Transcon First Class with Food Allergy
Nov 21, 2012, 6:46 am
#16
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For the OP, if the allergy to mushrooms is serious then the only safe assumption is that there will have been cross-contamination so I would suggest bringing their own food with them.
Nov 21, 2012, 12:41 pm
#18
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An airline could produce a meal which was vegetarian (and therefore by definition, halal) and gluten-free, but if I were the chef, I certainly wouldn't use pasta as the starch (even if it was gluten-free).
Nov 21, 2012, 12:46 pm
#19
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Don't assume
Even if the menu did not include an item with mushrooms, you can't assume that any given food was prepared without contact with mushrooms. That is equally the case for the steak, the fish or any of the special meals.
It's a silly risk to take when there are tons of alternatives available to tote along.
It's a silly risk to take when there are tons of alternatives available to tote along.
Nov 21, 2012, 1:41 pm
#20
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I, myself am severely allergic to mushrooms. Most lunch flights are fine, but with Dinner flights I tend to buy a meal in the airport or at the admirals club and bring it on board. Quite often there is some form of mushroom in a dinner dish. ie; pasta dish with mushrooms, and the prior mentioned dish. It's a less common allergy but frustrating none the less.
Nov 21, 2012, 3:12 pm
#21
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Nov 21, 2012, 3:20 pm
#22
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I have a severe food allergy myself. Unless I've purchased it, unwrapped it, chopped it, diced it, baked it and served it - I leave nothing to chance.
I'm sure AA will make every effort to accommodate, but when it comes to food allergy assurances, there is never a 100% guarantee.
I'm sure AA will make every effort to accommodate, but when it comes to food allergy assurances, there is never a 100% guarantee.
Nov 21, 2012, 7:39 pm
#23
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Because from what I can see, gluten free pasta is more expensive than wheat-based pasta. . .and we all know that airlines won't spend more money than they have to. I am inclined to believe that it is either a website error, or the airline doesn't understand what gluten-free is.
An airline could produce a meal which was vegetarian (and therefore by definition, halal) and gluten-free, but if I were the chef, I certainly wouldn't use pasta as the starch (even if it was gluten-free).
An airline could produce a meal which was vegetarian (and therefore by definition, halal) and gluten-free, but if I were the chef, I certainly wouldn't use pasta as the starch (even if it was gluten-free).
I'll admit not having had a vegetrian special meal on AA for a couple years, but whenever I have had it, it has had corn, or rice, or some other grain, but never have I seen actual pasta in an AA vegetarian special meal.
Having said that, the cost of the pasta is a trivial part of the cost of a meal. I don't therefore agree that an airline would avoid gluten-free pasta, especially if lowers their costs of stocking multiple different meals that get low usage. The cost savings from combining two or three meals into one may be much greater than the slightly higher cost of one or two ingredients.
Besides, they are already saving so much money already on a vegetrian/etc meal, compared to shrimp and salmon and steak meals (that many of the customers who don't get special meals have), they can afford to spend a little tiny bit of that savings on gluten-free, if it helps them minimize the number of meals.
Nov 27, 2012, 10:35 am
#24
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Photo preview?
Picture from the AA site shows what I believe is the entree you're describing:
From my observation, it looks like the mushrooms are on top of the steak, with a ramekin of sauce on the side. However, who knows if it will actually be plated like that in-flight.
As someone with severe allergies myself, I'd just reiterate those urging you to bring your own food if you want to avoid issues.
From my observation, it looks like the mushrooms are on top of the steak, with a ramekin of sauce on the side. However, who knows if it will actually be plated like that in-flight.
As someone with severe allergies myself, I'd just reiterate those urging you to bring your own food if you want to avoid issues.
Nov 27, 2012, 10:56 am
#25
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I have a severe food allergy myself. Unless I've purchased it, unwrapped it, chopped it, diced it, baked it and served it - I leave nothing to chance.
I'm sure AA will make every effort to accommodate, but when it comes to food allergy assurances, there is never a 100% guarantee.
I'm sure AA will make every effort to accommodate, but when it comes to food allergy assurances, there is never a 100% guarantee.
Caveat Emptor"-Roman Merchant
"Trust, but verify"-Ronald Reagan
"After all, it's all on me!"-Dallas49er
I too, have recently had to take responsibility for 100% of what goes into my body, either by infusion, liquid, or solid. I appreciate the research involved in the possibility of "taking some time off/a day off". The cold, hard reality, as I am sure ACYYZ/SD (and others) will attest to, if you or your traveling companion needs 100%, nothing other than do-it-your-self will give you 100% comfort.
I share your pain.
Nov 27, 2012, 11:05 am
#26
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thanks for the funny 
I'm not surprised AA couldn't tell you what they serve on their planes, neither can their pax 
(3) Bring your own just to be safe
that the pax doesn't like fish really is the passengers problem, not AA's or anyone elses.. see #3 above
The only aircraft I see for the nonstop SFO to MIA on a random date is a 757 (2 class) and a 763 (2 class) so I think based on this, you have been provided your answer already in this thread
when in doubt, go back to #3 above
First-time posting, long-time reader. I’ll start off by saying that, yes, I have done a search already of the forums and was unable to find the appropriate answer. I called American Airlines and, well, I didn’t get the best answer, but I also don’t fault the phone representative.
I am flying in First Class, transcontinental from SFO to MIA in Dec. The person accompanying me, also in First Class, has a food allergy: mushrooms. According to AA’s website, the meal options in first class are as follows:
(1) Grilled salmon with lemon caper sauce served over orzo with a side of grilled root vegetables
(2) Flat iron steak topped with a rich sauce of mushrooms and pearl onions served with broccolini
(1) Grilled salmon with lemon caper sauce served over orzo with a side of grilled root vegetables
(2) Flat iron steak topped with a rich sauce of mushrooms and pearl onions served with broccolini
Is the “sauce of mushrooms” already poured on to the flat iron steak? Or does it come separate, such that it never comes into contact with the plate containing the flat iron steak? I’m inclined to think it is the latter, but I can’t get confirmation from American phone representatives on this. Ideally (with similar in experience on United), the main portion containing the flat iron steak is separate, and then the FA pours on the “sauce of mushrooms.” To avoid this traveler’s food allergy, the FA could simply not pour it on. But I was hoping to find out from others, or maybe an American FA?
Thank you so very much!
Thank you so very much!
when in doubt, go back to #3 above