Last edit by: JDiver
Please see AA: SPML - Special / Vegetarian Meals / VGML (consolidated) for the current thread.
/Moderator
/Moderator
ARCHIVE: Ordering SPML / Special Meal - how, what (consolidated)
#16
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: AA LTP 2MM, Marriott/SPG Rabid Plat w/Ambassador, HHonors Gold
Posts: 696
I'm not sure if accepting parts of the meal, without having an ingredient list, is a practical solution. I can eat fruits, vegetables, meats, cheese, and nuts, etc., if they were clearly kept separate from anything I can't eat. But because of the strictness of the doctor's orders, I can't, for example, eat a meat with a sauce on it, unless I know exactly what was in the sauce. (Even scraping off the sauce won't help, because even a little bit is enough to cause problems.) I can have a salad if I know there were never croutons in it, etc. Knowing the ingredients is key.
Anyway, it looks like I should bring enough to eat for the day and be happy if it happens that there's anything I can eat.
Anyway, it looks like I should bring enough to eat for the day and be happy if it happens that there's anything I can eat.
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Gold, CO Silver
Posts: 30
Definitely bring your own food. Sometimes even if a steak may have no sauce on it, it was cooked using some light basting sauce that contains bits of wheat or soy, but there may not be a visual indication. Likewise, even the seasoning put on nuts, etc., sometimes has small amounts of soy or wheat in it. I don't know about the AA nuts specifically, but do you really want to take that chance with your health? Maybe if there's a separately packaged piece of fruit, especially something like a banana (which has a convenient natural wrapper), or vegetables that haven't been treated or sauteed with anything, but I wouldn't go beyond that.
Oh, what I wouldn't give to be in your friend's place
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
I have a severe allergy to shell fish. I travel a great deal. I do not depend on AA for meals. I bring along my own food and seriously look over what is offered to me by the flight attendant. I usually take the dessert, bread and sometimes a salad but never the salad dressing (often contain shell fish). Now and then I will trust a meat dish, but never a fish dish as shell fish are often in the sauce.
It isn't fun, but it works for me.
British Airways has twice failed to load my special meal and on one of the flgiths out of LHR, both meal options had shell fish. I ended up with a meal of bread and cheese with a chocolate bar for 'afters'.
The airline that has given me the best and most reliable meal service is Singapore. Second to that is Qantas.
It isn't fun, but it works for me.
British Airways has twice failed to load my special meal and on one of the flgiths out of LHR, both meal options had shell fish. I ended up with a meal of bread and cheese with a chocolate bar for 'afters'.
The airline that has given me the best and most reliable meal service is Singapore. Second to that is Qantas.
#19
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 311
Special Meals better or worse than regular meals?
Any views on whether the "special meals" (kosher, vegetarian, or whatever else is offered) tend to be better or worse (transatlantic, J class) than the regular choices. Of course, I realize that taste is subjective -- depends what one likes to eat -- but for upcoming flights I am trying to figure out whether to wait and order from the menu or request in advance some special meal (and, if so, which one). Advice? Thanks.
#21
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
Any views on whether the "special meals" (kosher, vegetarian, or whatever else is offered) tend to be better or worse (transatlantic, J class) than the regular choices. Of course, I realize that taste is subjective -- depends what one likes to eat -- but for upcoming flights I am trying to figure out whether to wait and order from the menu or request in advance some special meal (and, if so, which one). Advice? Thanks.
Most international flights have a choice of four entrées for the main dinner service, and two choices for any services after that.
The choice of the four entrées will usually consist of beef/lamb/chicken/seafood/pasta.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,535
#23
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Midwest
Programs: AA PLT AA 1MM
Posts: 727
From my observations it would seem that if you don't need to inconvenience the AA-contracted catering squad or FAs by ordering special meals, it would be best not to. It's a different matter if you really need to.
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
AA in the 80s and 90s had an extensive and very good Special Meals menu, close to a pre-curson of SQ's 'Book the Cook.' The rather long menu included an excellent Seafood Platter and very good fruit plate. As I recall they were available in both F and Y.
Today AA has perhaps one of the worst special meals offerings in the industry.
Today AA has perhaps one of the worst special meals offerings in the industry.
#25
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
Does AA lump all vegetarians into the "vegan" category to simplify their special meals? I remember this from my United (and vegetarian, but still cheese-loving) days. No airline meal has depressed me more than the slab of unseasoned tofu on a dry bun they somehow saw fit to serve me once.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
Reportedly requesting one can keep you from getting an operational or other last-minute upgrade. I don't know if that's true, but it's been claimed several times. So, if you don't require the special meal for medical, religious, ethical, etc., reasons, that might be a reason not to order one if you think you might be at or near the top of the list for one of those.
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AA Gold, CO Silver
Posts: 30
On a AA LHR-JFK, my special meal didn't stop me from getting an op-up. I just had to make sure with the cabin crew that the meal made the move from coach to business with me.
That being said, I wouldn't request a special meal unless you actually need it. On some flights, I've wondered whether I'd be better off eating actual cardboard. On a couple of flights on different airlines, my (medically necessary) special meal was lumped in with the no salt meal, which didn't make for very enjoyable eating for me.
That being said, I wouldn't request a special meal unless you actually need it. On some flights, I've wondered whether I'd be better off eating actual cardboard. On a couple of flights on different airlines, my (medically necessary) special meal was lumped in with the no salt meal, which didn't make for very enjoyable eating for me.
#28
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: AAdvantage, Hilton
Posts: 3,191
Does AA lump all vegetarians into the "vegan" category to simplify their special meals? I remember this from my United (and vegetarian, but still cheese-loving) days. No airline meal has depressed me more than the slab of unseasoned tofu on a dry bun they somehow saw fit to serve me once.
#29
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: AA LTP 2MM, Marriott/SPG Rabid Plat w/Ambassador, HHonors Gold
Posts: 696
It's pretty crazy when one of the normal meal options consist of a salad, and reasonable breaded chicken thingy, and the veg special meal consists of a very slightly larger salad.
#30
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 5,270
They also make the common mistake of assuming all vegetarians are health-conscious. Instead of paying $10 to catering for the aforementioned miserable tofu sandwich on a short hop, pay 99 cents for a fun-size bag of Doritos and you'll make my day