The commercial flight industry as a whole takes a lot of flack for infamous tales of poor customer service. While airline PR disasters are a dime-a-dozen these days, there is at least one area in which airlines deserve a bit of credit. In recent years, global flight carriers have made tremendous strides to accommodate the dietary needs of passengers who cannot eat gluten.
It is now an industry standard for airlines to offer travelers with food allergies, health conditions, or faith-based dietary restrictions more than just the standard choice of “Chicken or pasta?” during long-haul flights. In addition to vegan, kosher, diabetic, halal, and lactose-free meals (among others), most international carriers now include a gluten-free menu option that passengers can request ahead of time.
Which Airlines Serve a Gluten-Free Meal in Economy?
We researched some of the most popular airlines in the world, with a focus on flights in and out of North America, to summarize the policies for you here. We’ve sorted alphabetically, but you can jump to the table grid below to view it a different way and view the public spreadsheet.
The Guide to Flying Gluten-Free
Living with gluten intolerance, unfortunately, means that you often need to do more than your due diligence anytime you enter into a variable food environment. And while airlines are moving in the right direction when it comes to providing special meal options, there are myriad factors that can influence your experience of flying gluten-free.
We scoured the policies of dozens of international airlines and waded through hundreds of customer reviews to comprise the following tips for flying gluten-free and living to tell about it:
Do your research. Knowing what to expect can save you a lot of stress. Read up on the airline’s special policies ahead of time. Depending on the route, operator, and departing city, gluten-free meal availability may vary.
