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).

@eurochick

I'd be surprised if there isn't a trolley service with sandwiches and similar on the plane. But I always take my own as it's unlikely I can eat any of it (I'm lactose intolerant). At least taking your own food you have control over it. I've been served a normal dairy yoghurt as part of my supposed lactose free meal before so I don't trust airlines to get it right. And the consequences for me would be much less severe than for a diabetic served the wrong thing.

Thanks @eurochick you are probably right. I suspect I was glutened last time I flew - it wasn't pleasant so I think we'll investigate the stuff in the departure lounge.

Was than an actual thread??!

Pick up a boots meal deal at the airport to take on

[quote LuckySantangelo35]@BarbaraofSeville
I'm now wondering if this is the same couple where the OP was fretting about what her DH would eat while she was in hospital having a c-section.[/quote]
As explained upthread, I'm 67 (OH is in his 70s) so I highly doubt it was me!!!

I’ve been on a 7 hour flight with no food, depends on the airline (not an easyJet or Ryanair flight)

There will be catering, it's just stuff you have buy, not included, and you can't pre book anything. They've been doing it that way for a while in economy. May not help though, as there may still not be much there he can eat, but they do cheese platters, for example.

for example - www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/2022_ac_cafe_menu-en.pdf

[quote PatriciaHolm]There will be catering, it's just stuff you have buy, not included, and you can't pre book anything. They've been doing it that way for a while in economy. May not help though, as there may still not be much there he can eat, but they do cheese platters, for example.

for example - www.aircanada.com/content/dam/aircanada/portal/documents/PDF/2022_ac_cafe_menu-en.pdf[/quote]
Thanks @PatriciaHolm that's really helpful.

OP you replied to my post with one of your sarcastic replies but I can't quote it unfortunately. You seemed to be trying to indicate that it was more difficult for you as you and your OH have 'various allergies and illnesses'.

In case you didn't realise from my post, I'm T1 diabetic, and to be honest, it is a bit ridiculous that someone who you're saying has lived with type 1 for a very long time would need to ask Internet strangers what to do about this.

Firstly all diabetics know their own BG reactions to different food groups and their own carb counting ratios, secondly a T1 diabetic who isn't capable of managing their blood glucose would be unlikely to have made it to their 70s.

Is your OH a new partner by any chance? If so they will be much better at knowing what they need than you so I would leave them to manage their own BG.

@SilenceOfThePrams

I’m surprised there’s nothing for a 7 hour flight; obviously out of touch as I’d’ve expected two meals in that time.

But a packed lunch made at home should be fine unless you’re in a hotel the night before. Something eggy with lots of salad probably.

Otherwise if you need more shelf stable, then nak’d bars or other protein ball type stuff, self opening tins - I like the tuna lunch tins but not if he’s veggie. Kale chips. Long life yoghurts.

I cannot stress this enough

PLEASE DO NOT bring tins of tuna and open them on board

Not sure where in Canada you are flying to, but I struggled to find anything gluten free to buy to take on the plane in Vancouver airport. My coeliac meals on the way over consisted almost entirely of fruit and i wanted something more substantial for the return journey.

Even UK airports are hit and miss for gluten free food. I used to love the Itsu breakfast pots with poached eggs for early morning flights but they went and changed them so no longer gf.

@Fleurty

OP you replied to my post with one of your sarcastic replies but I can't quote it unfortunately. You seemed to be trying to indicate that it was more difficult for you as you and your OH have 'various allergies and illnesses'.

In case you didn't realise from my post, I'm T1 diabetic, and to be honest, it is a bit ridiculous that someone who you're saying has lived with type 1 for a very long time would need to ask Internet strangers what to do about this.

Firstly all diabetics know their own BG reactions to different food groups and their own carb counting ratios, secondly a T1 diabetic who isn't capable of managing their blood glucose would be unlikely to have made it to their 70s.

Is your OH a new partner by any chance? If so they will be much better at knowing what they need than you so I would leave them to manage their own BG.

I'm so sorry of I wasn't 100% clear. My query was more about catering on a long flight, rather than my OH's needs.

And no, we've been married 35 years - but thanks for your interest.

We aren't seasoned travellers and I don't think we've ever used the food outlets in the departure lounges. I had no idea there was such a range of food available.

@Pyri

PLEASE DO NOT bring tins of tuna and open them on board

That made me laugh. We won't be doing that!!!

@InkySquid

Not sure where in Canada you are flying to, but I struggled to find anything gluten free to buy to take on the plane in Vancouver airport. My coeliac meals on the way over consisted almost entirely of fruit and i wanted something more substantial for the return journey.

Even UK airports are hit and miss for gluten free food. I used to love the Itsu breakfast pots with poached eggs for early morning flights but they went and changed them so no longer gf.

I struggled last time we flew from Toronto. The choice was chocolate buttons or chocolate buttons for me (although chocolate buttons are always very welcome...)

AC has its own cafe in their departure lounge which looks nice

Ask someone from the air attendant flight crew if you know anyone as such,as in ask what they eat on longish flights, they are always busy, so need some decent food to keep them going..

Take some high protein snacks with you. so if there is too much carby food only available at the airport it will balance it out, without upping need for insulin. Protein balls/bars (can buy or make), nuts, cheese etc.

I'm going to have to rely on my own foods whilst in hospital giving birth as the food is awful in terms of choice if you have high sugars. Similar type situation. so this is what I will be doing. Hope it all works out well

[quote Totallyconfusedaboutlife]@HaggisBurger read the thread - somebody has already made that snippy comment!!! [/quote]
Phew 😉

@Silentnight87

Take some high protein snacks with you. so if there is too much carby food only available at the airport it will balance it out, without upping need for insulin. Protein balls/bars (can buy or make), nuts, cheese etc.

I'm going to have to rely on my own foods whilst in hospital giving birth as the food is awful in terms of choice if you have high sugars. Similar type situation. so this is what I will be doing. Hope it all works out well

Thanks

[quote Totallyconfusedaboutlife]@Pyri

PLEASE DO NOT bring tins of tuna and open them on board

That made me laugh. We won't be doing that!!![/quote]
Don't bring "something eggy" as suggested by that same poster either 🤢

@Silentnight87
Forgot to say congratulations! Hope it goes well.

I struggled last time we flew from Toronto. The choice was chocolate buttons or chocolate buttons for me (although chocolate buttons are always very welcome...)

I think I ended up with one of those chocolate gold coins from Starbucks!

I actually found Canada really difficult as a coeliac, lots of places with 'gluten friendly' menus that weren't actually suitable for coeliacs.

Just bring suitable food with you. That's what my vegan partner does for long haul flights. Why is this so difficult to figure out?!

@VeryQuaintIrene

Just bring suitable food with you. That's what my vegan partner does for long haul flights. Why is this so difficult to figure out?!

Clearly I'm really stupid! Why is that so difficult to figure out?

@Totallyconfusedaboutlife

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...).

Rancid after 3-4 hours. Of course not. If you picked up a sandwich on the way into work and ate it at lunchtime it wouldn't be rancid....

The whole Pret menu is online with ingredients & allergens in bold:
www.pret.co.uk/en-GB/our-menu.