The Emirates 2017 SPML challenge
 

eternaltransit has stated he would be trying every SPML on EK this year and I think that's an awesome idea and way of spicing things up. I thought why not make it a challenge, for those of us travelling in Y with nothing better to eat anyway. I'm sure m3red will be happy with his regular choices in F.

I'm going to start with the Vegetarian Oriental Meal next Monday morning on HYD-DXB, I haven't decided what to order yet for the DXB-CPT sector, I'm torn between the low-calorie option, the bland meal ("boiled meat") part doesn't sounds appetising, stock-standard lacto-ovo (used to be vegetarian and spent years eating these so...)... really quite a few options.

We can keep track in this thread of all the SPMLs tried and what they contain and how we'd rate them, I could see some being legitimate alternatives to the regular menu (Oriental veg? Yes please!). No seafood anymore as we know, which I don't mind, to be honest.

Perhaps we can also tally up the total SPMLs tried for each type! Thoughts? Anyone else going to participate? What do we give the winner (first to try all).

While I think it's a great idea I won't be participating as I believe the general view that you don't get opupped if you have a special meal booked (and I am sure four of us wouldn't have got a y to j opup BKK to DXB this summer if I hasnt cancelled my daughter's vegetarian meal) and while I'd quite like to try the various meals I'd prefer an opup;).

Hm that is a good point, which is now making me reconsider HYD-DXB because the flight does seem overbooked and I am actually expecting an op-up (Y0, J7+) on a Flex ticket... but I've never thought that the myth about SPML and op-ups holds much water. Perhaps eternal can assist to clarify?

Controller won't care - there's a note on the manifest if you have a SPML and get an op-up that the meal is still in Y (or J) carts.

I have lacto ovo meals and up to recently had quite a number of op ups so I think that's a fallacy.

BBML and CHML are reserved for eternaltransit :D :cool:

AB44 is not mentioned?

He's flying Qatar

^ I'm going to risk it. Maybe at check-in I'll drop a hint that I don't mind losing the SPML if they're oversold and need to move me around.

More importantly, when and with which meal are you starting?

Photos please!

With flights already booked and planned, I could possibly have a go at achieving this. I can pretty much guarantee however, I will end the year on zero. The seafood one might have been the only one that tempted me and it's gone.

Baahh!

It's not about being tempted, the Asian Oriental or Lacto-Ovo are the only ones I would actually consider instead of the standard meal. For now I've booked the Asian Oriental and the Non-Lactose for my 2 flights next week. I will try to get pics.

Couple of weeks time - I'm just going down the list in alphabetical order.

I might wait until going in F to order the BBML or CHML though :D

Alphabetical order makes sense. I'm starting with least objectionable and then keeping something decent as last one as well (ovo-lacto probably). Should also be a nice conversation starter with the crew in rear galley :D

I'm going to pretend that the BBML is a prank played on me by ground staff...

How are you planning to order it? Call in? Been thinking about this one, figured calling in or Twitter might be able to get it on

I'm going to ask someone to talk to catering for me ;)

They will be happy to embarrass me on board, so there will be no problems!

https://s24.postimg.cc/4sbsa3vmd/IM...116_060154.jpgLive from EK525 the Vegetarian Oriental Meal .

​​​​​​It's the breakfast and totally inedible. And this was the most appealing of the SPMLs so starting to question how smart this idea was :D

What is it exactly? :confused:

I order lacto ovo and always regret it as get things like spicey beans and I'm not one for spicey food. Never just pasta and they never give cheese or eggs in economy, so the term lacto ovo is a misnomer. In business I opt for the normal meal if the lacto ovo meal is yuk which it usually is.

I have no idea. It seems to be like a maize kind of thing. Absolutely flavourless.

The croissant looking thing looks tasty. That's about it.

Ah that rings a bell! They've given that to me once or twice - absolutely horrid looking and totally inedible. :(

It was delicious. And the half a pineapple ring.

Anyway, non-lactose meal coming up shortly if I make my connection in DXB (first flight delayed)

The CHML in J... is simply the CHML on J plating.

Having eaten a fair amount of CHML leftovers... they are actually not bad (lots of pasta, chicken fingers, things like that, sometimes even french fries).

(Received an extensive survey on child meals from EK a few months ago, actually)

So can adults order child meals? I might give it a go if you might get chips :)

Aaaand the non-lactose SPML. Actually not that bad an option, it's pretty normal food just without lactose (having butter instead of margerine would've made the bread much nicer but kind of obvious that a non-lactose meal wouldn't have butter).

Breakfast
https://s30.postimg.cc/al283pngh/IM...116_100647.jpg

Lunch
https://s29.postimg.cc/fpj7xfgev/IM...116_151705.jpg

Hello skywardhunter in seat 27K! :)

Thanks for the pointer...been a long day, should've looked closer, didn't even see my name there during the flight :D

I'm almost afraid to ask what the lunch is, the white thing looks like a chunk of plastic but that's probably just the photo

No it does look like plastic. I wasn't able to figure out if it was chicken or fish (I suspect the latter) and ended up not eating it. The tomato sauce was delicious though.

Tears are coming out of my eyes, this is an excellent post.

I would guess that breakfast creation is congee (Asian rice porridge).

I have to admit that I have been weak/jaded/spoiled - I was going to have 4 SPMLs to report this week but my trip turned into a 72hr ULH - and I decided to avoid Y for that because there's another LH next week...

I did discover new EK IT issues - if you book a SPML, then upgrade online for cash, the SPML disappears from online booking. However the SPML choice still remains in the internal airport DCS and gets copied for both sectors if you transit (it appears on the check in screen) - but it doesn't appear on board!

My next trip is not on EK so SPML will resume in Feb...

I also have it on good authority that an unexpected BBML will appear on one of my flights.......:eek:

What exactly is a BBML ?. Is that a Baby meal ?

A BBML is not a proper meal as such. Its simply jars of pureed baby food kept in the galley and served on request, not at the structured meal times. If you have a BBML request you will be served a choice from the regular menu just like the parent of a baby would.

The Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian Breakfast on EK772 recently:

https://s11.postimg.cc/pito5ucjn/IM...4_110427_1.jpg

Pretty good!

EDIT: Updated the wiki with links to the meals posted, this could end up being a useful catalogue of the individual SPML options for future reference! @eternal, still waiting for your promised participation :D

UPDATE: Here's another from EK770 today:

https://s11.postimg.cc/5f8j979fn/IM...314_101524.jpg

That's looks great! Might have to try it myself!

I've managed to avoid EK Y so far this year :D

As much as I love you all, I don't love you that much to willingly subject myself to Y when I don't absolutely need to :D

They have SPMLs in F !

touché - although I have been on some other carriers recently!

BBML in F please :D