"I have never been able to order my own required meal: Special High Cocoa Butter Chocolate...."

Hey, that's the meal I want, too! If you fly out of SFO, pick up a Scharffen Berger bar. Sheese, you really do have to bring your own meal nowadays....

I'm still trying to figure out if it's worth it to pay extra for business on KLM, because the one time I flew up there (using miles), they passed around boxes of Leonidas Belgian chocolates and let us pick our own.

I occasionally order a vegetarian meal as it almost always means a banana, which I can save for a snack. We bring bagels with us, which are a good complement to either fruit or vegetables. Not sure what I'd do if served lentil lasagna . . . undoubtedly go rooting around in the carryon for crumbs of anything edible.

Would the Flight Attendants do anything if you brought some really smelly food on board?

I don't know whether the flight attendants would do anything, but anybody seated in the vicinity would want to kill you. Why do it?

Carrybean-I wouldn't THINK of going on an international flight without ordering a special meal-I've done it for well over 10 years now, and the meals, particularly out of the USA, are getting better and better. The last 3 flights I've taken, to Europe and Asia, I ordered a seafood meal (you have to ask the carriers what kinds of SMs they have). My last few flights the meal was unbelieveably good-the grilled salmon was at least 8 ounces, and very very fresh, with crisp vegetables-better than what I've gotten in most restaurants-everyone was looking at my meal after looking at their blah chicken. So yes, do always try to order special, or have it put into your profile when you make a reservation.

I used to order the vegetarian meal (because I am a vegetarian), but this meal is almost always made without any dairy which, in my case, leaves something to be desired. I often wonder if the Kosher, Strict Vegetarian, Vegetarian and Low-Fat meals are one-in-the-same. I also feel uncomfortable getting my food 20 minutes before everyone else (especially when I have traveling companions). Now I just bring a couple of sandwiches on board (preferably peanut butter and banana), and don’t think my fellow diners aren’t jealous!!

Sorry to disappoint you but "there are NO extra meals on board" for you when you order a special meal and decide to have the regular one.There are several different kind of veg meals and actually the airline that I work for has close to about 21 different meals.The meal itself depends on where it was catered out of so it is really a crapshoot. If you must have something special to eat-be sure to bring it yourself as all "special meals" are different.Remember......the meals are catered/put on board so don't ask for a special meal at 37,000 feet and expect the airline to produce it if it wasn't preordered. AND NO-there is no tabasco sauce,steak sauce,ketsup,root beer or chocolate sauce for the vanilla ice cream in economy!!!!!