Continental Airlines - Special Meals
Mar 19th, 2010, 05:58 PM
#21
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I just looked at CO's Special Meal list and anything there could contain wheat in one form or another.
You will have to bring your own food for the most safety. I'm sure they don't want a serious food reaction to occur while over the Atlantic.
You will have to bring your own food for the most safety. I'm sure they don't want a serious food reaction to occur while over the Atlantic.
Apr 5th, 2010, 03:43 PM
#22
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To all who replied (especially Gail and Sandi)
Let me start by explaining I'm very tired so I'm saying it as it is for me njust now. Our round trip flight was from Dublin to Newark with a connecting flight to Orlando. We had a most wonderful vacation but the travel was a nightmare. The connection time for flights (organised by the travel agent) left me absolutely no time to eat at the "connecting" airport. I left my home at 2.45am (1.5 hr bus ride to Dublin Airport) and arrived in Orlando some 18 hours later. The trip home was much the same as regards travel time (and the connection time in Newark was just over 1 hour which meant literally running from "A" to "B" to be on time for boarding). OK, I'm tired and cranky, but can anyone (onlyk reasonably minded people need reply!!!) tell me how I can prepare for a journey of that length of time as regards bringing my own food safely, allowing for the fact that I have no refrigeration. I know I've admitted to being cranky and tired now, but I really think only a fellow suffer of celiac disease can really empathise!!! I stress - I have no problem paying for my meal on a flight. This is an issue of safety, not frugality.
Let me start by explaining I'm very tired so I'm saying it as it is for me njust now. Our round trip flight was from Dublin to Newark with a connecting flight to Orlando. We had a most wonderful vacation but the travel was a nightmare. The connection time for flights (organised by the travel agent) left me absolutely no time to eat at the "connecting" airport. I left my home at 2.45am (1.5 hr bus ride to Dublin Airport) and arrived in Orlando some 18 hours later. The trip home was much the same as regards travel time (and the connection time in Newark was just over 1 hour which meant literally running from "A" to "B" to be on time for boarding). OK, I'm tired and cranky, but can anyone (onlyk reasonably minded people need reply!!!) tell me how I can prepare for a journey of that length of time as regards bringing my own food safely, allowing for the fact that I have no refrigeration. I know I've admitted to being cranky and tired now, but I really think only a fellow suffer of celiac disease can really empathise!!! I stress - I have no problem paying for my meal on a flight. This is an issue of safety, not frugality.
Apr 5th, 2010, 04:05 PM
#23
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If it were me I would leave myself more time between flights - so I had time to organize a real meal. (Travel agents don't thin of these things - travelers need to do it themselves.) If the total amount of time is so onerous I would probably stop over somewhere along the way for a night.
I truly sympathize - but the simple truth is that all airlines are giving less and less and that isn't going to change. Only you can make sure your needs are met.
(I must admit that coming from NYC is easier but I only book nonstop flights if available - regardless of price. And I've never flown for 18 hours - I would definitely do a stop over rather than that.)
I truly sympathize - but the simple truth is that all airlines are giving less and less and that isn't going to change. Only you can make sure your needs are met.
(I must admit that coming from NYC is easier but I only book nonstop flights if available - regardless of price. And I've never flown for 18 hours - I would definitely do a stop over rather than that.)
Apr 5th, 2010, 04:20 PM
#24
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Last post for me as I'm totally frustrated! My point is purely that I think it is quite unfair of Continental to provide (free) meals for all but to drop Celiacs suffers and diabetics. No problem whatsoever with paying for my meal - but why pick on the two meals for those passengers who have health issues????? And if price is the factor, why not provide the meals and charge for them? I've no problem paying for my meal). (I'm referring specifically to transatlantic flights).
Apr 5th, 2010, 04:53 PM
#25
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Have you considered the possibility that these meals were dropped because of the insurance liability.
I'd like to think that the airline recognizes how serious these health issues are and the limitations of their food service staff.
I'd like to think that the airline recognizes how serious these health issues are and the limitations of their food service staff.
Apr 5th, 2010, 05:39 PM
#27
Since you knew this was going to happen, i would have packed some gluten free crackers, packages of dried fruits, nuts, little packets of jelly or other 'safe" spreads, and various other gluten free snacks. I would also have brought a water bottle to fill after security or on the plane, and powders drink mix such as crystal light.
You are not the only passenger with a special diet. I have friends with carrot allergies, nut allergies and other friends who only eat whole (raw) foods, and mothers with feed their their toddlers 100% organic. They do the same on Continental that they do on all the other airlines (who don't serve ANY food). They pack non-prerishable snacks in large amounts.
Even I, who will eat mostly anything, always come prepared for delayed flights and longer than expected travels. Snack bars, powdered drink mix, trail mix, carrot sticks all travel well.
You are not the only passenger with a special diet. I have friends with carrot allergies, nut allergies and other friends who only eat whole (raw) foods, and mothers with feed their their toddlers 100% organic. They do the same on Continental that they do on all the other airlines (who don't serve ANY food). They pack non-prerishable snacks in large amounts.
Even I, who will eat mostly anything, always come prepared for delayed flights and longer than expected travels. Snack bars, powdered drink mix, trail mix, carrot sticks all travel well.
Apr 5th, 2010, 06:47 PM
#28
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Sorry to hear you had unpleasant travels.
If you want a hot meal, unfortunately there is probably no way to get one. About the closest you will come is bringing a gluten-free instant soup mix and asking for hot water to mix it in. You could do the same with an instant hot cereal (cream of rice, maybe?). If you can find a shelf-stable gluten-free meal, a sympathetic flight attendant MIGHT heat it for you, but I would not count on it - so you would just have to eat it cold.
Otherwise, as previous posters have said, you will have to bring a variety of gluten-free snack items. That is what a colleague who has celiac does when he flies. He tries to visit an airport food vendor that is likely to have "safe" foods (like a potato bar) but always carries snacks in case he does not have time.
Check with your physician to see if you can get an exemption to bring foods that you can eat but would otherwise not be allowed (like diabetics can do). If that is not possible, then write to the appropriate government officials/agencies and ask that celiac sufferers be added to the exceptions list.
If you want a hot meal, unfortunately there is probably no way to get one. About the closest you will come is bringing a gluten-free instant soup mix and asking for hot water to mix it in. You could do the same with an instant hot cereal (cream of rice, maybe?). If you can find a shelf-stable gluten-free meal, a sympathetic flight attendant MIGHT heat it for you, but I would not count on it - so you would just have to eat it cold.
Otherwise, as previous posters have said, you will have to bring a variety of gluten-free snack items. That is what a colleague who has celiac does when he flies. He tries to visit an airport food vendor that is likely to have "safe" foods (like a potato bar) but always carries snacks in case he does not have time.
Check with your physician to see if you can get an exemption to bring foods that you can eat but would otherwise not be allowed (like diabetics can do). If that is not possible, then write to the appropriate government officials/agencies and ask that celiac sufferers be added to the exceptions list.
Apr 5th, 2010, 11:00 PM
#29
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Below is the email I received today from Continental Airlines. Just think they should get recognition for this positive move.
Dear Ms. [I'VE DELETED MY OWN NAME HERE]
Thank you for contacting Continental.
Effective in May 2010, Continental will reintroduce the Gluten free meal as part of our special meal offerings.
Thank you,
Regards,
Joyce Warren-Theodore
Customer Care Manager
Dear Ms. [I'VE DELETED MY OWN NAME HERE]
Thank you for contacting Continental.
Effective in May 2010, Continental will reintroduce the Gluten free meal as part of our special meal offerings.
Thank you,
Regards,
Joyce Warren-Theodore
Customer Care Manager
Apr 6th, 2010, 03:48 AM
#30
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I am glad you were successful in your mission. I would still recommend you bring food on future flights of any length on any airline - especially on flights of longer length and/or with connections. I recommend this for anyone, with or without diet restrictions or preferences. Even some nuts or a piece of fruit is available and portable anywhere.
Hope you were able to find food with a "stray crumb" of gluten while in Orlando - I imagine that must have been a challenge as well - particularly at theme park type restaurants if that was your destination. It must be difficult for you to be the rare sufferer of celiac disease who can not have even a crumb of gluten - what a challenge eating out anywhere in the world.
This is indeed a difficult disorder to live with (I am an RN) and to be one of the rare persons who can not tolerate even the smallest amount must make it more so.
Glad your efforts were rewarded with Continental.
Hope you were able to find food with a "stray crumb" of gluten while in Orlando - I imagine that must have been a challenge as well - particularly at theme park type restaurants if that was your destination. It must be difficult for you to be the rare sufferer of celiac disease who can not have even a crumb of gluten - what a challenge eating out anywhere in the world.
This is indeed a difficult disorder to live with (I am an RN) and to be one of the rare persons who can not tolerate even the smallest amount must make it more so.
Glad your efforts were rewarded with Continental.
