UK based, I fly about 100 segments each year, and most are in business on European flights.

Unlike all of my colleagues, I have never ever been upgraded when I am flying economy.

An experienced check-in supervisor for AA in BHX confirmed my suspicions: people with special meals (like me) are never upgraded by airlines except as a last resort. Apparently, the airline would find it to complicated/embarrassing serving the ordered economy meal to a passenger seated in business.

I think it's about time we vegetarians demanded a statement from the major airlines that they won't discriminate against us in this way!

I don't know how this works in Europe, but here in the US with United I would suggest requesting an upgrade and asking for a special meal within the 72 hour (for me) window after the upgrade has cleared.

Come to think of it, I have seen special request meals in the first class cabin at United.

[This message has been edited by PG (edited 12-09-1999).]

I've seen special meals in FC on CO.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that if you want to decrease your chances of an involuntary bump, a special meal was a good idea, especially kosher.

I would tend to think that a FC passenger requesting an economy meal would be a welcome cost-cutting offer!


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"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

Are you sure you need to request a vegetarian meal? I stopped requesting vegetarian meals, in part because of the reason you mention, but also because I figured out I could get better meals that are still vegetarian - at least on United - without ordering them. It's possible this could work for you on the airlines you fly also.

The typical vegetarian fare on United (or any airlines I've flown for that matter) in coach and business is crummy. What's worse, they tend to think vegetarian means vegan. While everyone else on the plane gets chocolate cake or some other luscious dessert, I get the horrid Zen 'N' Now cookie. This cookie lacks eggs, sugar, butter, oil and taste. It's basically what I'd expect a mouth full of sawdust to taste like.

Anyway, if I get the regular meal, coach always has a pasta without meat and a green salad and business generally has a green salad and an appetizer that's vegetarian. But the best part is I get a real dessert ... and I know there's no special meal request keeping me from an upgrade.

This has been working for me and it could be something you'd want to consider.

[*]the special meals defenetly reduce your chances for upgrades in the last 24-hours window before the flight (has been discussed and verified in all details months ago on this board[*]it may even reduce your upgrade chances before those 24 hours: take the special meal out of your profile and ask for it, if your upgrade cleared before that 24 hours order limit for special meals[*]the vegetarian needs (western style) are practically always met/satisfied with regular meal-choices in all classes - the problem is MUCH WORSE for OTHER SPECIAL MEALS![*]it works the other way (in your favor) too: Being bumped is much less risky if you are booked with a special meal.

I concur with the view that the regular meals on American carriers are usually better than the vegetarian (VLML) meal. The problem seems to be that a vegan (VGML) meal is used to cover a multitude of special meals including VLML.

However, I've found that about 1 in 4 flights have only non-vege options, so if you don't order a vege meal, you get no main course. If the regular dessert is nicer, I ask the crew if they have a spare, and usually get one.

This is all academic as the majority of my flying is within Europe. Upgrades happen at check-in and only when economy is over-booked, and the meal is nearly always non-vege, so you have to pre-order (at least 24 hours in advance).

However, British Midland is an exception. They always have loads of execellent vege stuff on board, and the crew can always put together a very decent vegetarian meal, even if you are a last-minute customer. Air France is by far the worst. They even refuse to serve vege meals on some routes.