irishk

I've just booked a flight from Dublin, Ireland to Newark. The flight time is just under nine hours. As a sufferer of Celiac Disease, I tried to book a Gluten-Free meal. Guess what - they've stopped providing this facility. If I were Vegan or - well - if I fit into several other categories of choice, I could book my "special meal", but as a sufferer of Celiac Disease I cannot be accommodated. Discrimination????

lcuy

If everyone who has a food issue claims discrimination, you know they will just do as other airlines and quit the free meals entirely. At least Continental serves food on flights over 6 hours. Will the vegan meal or fruit platter work? If not, you can always pack your own.

irishk

I think you're missing the point - I don't have a food issue as such - I have a medical condition. I've brought my own food on previous occasions (to cover emergencies) but have always had problems with security as regards same.

irishk

Actually, I'm quite happy to pay for my meal and am not d looking for free food - just safe food, in view of my medical condition!

gail

First, according to the Continental website, the flight is just over 7 hours - not 9 hours. Having flown that route I was just curious since it seemed like a long flight. Nonetheless, you still would probably like to eat.

Second, these days so many people have food allergies and intolerances - plus religious restrictions and then just personal preferences. In the US, celiac disease does not rise to the level of being considered a "disability" where one would require what is legally called "reasonable accomodations". And airlines are not required to, in any case, provide food of any kind to anyone.

From a practical point of view, there is no possible way an airline could accomodate food restrictions of everyone. I strongly urge you to bring food from elsewhere for the trip - and make arrangements to purchase food for the return as well.

I no longer count on an airline to provide food or drink on any trip of any length - and am beginning to consider it irresponsible for a passenger to not bring food on the plane - even for a relatively short flight (recent story of plane from west to east coast US - a trip of 5 1/2 hours - which took 16 hours from time passengers boarded to when they were let off)

irishk

The flight I'm taking - leave Dublin at 8.00 am and arrive Newark at 11.45am. Allowing for the time difference, that adds up to a journey of 8 hrs and 45 mins. That's a long time to go without food! Not meaning to be "picky" but I have a medical condition (whether it's recognised in the U.S. or not) and get violently ill if I have as much as a crumb of gluten. As I explained, I'm willing to pay for my food, but it's not easy to bring my own food when going through security on a transatlantic flight. I've had to dump my food on previous occasions when confronted by "security".

gail

If I became "violently ill" if I ate even a "crumb" of gluten-containing food I would certainly not trust the airline to provide me with food - even if they had something labelled "gluten free". I hope you do not have a problem while eating at restaurants in the US - while one can surely order gluten-free items and question the waitstaff, I am not sure how many can assure you not even a stray crumb of something difficult - like from a bread basket - will not become a problem.

Your medical condition certainly is recognized in the US - I said it was not recognized as a DISABILITY - which is what it would have to be to require airline to make some accomodation.

And I surely did not suggest that you starve to death - just that you bring your own. Can't comment on Irish security - in the US one can bring food thru security, just not liquids.

irishk

Gail - I'm sure you meant well - it's not Irish security - it's translantic flights and rules enforced by the American Airlines we use to get from here to there! No problem with that for me - just allow me to have SOMETHING SAFE to eat over that period of time - whether they allow me to bring my own food or allow me to purchase a meal en route.

sandi

As gail above, can't attest to Irish security,, but in the US they don't take your food away... just the liquids over 100ml/3-oz. But you can purchase liquids once thru security. Likewise, if even a crumb of glutten would make you ill, I sure wouldn't trust the airline. Again, Celiac is a medical condition, not a disability.

Besides, when departing from Dublin, the food prep would be done in Ireland for Continental, not Stateside. Going home would be the opposite, but the airlines still can't be responsible to meet everyone's food concerns.

If not sure a "full" meal will get thru Irish security, just bring gluten-free snacks to keep you going across the pond!

irishk

Obviously no gluten intolerent people watching this spot!!!

Cranachin

"The flight I'm taking - leave Dublin at 8.00 am and arrive Newark at 11.45am. Allowing for the time difference, that adds up to a journey of 8 hrs and 45 mins."

When are you flying? Right now the US is on "summer time" already but Europe is not, so there is a 4-hour time difference between Dublin and Newark, not 5 as is usual. And Continental's website shows a flight currently leaving Dublin at 8:00 and arriving at 11:45 that takes 7 hours and 45 minutes. Change the date a little and the flight departure switches to 9:00 and the flight time to 7 hrs 25 min.

Have you contacted Continental to get their policy (preferably in writing) concerning foods you can bring aboard your specific flight? It seems like that would be a big help to you. Without knowing exactly what different airlines have made you toss out in the past, it is hard to give much advice. But it does sound odd that they would make you throw away any non-liquid foods. I have seen people bring some interesting foods on board, including things that were allowed on the plane but had to be consumed before arrival, as they would not be allowed into the US for agricultural safety reasons.

It also seems like you could get a doctor's note that would allow you to bring otherwise-prohibited foods (I think diabetics can do that with liquids like juices, for example, that they might need in an emergency). Continental can tell you that as well.

irishk

I'm actually turning into such a cynic as a result of having voiced my problem on this site. So I have to go without food for one hour less than I thought???? No problem. How would all of the other passengers feel about this???

Cranachin

I was trying to help, actually, by pointing out that the flight probably is not quite as long as you thought -not make fun of you. Sorry you took it that way.

That is also why I asked you to relate the specific incidents you have had with being asked to throw out food you wanted to bring on board. It has been my experience, and that of others who have posted here, that airlines allow quite a variety of foods to be brought on board - but not liquids. Maybe we can help you make sense of WHY you were asked to throw certain things out.

christy1

I always bring my own food on transatlantic flights--airline food is so bad and plus you never know if you're going to end up sitting on a runway for hours due to weather or flight traffic--and have never had problems with confiscation. Of course, I'm not bringing anything liquid on my food--no runny sauces or salad dressings or anything like that. If I was celiac or even just allergic to something I certainly wouldn't trust the airline meal, if an appropriate one was offered--I would definitely bring my own!

irishk

Again - the bit I don't understand is that other "special meals" are provided. Who made the decision to eliminate gluten-free meals? (And to provide food for everyone else on the flight!!??)

nobigdeal

Perhaps this link (or others found through a Google search) will help you contact the appropriate people with your questions and requests: http://tinyurl.com/ydt84za.

irishk

Thank you nobigdeal - best response I've got all day!

lcuy

The same people made the decision to cancel the gluten free meals as the decision to cancel all meals on flights under six hours. Continental just changed their food policies this week. Unlike many airlines that serve no food at al, CO will offer their regular meal or special meals such as a child's meal,Vegan meal, and several religion based meals (kosher, halal, jain, Hindu).

And although they don't serve peanuts, they don't guarantee that meals or cabin will be free from peanuts.

So the folks who need salt-free, nut-free, raw foods, low cholesterol, no carbs, carrot-free, or any number of other special diets will also not be eating the meals on Continental.

Your best bet if you wish to change this is to write to the CEO of Continental and complain.

nytraveler

First - there is no way any airline can accommodate every dietary need.

Second, most airlines make you buy meals.

Third, the airline food is so awful I would take my own on general principal.

Fourth, I would never trust an airline to provide a truly gluten free meal

Given what airlines are starting to charge for - I would just go with the flow.

rkkwan

Travelers with special needs should check the providers' website carefully each time before booking. Service and policy can change often.

BTW, you can cancel your reservations and get a refund within 24 hours.