UK Celiac Man's Gluten-Free Meal for a 10-Hour Flight on TUI was 'Popcorn and Crisps'

I am sorry for your negative experience Mr. Howe. Beyond frustrating . May you newlyweds have this negative experience fade as much as possible, and be replaced by more wonderful memories together.

best wishes

Sorry for your story.  It has happened to me on United Airlines flying from USA to Europe for business.  Twice they just didn’t have a dinner for me despite ordering well in advance. Once a very apologetic flight attendant brought me a side salad.  Another time a surly attendant brought me a slice of cheese and a few loose grapes.  Not quite the dinner I needed!  Since the I always bring an emergency PB&J sandwich now - they travel well!  Good luck. 

I wouldn't put my trust in any airlines to have a Gluten Free meal available whether I ordered the meal ahead or not.  It is all about the bottom line and we Celiac's (less than 2 percent of the population) cost them extra to prepare a gluten-free meal.  Preparing the meal is only the first step than someone would have to coordinate the effort of getting it to the right flight than the right person that ordered it.  Seems easy, but this is also a service industry and as with all service industries all they care about is the bottom line.  I fly often, use to fly every other week.  99% of the time the airline doesn't even have a snack that is gluten-free.  gluten-free airline meal, I don't see that as being a regular  offer in my life time.   Do what I do, throw some protein bars in your carry on that will hold you over till you land.  

I don’t really have a basis for comparison, but whenever I travel to Europe, I always try to fly the Irish airline, Aer Lingus, because they are very conscientious about providing a safe and meaningful gluten- free meal. 

I work in the airline industry, and I can attest that someone with Celiac Disease (like myself) cannot trust the airlines to take care of our health needs. 

Unfortunately the Flight Attendants are not equipped, nor aware of the risks concerning cross contamination while handling diner rolls or fresh baked cookies within the confines of a tight aircraft galley.

Something else to consider, the ovens used on aircraft are convection, which means hot air is being circulated, the same air within an oven that had the rolls and cookies.  Everything should be covered with foil, however the crew checks the meals, foil shifts, a lot can happen to expose the meals before, during and after the prep.

Lastly are the catering personnel and aircraft cleaners.  Are the catering kitchens clean and free of cross contamination?  I can tell you this, there isn't a scratch chef proparing each and every meal, there are thousands of meals being handled each and every day.  I have witnessed gluten all over the galley, ovens and beverage trays.  I have witnessed beer being spilling in the trays that hold the ice, cans of soda and cups.  And the cleaning crews in-between flights, do not do a good job of cleaning the galleys in the extremely short time frame the airlines allot.

What this all means, for me, I do not eat or drink anything from the galley whatsoever, and my drinks are from sealed bottles of water from the galley or soda from the terminal.  I pack my food relative to the number of days I'll be away from home.  I do not trust anyone while on the road doing my job. 

This summer my wife are going to Italy (first real vacation since diagnosed in 2007) for a wedding and we purchased first class seats on the airline I work for, and I will once again not eat anything from the airplane and I'll have my food packed.  Sad when you think about it, considering I work for the airline and I cannot trust them!

That's a horrible experience. Bringing food from home is fine for the first leg of your trip but coming home is a lot more difficult. I travel American Airlines a lot for work and their snacks are only a cookie or pretzel and none of their pre packaged meals are completely gluten free. It's very discouraging. 

Some excellent and helpful information here.  I know right now it's not funny at all, but hopefully one day it will be one of those family 'you won't believe what happened when..." stories.  All my best to the newlyweds and a big thank you to those of you taking the time to share your experience with those of us who have never traveled yet with Celiac.

On 11/29/2019 at 4:01 PM, Awol cast iron stomach said:

I am sorry for your negative experience Mr. Howe. Beyond frustrating . May you newlyweds have this negative experience fade as much as possible, and be replaced by more wonderful memories together.

best wishes

He deserved all he got he was lucky that he didn't get gluten from cross contamination any body who  has coeliac disease should never eat out. 

I am wheat sensitive not celiac and been on a Gluten Free diet for 7 months.  A few months ago I flew to London from Florida to get on a cruise ship.  I made sure ahead of time that the cruise ship had a Gluten Free menu for me and they did a wonderful job.  I never thought of requesting the airline to have Gluten Free menu and it was an 8 hour flight.  They did have salads, grapes and cheeses which worked great.  I also had taken a lot of gluten free cookies, bars, and nuts to cover my flight there and on the way back.  With this illness, I am learning everyday to plan ahead with everything thing I do even if I have to take my own food.  It seem like a big job at time but it is worth not starving or getting sick either.  

My 82 year old Mum and I both got ordered Gluten free meals on our trip to the UK and were badly affected by the food they supplied. My Mum's reaction was so bad she had an anaphylactic episode which could have killed her. The flight staff medic was shocking, laying her in her back in the narrow isle straight after vomiting and she must have swollowed her tounge cause she couldn't breathe. I acted quick to sit her back up so she could breathe again. Then on return trip, our gluten-free meals were given to other people, even though our names were clearly labelled on the trays. Just can't risk it anymore, but I have had my  Home made take on meal taken off me when going through customs at other airports, so you just can't win. What can you do for the long haul trips ?

It has to be an emergency for me to take a flight: Solution - take along unopened packages of nuts and whole fruit!  

Cruise Ships are a "total waste of money": Solution - don't book a cruise!

Then there are social gatherings situations where food is included in the price for the activity: Solution - just don't go!

Then there are restaurants that are "high risk" for contamination: Solution - If I don't cook, it I don't eat it!