No catering on 7 hour flight...

[Totallyconfusedaboutlife]

I booked flights for me and OH last month and have just gone into my booking to try to order a GF meal for me - I'm coeliac. But there is no catering on this flight. This is OK (kind of... ) for me, but OH is type 1 diabetic and could really do with a meal half way through. I've never been on a flight this length that doesn't offer catering. Is this a new thing? The flight wasn't cheap (not Easyjet or anything like that).

A packed lunch will probably be nicer than flight food anyway? But in response to your question, no, I thought all mid/ long haul flights were catered

What airline is this? Can’t you just take food with you?

I’ve been on a super cheapy flight (someone like Iceland air to New York) where there was no catering at all. Everyone turning up with enormous bags of pret on the plane.

Absolutely fine with me as long as I know in advance

@PartyPlan

What airline is this? Can’t you just take food with you?

Yes, we can take food. But it would be far easier to have a meal half way through the flight - the stuff I will take for me will be very carby and that may not be the best for OH. His blood sugars tend to be all over the place when he travels anyway.

I’d just buy a meal deal (or even two) and DH can have them on the flight. I think the days of in flight meals unless for real long hall are probably over really. Appreciate its tricky in your circumstance! If he wants something hot they may add boiling water to a pot noodle (not sure if that’s something he’d eat but needs must!).

I’ve been on 5 hours flights with very little catering but nothing longer

@Strawmite

I’d just buy a meal deal (or even two) and DH can have them on the flight. I think the days of in flight meals unless for real long hall are probably over really. Appreciate its tricky in your circumstance! If he wants something hot they may add boiling water to a pot noodle (not sure if that’s something he’d eat but needs must!).

Yes - of course we haven't flown for nearly 3 years so you are probably right! We'll need to put some thought into stuff we can take on board.

If they dont offer catering your dh will have to take his own food, maybe pot rice, pot noodles, what would he normally eat.

Is this an international flight or internal, I know in the US only business is catered everyone else boards with a bag of food.

I always check before I depart what meals are included and take a meal replacement bar for if the meal choice is not to my taste (I am not diabetic and I realise this would not be sufficient)

Most airports have a variety of lunch type places where he can buy something that won't be a carby snack. High protein pots and things are very much in fashion.

@BlanketsBanned

If they dont offer catering your dh will have to take his own food, maybe pot rice, pot noodles, what would he normally eat.

Thanks. He's never eaten a pot rice or pot noodles!!! He normally eats healthily, vegetarian, low carb. There may need to be some compromises!

It's 7 hours though. Won't anything we pick up from the airport be rancid after 3 or 4 hours though?! (I realise I'm sounding quite precious here... I just don't want OH to be having blood sugar issues mid-flight...).

He can choose the luxury brands, will he eat before the flight at the aiport and take fruit

@BlanketsBanned

He can choose the luxury brands, will he eat before the flight at the aiport and take fruit

Thanks - I guess he'll have to.

Just wanted to say I flew from New Zealand to U.K. on Air Asia and the only food they provided was a pot of dried noodles - with no boiling water!!!
Sorry this has nothing to do with your question but I just can't help myself telling the story, it was 10 years ago and I'm still not over it
I 100% recommend getting a meal deal from the airport before you fly - boots/WH smith etc. So much nicer than plane food anyway and they'll cater for celiacs

You can get mini cool bags quite cheaply. If you are worried about stuff going off you could take one of those in your hand luggage.

That’s disappointing (I love crap aeroplane food!). But surely he doesn’t have to have whatever you choose for yourself… wouldn’t he just pack something suitable for his needs?

Food won’t go rancid in 3-4 hours and planes can be quite chilly in the first hours of a flight. You might also be able to take some tiny chill packs with you as long as you treat as liquids through security in terms of overall volume and 100ml limit etc?

Get to the airport early to have a decent meal first. Then take smaller snacks.

Sandwiches are fine for a good few hours, or salads.

Just take a cool bag with you? A salad or pasta etc from pret would easily last 4 hours- lots of people do this at work. Fruit etc will also be ok.
Maybe have a nice meal in the airport before you board too?
P.S. How exciting to get away again!

Won't anything we pick up from the airport be rancid after 3 or 4 hours though?!

Huh? I pack my lunch for work at 6.45 and eat at 12.30 and everything's always perfectly fine, even unrefrigerated. He could always bring an insulated bag with cool packs in and put airport food in there if really worried.

Which airline?

Buy a sandwich at the airport? It would all be nicer than anything the plane would provide.

I'm not being horrible here but has he never had a packed lunch??

Get a packed lunch bag like the ones school kids use, put your food in there. Any little cooler bag should keep your food safe until you are ready to eat it.