Miss Manners...not mannerly to call people names! Would rather have tuna opened next to me than sitting next to people with b.o.! What about the fish they serve on flights?

Thanks Manners for bringing that to my attention albeit not very kindly! I will stick to my cheese (not lindbergh, I promise!)and veggies and bring p&j instead of tuna. Good point.

What a riot. Canuck - glad you have a sense of humor and didn't take comment personally! I loathe canned tuna and about jumped out of my seat when I read your post. May want to keep a can handy if you want to get rid of an obnoxious seatmate though LOL.

I have flown twice with Lufthansa and found their meals no worse than other carriers. Delightful coffee though!<BR><BR>The best food is of course in First Class but most of us can't afford an extra grand for the ticket.<BR><BR>Air France has the best food and the worst service.<BR><BR>I ordered vegetarian on several domestic flights a few years ago because I had a broken arm and could not cut up meat. They were no better than the regular meals.

xxx: I'm not sure where you are getting your statistics, but the indication from the posters here is that quite a few people are requesting special (and diverse) meals. It isn't so much the number of people requesting the meals, as it is the disproportionate cost and effort that goes into them. Too many people are so self absorbed that they do not see how their actions, demands, or special attention requirements, negatively affect or deprive others. You and canuck are examples: I'm glad Canuck saw the light (about tuna), but someone had to point out the obvious to Canuck.

Geez....some of us HAVE to order special meals from necessity, not from choice...I have to have Gluten-free meals otherwise I would become very ill, and incidentally they don't always turn up when ordered in advance.

Last year when flying Delta to Shannon, my friend ordered the vegetarian meal. It was beans & rice, and not espeically better than my meal. The next morning while I argued with the car rental people, she was being sick in the loo. She's not prone to airsicknes, and figured it was food poisoning from her 'special' meal....

I bring pop top cans of tuna on the plane almost every trip. Why should<BR>I worry about the smell, when people<BR>are passing gas, sweating, and doing all kinds of rude things with their bodies. If you put lemon on the tuna right after you open it, and open it only during the meal service you will be fine, Canuck. Don't back down so easily, you have to eat.

Dear Geez Louise, I don't take any of the free alcoholic beverages that are offered on flights to Europe. I don't even drink the soft drinks. I bring my own bottle of water. I also bring on my own inflatable pillow and don't use their blanket, either. I never watch the inflight movies and wouldn't care at all if they didn't show them. I never ask the flight attendant for help stowing my carry-on. Now have I earned the right to ask for a special meal?

Someone is very ignorant if he/she thinks that ordering a special meal will make the costs of flights rise. Look at the bigger picture, and order your special meals.

My husband must order gluten-free meals as well, but they rarely materialize on flights. We have come to the same conclusion as many of the other posters on this board - pack something portable and delicious for yourself and eat it when you're darn well ready to. Gluten-free crackers for hubby (some fresh bread for me), some mild cheese, chocolates, etc. There was a very inspiring article about "bringing your own" in the food and wine section of the New York Times recently, and it has definitely inspired me to put together my own indulgent foods for future flights.

Geez louise's theory seems sound: the cost of special meals drives up ticket prices. To test it, we should compare the airfares on short U.S. domestic flights before ALL meals were eliminated, and then after. In theory, the airfares should be drastically lower.

Geez may be taking this to the extreme, but I am concerned about the price of tickets, too. Granted, special meals are available, so you can take them if you wish. However, I know I want cheap tickets, yet I find myself expecting unlimited wine, great food, and a personal assistant/waiter on my flights, and I complain that I don't have 100 square feet of space between myself and the next passenger. I think we all need to be a bit more realistic about what can or should be provided at the prices we are paying. I'm sure the airlines want to be all things to all people, but the competition won't allow that. We now have another airline in bankruptcy, limiting our options. I guess I'm suggesting that, although it may be easy to blame the airlines for mismanagement and too-low prices, it wouldn't hurt those of us who like to travel to exercise some restraint in what we demand (myself included).

I don't think I'm being too extreme. Look at how many people on this post have indicated they order special meals. And look at the immature attitude expressed by "Nan" who suggests that just because other people are inconsiderate she can be inconsiderate. Can you be more self-centered or childish? Special meals will add cost to a flight, as would sucking down a ton of "free" booze. Perhaps the idea of tailoring meals for everyone's special needs is just indicative of the attitude exhibited by Nan, or the idea that my problems (dietary or health) should be everyone else's problems. I just don't agree with that. We each have our own set of issues, but I don't think public carriers (especially those giving us bargain tickets) should have to accomodate every unique issue. I think that is selfish for us to expect that, though I think the carriers will try to help (even if it hurts their already pathetic bottom line). Ultimately, what will happen (maybe not directly from special meals, but as a combined effect of high costs and lower travel numbers) is that we will have fewer carriers (already kind of happening), less competition, and higher ticket prices. But, hey, as long as you get your special meal....

What problems you all have. Lighten up and forget such a ridiculous topic. <BR><BR>Louise - face it, you can't control everyone as much as you would like and if you can't afford the extra $1 these luxuries MIGHT cost you, then maybe you need to rethink whether you should be taking a vacation at all.

I usually order kosher meals. The chicken tastes much better than normal airline food and you often get served first. On a recent trip back from England, we were served at least 1/4 lb. of lox (smoked salmon) along with our main entree. It doesn't matter if you keep kosher or not (we don't). The meal are always more appealing.

Since when should the airline's financial health be our overriding concern? Were they thinking of ours during their boom years? When they cut back on meal service entirely post 9/11 did they give us a rebate on our tickets?<BR><BR>Anyway, it does seem like some airlines have cut back on their selection of special meals, but as long as they still offer them it won't kill them if you take advantage of it.

Hiya,<BR><BR>United used to have a wonderful 'seafood' option on their international flights (but not since last Sept.) - in the meantime their standard international nosh is pretty tasty, no need to order special.<BR><BR>If you're flying outta SFO don't miss the Tomokazu sushi restaurant that's airside in the Int'l Terminal. Top to-go nigiri to have with your bubbles in-flight ;)<BR><BR>And for today's LOL moment check out<BR><BR>http://www.airlinemeals.net<BR><BR>*loooove* their what you see vs what you get (& don't miss Concorde's entries)! Obsessive and fun site!!<BR>HTH<BR>=)

The easiest, most fool-proof & stress-free solution is to bring your own (non-stinky) food. Then eat (or don't) what is served by the airline. Viola! Problem solved.<BR><BR>

We just travelled round trip on Lufthansa to and from Russia via Frankfurt. I ordered "seafood" meals and they were outstanding....broilled salmon one way and a very nice white-fleshed fish on the return trip. The surprise was the breakfast they served: scrambled eggs with baby shrimp. And Lufthansa does serve great coffee!