacks through customs and TSA checks by declaring them. 

Flew Delta recently and flying from Amsterdam to Atlanta a 9 hour flight , was told they had FORGOTEN to put my gluten free on board ! not only that the flight attendant tried to give me the meal everyone else had which was chicken and rice assuring me it would be fine ! I told him to take it away , and then he came back later to say oh good job you didn't eat the rice it had wheat in it !!!!!! I thought the cabin crew on Air lines were trained in what gluten free is ? as I am celiac I know what would have happened if I had eaten that meal , so went hungry..................

I had the same experience on British Airways, London to San Francisco. The flight attendant insisted that I had not ordered a special meal, even though I had a copy of my request. 

As someone who is Celiac and works in the airline industry (in the front of pointy tube) passengers need to realize that meals on airplanes, like those found in restaurants may in fact dangerous for us. 

The galley ovens are convection ovens that also heat up the breads, and bake cookies.  You're also making a huge assumption that the flight attendants are properly handling your silverware and meal while it is in their possion.  Then there is the Sky Chef or commissary kitchens, are they handling your food properly?  Airline food passes through numerous hands before it is placed on your tray table. 

For me as a Celiac, it is still too high of a risk, and a risk not worth taking.  Whenever I leave the house I need to avoid international flying and pack 3 square meals a day plus extra just in case I go non-routine and get extended.  And not to mention, the trucks that transport the food and galleys and carts they are stored in are absolutely disgusting.  In fact the entire airplane is absolutely filthy.... don't even get me started.  OSHA and The Health Department would have a field day, but I digress.  

If you're Celiac, just use extreme caution when eating on airplanes.  Now, if the food or snack is from a sealed package that says 'gluten free', or better yet, 'certified gluten free' simply enjoy.

Just ran into this myself.  Was flying home from Denver and had a 3 hour delay (on the runway ugh).  The attendants gave out some pretzels.  I asked if they had some peanuts or chips or something other than pretzels and I got a fairly snide remark back... She said 'Pshh, we haven't had peanuts in a long time.  People have allergies you know?'  Ha!  Indeed I do know.  'People have allergies to more things than just peanuts, you know?' was my less than polite response.  F off I felt like telling her.  She came back about 5 minutes later with a bag of kettle chips for me.  Good times.

They gave us a nice $10 food voucher as we deboarded the plane and had to wait an hour for another one.... not a damn thing in the airport terminal I could eat.  Wound up getting 2 zip pouches of jalapeno tuna from the newsstand.  Umm mmm.... nothing like jalapeno tuna from an airport newsstand.  

Southwest Airlines used to have free gluten-free snacks. I noticed my last 2 flights that they no longer have gluten free choices - pretzels or cookies only and since they discontinued peanuts, those are not available as an alternative.  I am also hugely disappointed in American Airlines as their new arrangement with Zoe's kitchen starting in 2019 with 5 new on-board meals, NONE of the 5 are gluten free ?  I have tweeted to SW and AA with this info and got back snide comments that they serve to accommodate a majority and I can bring my own snacks (which as we all know is not always an option if running from a business meeting to catch a flight etc).

I travel with Air Transat to visit my son and his wife and have given up on getting anything on the plane. Their option was something (not sure what it was) that tasted like raw oatmeal formed into what I think was supposed to be a burger.  The staff was very understanding and did offer me fresh fruit but that was all they had available.

Now I always pack my own lunch. I also make sure to throw out any food items before getting off the plane to make sure not to bring in anything that is not allowed as many countries have different rules regarding what you can and can't bring in.

Happy travels!
Catrien