Gluten-Free what would you do?
Sep 12, 2016, 5:19 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: SE100k
Posts: 37
I tend not to have much sympathy for those (including my wife) with special dietary needs who don't pre-plan then whine about people and organisations not taking their dietary considerations into account; on the other hand Gluten Free has become a bit of the fad du jour and it does seem odd that AC would put their staff in a situation where:
1. a meal service offers only products with gluten
1. a meal service offers only products with gluten
Airline food is overrated at the best of times, and if you have special dietary needs/preferences, keeping some snacks in your carry-on is just wise.
I guess my working rule is - as long as they have wine to serve, I'm happy
Sep 12, 2016, 7:40 pm
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SE100K-1MM, NH, DL, AA, BA, Global Entry/Nexus, APEC..
Posts: 18,877
Sep 12, 2016, 7:54 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC E75K *G
Posts: 7,116
In all these years of FT I never thought I'd see the day where an entire thread was devoted to The Lovely Mrs. Lev's (TLML) flatulence.
The reality is The Lev was hosed. Either he spends 10h next to TLML without food, or he spends it next to her with food that disagrees with her.
This is glorious. May this thread never die. May it become the new "Duplicate, please delete."
The reality is The Lev was hosed. Either he spends 10h next to TLML without food, or he spends it next to her with food that disagrees with her.
This is glorious. May this thread never die. May it become the new "Duplicate, please delete."
Sep 18, 2016, 10:50 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MLL / AC Cafe
Programs: It's hard to get status when the website won't let me book flights.
Posts: 5,714
Was flying with WifeLev in PE from YYZ-HND the other day. WifeLev is Gluten-free but we didn't book any special meal for her knowing that usually there's enough GF alternatives. She eats the salad and main course from the first meal (bins the roll and dessert). Mid-flight snack is delivered and it is noodles (gluten), sandwich (gluten), cookie (gluten). WifeLev asks the FA if there are any gluten-free alternatives. FA asks if she had ordered GF meal and she says no. FA says nothing is available.
A couple of hours later, WifeLev is getting hungry (she does not share my ability to go long periods of time without nourishment). FA goes by and she explains her GF situation and says by mistake she packed her nuts in her checked bag, so would it be possible to get a bag of nuts, which she would be happy to pay for. FA says no, BoB is only on North American flights, that these things are monitored very closely by management and that giving nuts to a PE passenger would be considered "theft" (seriously???) and offers to get her pretzels (gluten). WifeLev asks for the Service Director who comes by a few minutes later.
Fortunately early in the flight, the SD had introduced herself to us and said "if there is anything I can do to make your flight more comfortable...", so my wife reminded her of this and explained the situation asking again for a big of nuts. She returned a couple of minutes with a couple of bags of cashews.
This whole episode left me somewhat torn - on the one hand, I tend not to have much sympathy for those (including my wife) with special dietary needs who don't pre-plan then whine about people and organisations not taking their dietary considerations into account; on the other hand Gluten Free has become a bit of the fad du jour and it does seem odd that AC would put their staff in a situation where:
1. a meal service offers only products with gluten
2. a FA doesn't have discretion to deal with the above situation sensibly and the SD needs to get called to get something/anything that the person can eat
All I know is that I would not have wanted to be anywhere near my wife if she had been forced to go 10+ hours without food.
End of rant.
A couple of hours later, WifeLev is getting hungry (she does not share my ability to go long periods of time without nourishment). FA goes by and she explains her GF situation and says by mistake she packed her nuts in her checked bag, so would it be possible to get a bag of nuts, which she would be happy to pay for. FA says no, BoB is only on North American flights, that these things are monitored very closely by management and that giving nuts to a PE passenger would be considered "theft" (seriously???) and offers to get her pretzels (gluten). WifeLev asks for the Service Director who comes by a few minutes later.
Fortunately early in the flight, the SD had introduced herself to us and said "if there is anything I can do to make your flight more comfortable...", so my wife reminded her of this and explained the situation asking again for a big of nuts. She returned a couple of minutes with a couple of bags of cashews.
This whole episode left me somewhat torn - on the one hand, I tend not to have much sympathy for those (including my wife) with special dietary needs who don't pre-plan then whine about people and organisations not taking their dietary considerations into account; on the other hand Gluten Free has become a bit of the fad du jour and it does seem odd that AC would put their staff in a situation where:
1. a meal service offers only products with gluten
2. a FA doesn't have discretion to deal with the above situation sensibly and the SD needs to get called to get something/anything that the person can eat
All I know is that I would not have wanted to be anywhere near my wife if she had been forced to go 10+ hours without food.
End of rant.
Sep 20, 2016, 5:49 am
#22
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,869
This whole episode left me somewhat torn - on the one hand, I tend not to have much sympathy for those (including my wife) with special dietary needs who don't pre-plan then whine about people and organisations not taking their dietary considerations into account; on the other hand Gluten Free has become a bit of the fad du jour and it does seem odd that AC would put their staff in a situation where:
1. a meal service offers only products with gluten
2. a FA doesn't have discretion to deal with the above situation sensibly and the SD needs to get called to get something/anything that the person can eat
All I know is that I would not have wanted to be anywhere near my wife if she had been forced to go 10+ hours without food.
1. a meal service offers only products with gluten
2. a FA doesn't have discretion to deal with the above situation sensibly and the SD needs to get called to get something/anything that the person can eat
All I know is that I would not have wanted to be anywhere near my wife if she had been forced to go 10+ hours without food.
Oh, and @segacs, great post.