Continental Airlines to Stop Serving Gluten-Free Meals on International Flights - About.com: Health

[Scott Adams]

Open Original Shared Link About.com: Health Given how difficult it is to bring foods from home past airport security these days, this policy prevents people with celiac disease from flying ... Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

[mushroom]

Letter sent to Mr. Smisek.

[kenlove]

Is it posssible to send a letter or petition type document to them from the entire forum? Ort ask all the forum members to sign one of those online petitions?

How can we more effectivly speak in numbers?

ken

<img alt="" height="1" width="1">Open Original Shared Link

About.com: Health

Given how difficult it is to bring foods from home past airport security these days, this policy prevents people with celiac disease from flying ...

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

[Gemini]

Is it posssible to send a letter or petition type document to them from the entire forum? Ort ask all the forum members to sign one of those online petitions?

How can we more effectivly speak in numbers?

ken

The easiest thing to do is not give Continental any business. Many other airlines, especially those who are not American flag

carriers like Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and many others, do have excellent gluten free meals served and I have found the service to be much superior to American based airlines. Never have had a problem getting good food on any trip I have taken with these airlines.

[kenlove]

All depends on where you have to go. From where I am in Hawaii to GUam, there is no choice unless I want to go through Manila or Tokyo.

No problems so far on other international flights. I say so far becasue Idnt want this to become a precendent for other airlines.. Bad enough there are no choices on domestic AA.

The easiest thing to do is not give Continental any business. Many other airlines, especially those who are not American flag

carriers like Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and many others, do have excellent gluten free meals served and I have found the service to be much superior to American based airlines. Never have had a problem getting good food on any trip I have taken with these airlines.

[Gemini]

All depends on where you have to go. From where I am in Hawaii to GUam, there is no choice unless I want to go through Manila or Tokyo.

No problems so far on other international flights. I say so far becasue Idnt want this to become a precendent for other airlines.. Bad enough there are no choices on domestic AA.

There are no airlines which serve gluten-free meals between Hawaii and Guam? My point was to fly whatever airline provides the best service and I know there are many who serve gluten-free meals. Europe is VERY gluten-free meal friendly probably because of the incidence of Celiac there.

I think this is really only a problem with international, long haul flights. Even flying from coast to coast here in the States, with a non-stop, it'll take about 6 1/2 hours flying time. No one is going to starve to death going that long with a snack only. Many of the hub airports have chains which serve gluten-free meals. I have never had any problems flying and obtaining meals. If not, I always rely on apples and the many other assorted snacks that can be carried on board.

For long haul flights to Europe, I always fly Virgin into Heathrow....they are the best airline out there. Any connection can be made from Heathrow. Last March I flew from Heathrow to Boston and it was a last minute flight arrangement. They did not have time to load a gluten-free meal on board the flight. No problem.....I had first dibs on all the food on board. I was allowed to look at the menu and take whatever gluten-free food was available before any other passengers were served. How's that for service?

[kenlove]

Continental was the one I usually used to Guam, not out of loyality, just schedule.

WOnt be there again until the end of the. I've not had much trouble elsewhere, even on short hauls within india. They seem to be very aware too. I do miss having the options I used to have with domestic flights.

There are no airlines which serve gluten-free meals between Hawaii and Guam? My point was to fly whatever airline provides the best service and I know there are many who serve gluten-free meals. Europe is VERY gluten-free meal friendly probably because of the incidence of Celiac there.

I think this is really only a problem with international, long haul flights. Even flying from coast to coast here in the States, with a non-stop, it'll take about 6 1/2 hours flying time. No one is going to starve to death going that long with a snack only. Many of the hub airports have chains which serve gluten-free meals. I have never had any problems flying and obtaining meals. If not, I always rely on apples and the many other assorted snacks that can be carried on board.

For long haul flights to Europe, I always fly Virgin into Heathrow....they are the best airline out there. Any connection can be made from Heathrow. Last March I flew from Heathrow to Boston and it was a last minute flight arrangement. They did not have time to load a gluten-free meal on board the flight. No problem.....I had first dibs on all the food on board. I was allowed to look at the menu and take whatever gluten-free food was available before any other passengers were served. How's that for service?

[Gemini]

Continental was the one I usually used to Guam, not out of loyality, just schedule.

WOnt be there again until the end of the. I've not had much trouble elsewhere, even on short hauls within india. They seem to be very aware too. I do miss having the options I used to have with domestic flights.

I think the whole problem of airline cutbacks stems from the attitude of most people that they want to fly everywhere for $100.00 RT. I totally side with the airlines on this one. The cost of running an airline has gone way, way up as they are fuel dependent and we all know how much fuel costs today. Prices go up and down like crazy. I also believe in paying those that fly the plane a good salary. It's about as highly skilled a job as you get, yet pilot pay is going down. I personally don't want a moron flying the plane I am on!

You cannot maintain this unless you make severe cut backs everywhere else and then people start to notice and blame the airline....not the fact they piss and moan if they have to pay more fore a ticket. Air travel wasn't meant to be cheap. It's an expensive business to run and if people want better service with food and not be charged for luggage, you have to accept that you have to pay more money for the service. If you don't want to pay, then you have the choice of not flying. You really get what you pay for!

[kenlove]

basically I agree and usually pay full Y domestic and biusiness on international since I want or need to make changes quickly. I would rather pay for the quality and "real" pilots and service.

I flew back Sunday to Kona and saw 23 private jets parked and tried not to drool.

I think the whole problem of airline cutbacks stems from the attitude of most people that they want to fly everywhere for $100.00 RT. I totally side with the airlines on this one. The cost of running an airline has gone way, way up as they are fuel dependent and we all know how much fuel costs today. Prices go up and down like crazy. I also believe in paying those that fly the plane a good salary. It's about as highly skilled a job as you get, yet pilot pay is going down. I personally don't want a moron flying the plane I am on!

You cannot maintain this unless you make severe cut backs everywhere else and then people start to notice and blame the airline....not the fact they piss and moan if they have to pay more fore a ticket. Air travel wasn't meant to be cheap. It's an expensive business to run and if people want better service with food and not be charged for luggage, you have to accept that you have to pay more money for the service. If you don't want to pay, then you have the choice of not flying. You really get what you pay for!

[Gemini]

basically I agree and usually pay full Y domestic and biusiness on international since I want or need to make changes quickly. I would rather pay for the quality and "real" pilots and service.

I flew back Sunday to Kona and saw 23 private jets parked and tried not to drool.

That's exactly what I do, Ken. The last time I flew coach was a short flight south to see the parents and I nearly jumped out of the plane! Honestly, I think there should be a ban on stinky fast food being brought onto flights. It was a tiny plane and I thought I was going to hurl, the smell was so bad. Couple that with feeling like a sardine (I am a tiny person too!) and it was the last time I will do that. It's fine if you can deal with the quirks of really cheap travel but I think most coach flights are worth what people pay for them. The level of service and perks that you get for shelling out more dollars makes all the difference in the world. It's what flying used to be.

I think more people who can afford private air travel will do so to avoid the BS at the airport. I wish it were cheaper but private travel is out of my league. I am just thankful I can afford business class!