Readers Respond: Which Airlines Have the Best (or Worst) Gluten-Free Food?

Responses: 7

Please remember! Suggestions from others can be helpful, but comments from readers are not double-checked for accuracy. Make sure to research any suggestions before putting them to use, and always double-check the gluten-free status of any recommended product.

Northwest airlines

I flew to and from Shanghai from Mpls (via Narita). I found the food OK. Lots of rice cakes, rice, meat, etc. on the flight to Narita. More interesting food from Narita to Shanghai. They tended to use the same entree for the dairy -free (which my daughter had) which is good since I am also dairy-free, but they wouldn't let me specify gluten-free/dairy-free. I had to choose one or the other . On the flight home they gave me a wrapped danish roll with my breakfast, but since I noticed that they gave one to my husband also, I knew not to eat it. That was the only mistake, but it could have been bad. Never trust something that looks like it could contain gluten.

—lindasgarden2

airline food

I went on Hawaiian airline to Maui, they served me a greek salad. I did not eat the wheat brownie, nor the dressing, just ate the salad without dressing and did fine.

—Guest jody

Air Canada messed up

I took a flight on Air Canada between Ottawa and LA. The special gluten-free, business class meal came with a barley salad. Barley bad! I also find it annoying that the GF meal also doubles as the low-fat and vegan option.

—Guest Wendy

Bad Luck

I just returned from a 13 hour international site, and the US Security would not let me bring in individual size applesauce because they said it was "liquid." Also, I got my fruit cups taken away since there is liquid in them. I was so bummed I almost wanted to cry!

—Guest Carey W

Carryon flight food

An interesting note about carrying fresh fruit: When returning from Canada to the US, I was not allowed to bring back some fresh fruit I had taken along. I was told that it would have required that the little individual sticker, with USA as the country of origin, still be on it.

—Guest Sparkelr

airline food

I found China Airline food to be great. I think I was the only Non -asian ordering the congee for breakfast, lunch etc.

—Guest iris blando

British Airways Redeemed

The first time we flew BA after my husband was diagnosed, the g-f meal served at dinner had a regular wheat roll with it. Unfortunately, he realized only aftern eating half of it, though he wondered how a gluten free roll could taste so much like the "real thing." The gluten-free breakfast offering on the same flight was Kellogg's cornflakes. Two years on, he's had much better experiences with BA. The g-f meals have been exactly that: gluten free -- and quite tasty, too.

—Guest FionaH