Travelling by plane with dietary restrictions
September 4, 2009
Many commercial airliners offer gluten free, low lactose and allergen free meals, as well as a wide range of medical, religious and cultural in-flight meal options.
Various airliners now offer – particularly on international and long haul flights – special meals for passengers with dietary restrictions of medical, religious or cultural nature. There are many options depending on the airliner, class and route, including for example: vegetarian and vegan meals, meals for diabetics, low salt, Kosher, low cholesterol, meals for kids and toddlers, Hindu meals, Muslim meals, in some cases meals appropriate for the blind, as well as gluten free, low lactose and meals for those with one or more food allergies.
We have contacted about 50 commercial airliners and summarize below some tips and advices for those who plan to travel by plane with a dietary restriction. Below we also list the policies of these companies regarding the availability and procedures to order a special meal, as well as the link for further information.
Some tips:
- If possible, book your flight by phone. In this way, you will be able to discuss your dietary needs and make specific requests directly when booking;
- Don’t leave it to the last minute to order your special meal. Most companies will not be able to offer it unless you call with at least 24, 48, 72 or even 96 hours before departure (see table below for the time needed to request your meal before departure). If possible, confirm that your meal has been ordered a couple of days before flying and at check-in;
- Always carry some food with you. This is important not only in the case of short distance and domestic flights where meals are not served, but also in the case of unforeseen events such as change of flights by the company or mistakes involving your special meal occur;
- Many companies allow you to board with food. However, avoid anything with liquid content (you might be prevented to board with it by airport security) as well as food items requiring any sort of preparation or heating (the cabin staff may refuse preparing or heating your food up);
- If a connecting flight is operated by a different company contact this company too to make sure your meal has been properly ordered.
If you have a serious food allergy
- Bear in mind that no company can ensure a flight is completely free of a specific allergen, as in most cases there is no control over the food that passengers bring with them on board;
- Many airlines have only a first aid kit in the airplane, and do not have epinephrine injectors or antihistaminic drugs, so take any necessary medications together with you;
- To prevent having your medications/Epi-pen confiscated by airport security, take a letter from your doctor explaining why your prescribed medication and Epi-Pen must be with you in hand-luggage;
- Some airlines can create a ‘buffer zone’ in the airplane (usually the first three seat rows) where the specific food allergen is not served to any passenger. Enquiry about this possibility when booking(some companies can also agree not to serve the allergen at all – e.g., peanuts – during the flight);
- Some airlines also agree to make an announcement (pa) in the airplane asking for passengers to refrain from eating the specific allergen during the flight. Enquiry about this possibility when booking.
We list below over 50 commercial airliners and their respective policies regarding the availability of gluten free and low lactose meals, as well as the minimum time required for ordering the meal and the link for further information. Please note that in some companies (e.g. KLM) the gluten ‘free’ meal is not 100% gluten free and issuitable only for those who are intolerant to gluten, so always ask before booking (Information: Sept/2009 – please bear in mind that policies may change, always confirm when booking).
- GF: Gluten free meal
- LL: Low lactose meal (not appropriate in most cases to those who are highly intolerant or allergic to milk, as it is not free of casein)
- Food Allergies: not informed in the table as you need to consult the airliner before booking regarding the availability of the special meal without the allergen.
| Airline | Country | GF? | LL? | Routes and conditions | Request before | More info |
| Adria | Slovenia | Yes | Yes | All routes and all classes | 48 hours | Ver |
| Aerolineas Argentinas | Argentina | No | Yes | Transatlantic flights for all destinations, selected business flights within Argentina and South America | 24 hours | Ver |
| AeroMexico | Mexico | No | No | Other special meals on international flight routes | 48 hours | Ver |
| Air Canada | Canada | Yes | Yes | All classes on all flights where meals are offered | 18 hours | Ver |
| Air China | China | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | when booking | Ver |
| Air France | France | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 24 hours | Ver |
| Air India | India | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | when booking | Ver |
| Air Malta | Malta | Yes | Yes | All routes longer than 1h20min | when booking | Ver |
| Air Mauritius | Mauritius Islands | Yes | Yes | All routes where meals are served | when booking | Ver |
| Air New Zealand | New Zealand | Yes | Yes | Long-haul and in Business Class on Tasman & Pacific Island Flights | 48 hours | Ver |
| Air Pacific | Fiji | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | when booking | Ver |
| Air Transat | Canada | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 72 hours | Ver |
| Alitalia | Italy | Yes | No | Please enquiry when booking | when booking | Ver |
| American Airlines | USA | Yes | No | First and business class in the US, all classes in trips to Europe, Asia, and several cities in Brazil, Chile and Argentina | 24 hours | Ver |
| Austrian Airlines | Austria | Yes | Yes | All Austrian longhaul flights, All Business class flights | 24 hours | Ver |
| British Airways | United Kingdom | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 24 hours | Ver |
| British Midland | United Kingdom | Yes | Yes | Business only for short-haul, all classes for middle and long haul flights | 24 hours | Ver |
| Brussels Airlines | Belgica | Yes | Yes | Passengers flying on class b.flex or higher | 24 hours | Ver |
| Cathay Pacific | Hong Kong | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 24 hours | Ver |
| Continental Airlines | USA | Yes | No | Please enquiry when booking | 24 hours | Ver |
| Croatian Airlines | Croatia | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | when booking | Ver |
| Delta Airlines | USA | Yes | No | Please enquiry when booking | 6 hours | Ver |
| Easy Jet** | United Kingdom | No | No | |||
| Emirates | UAE | Yes | Yes | Not available on short flights for economy class | 24 hours | Ver |
| Finnair | Finland | Yes | Yes | In the Economy Class and Leisure flights the selection is limited | 24 hours | Ver |
| Gol* | Brazil | No | No | |||
| Iberia | Spain | Yes | Yes | Business class: all flights longer than 90 min. Economy: long haul flights (17destinations in Latin America, 5 cities in the US and Johannesburg in South Africa) or on flights to Athens, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Cairo, Dakar, Malabo, Moscow and Lagos. | 72 hours***/24 hours | |
| IcelandAir | Iceland | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 24 hours | Ver |
| Japan Airlines | Japan | Yes | Yes | Not available on the short-haul flights without meal services | 96***/24 hours | Ver |
| Jat Airways | Yugoslav | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | when booking | Ver |
| KLM | Netherlands | Yes | Yes | Intercontinental flights | 36 hours | |
| LAN Airlines | Chile | Yes | Yes | International flights | 48 hours | Ver |
| Lauda Air | Austria | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | when booking | Ver |
| Lufthansa | Alemania | Yes | Yes | Long haul flights | 24 hours | Ver |
| Luxair | Luxemburg | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | when booking | Ver |
| Malev | Hungary | Yes | Yes | Not available in Economy Class on some of short-range flights | when booking | Ver |
| OceanAir * | Brazil | No | No | |||
| Olympic Airlines | Greece | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 24 hours | Ver |
| Qantas | Australia | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | when booking | Ver |
| Saudi Arabian Air |
Saudi Arabia | Yes | No | Please enquiry when booking | when booking | Ver |
| Singapore Airlines |
Singapore | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 24 hours | Ver |
| Southwest Airlines** | USA | No | No | Ver | ||
| Swiss Int. Airlines | Switzerland | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 72 hours | Ver |
| TAM Airlines | Brazil | Yes | Yes | International flights, all classes | when booking | |
| TAP Portugal |
Portugal | Yes | Yes | Available in both classes on long flights and in the tap|executive class on medium duration flights | 24 hours | Ver |
| Thai Airlines | Thailand | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 48 hours | Ver |
| Turkish Airlines |
Turkey | Yes | Yes | Not available on Domestic Routes. | 24 hours | Ver |
| United Airlines | USA | Yes | Yes | Not available on flights between Washington D.C. and Moscow | 24 hours | Ver |
| US Airways | USA | Yes | Yes | Available on transatlantic flights in Envoy and main cabin | 24 hours | Ver |
| V Australia | Australia | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 48 hours | Ver |
| Vietnam Airlines |
Vietnam | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 24 hours | Ver |
| Virgin Atlantic | United Kingdom | Yes | Yes | Please enquiry when booking | 48 hours | Ver |
*passengers can take food onboard
** passengers can take food onboard, and the company can ask other passengers to refrain from eating the allergen.
*** first number refers to the time required for the preparation of meals for those with food allergies
For more information about the policies of other airlines not shown here and great tips please check the “Avoiding the Milk” website .
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