Originally Posted by
exerda
I've had them lose my or my wife's special meals several times over the past year--probably 40% or so. UA always insists you have to re-confirm the meal 24 hours ahead (of course, it has to be more than 24 hours because inside 24 hours, "the computer won't let us put the meal in"). If I called at 36 hours to confirm, they claim I called too early and that's why they lost it.
wow, this is weird.
i've never had to 'reconfirm'... it's in my profile and is almost always on the manifest and loaded. the only time they've ever not had it is when they've rebooked me.
if they claim it's too early when you call at 36 hours, just call back as you're getting a misinformed agent.
inside 24 hours, they cannot order the special meal but that's true of almost all airlines.
btw, one thing that might be causing confusion is that there are NO special meals on domestic flights any longer, but the system might show that you have one ordered.