Whats the J/F allergy/alternate food like?

[ggm]

Going Europe Oneworld Q/Finnair. Partner coming on points. Big trip.

She's nut anaphalactic. fully managed, has the syringe, meds, and we're in a world of 'never guaranteed' for most food anyway.

In the past, when we've travelled cattle, saying 'no nuts' winds up being sandwiches, and tins of beans. Or, maybe madam would like a banana. Thats on many carriers, Q included: they basically do a pretty ratsh*t job of dealing with the problem. (haven't tried kosher/halal, might be better)

(ok. I lied about the tin of beans. but I do remember JAL offering us a jar of over-the-counter baby food for 18mo once, which was nice)

In other peoples experience, does J actually understand this, and can one, noting that its risky, decide to not do the declared food needs thing and get a reasonable chance of the menu?

or, is the on-balance outcome that a suitably adjusted meal is prepared, and is to spec? (this is a big trip, 10y long-service leave 5 weeker, so going up into J was a deliberate "lets have fun" thing)

I notice that Q alternates between nuts and not-nuts, almost randomly. They come, they go. They drop out of the 'pud offering flying out of Aus, but magically re-appear with the food loaded in Changi..

 

[Madam Mina]

Hi ggm,

I am gluten intolerant and have flown QF J a few times both domestically and internationally and would say that the special meal food certainly looks very comparable to the regular food (obviously I didn't eat the other to compare) and I would say they are pretty much of the same standard except where there are obvious limitations (mostly bread and desert in the meals I get). I would definitely request a special meal with something as serious as a nut allergy as I have found the QF staff to not be be terribly aware of the risks with food allergy's. More than once I have got told "we have your special meal but I can give you the other if you want" and they do tend to be generally a bit blase or forgetful about it and I have occasionally been offered food I probably can't eat (why does Maggie Beer have to put gluten in her ice cream!?!?) so your partner does need to be switched on about whats she is being offered. I think it may mostly be a case of the flight attendants really not knowing what ingredients are in the food as they are generally wanting to be helpful but when questioned look a bit confused. Once on a PER-SYD flight when the entrees were being handed out the FA got to my special tray and looked at me and said "I think you can have the soup because there is a bowl on you tray" I replied "Do you think or do you know" he said "think" so I declined the soup just incase as stocks can be risky with gluten. This is why I wouldn't risk a problem and would order the special meal which should be guaranteed to be free of problem ingredients rather than taking your chances and ending up with no food or worse a problem I have certainly never felt deprived by it except for maybe missing out on the ice cream

 

[katiebell]

Last time I tried to book a meal on QF avoiding foods to which I have an allergy I was told to 'bring my own food' (3 sectors between UK & Aus): really not good enough.

The lacto-ovo vegetarian (VLML) is usually vegan which is also unacceptable and often inedible.

I now read all the labels and ask or avoid if uncertain. Some airlines seem to have lists of ingredients kept in the galley. The frustrating thing is that any caterer worth the name (& the contract) should know the definitions of words like vegetarian and the forbidden foods and risks for problems like coeliac disease/gluten free and anaphylaxis/nut allergy.

Do not risk an anaphylactic reaction at 30 000 ft. Tell the airline, if you used a travel agent get him/her to flag it too. Re-advise the airline a few day before departure.

Good luck!