Special diet meals?

I am booked UC to HKG next March - the flight is part of a P&O Cruises holiday so as it is not ticketed yet, I can't access my booking and doubt I will be able to until February.

I have e-mailed VS to request my seats and a vegetarian meal, and they have ordered me a vegan meal. Does anyone have any idea how dreadful this will be or should I go back to them and get them to change it?

I hate making a fuss.

quote:Originally posted by gilly
I am booked UC to HKG next March - the flight is part of a P&O Cruises holiday so as it is not ticketed yet, I can't access my booking and doubt I will be able to until February.

I have e-mailed VS to request my seats and a vegetarian meal, and they have ordered me a vegan meal. Does anyone have any idea how dreadful this will be or should I go back to them and get them to change it?

I hate making a fuss.


It depends what you do and don't eat?

My wife used to request veggie meals and she ended up with stuff she didn't like as they excluded dairy products too and she loves cheese.
Now, when/if she orders a special meal she goes for the Veggie Lacto Ovo (or something like that) it's basically just no meats and everything else is fair game so she gets her cheese fix usually, I can't remember exactly what she gets though.
Having said all of this, it depends what mood she's in as she finds most VS special meals to be crap anyway so if we're in upeer she'll take a chance on the option they have...

Anyway, I take it you've had a look at http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/pa ... h/diet.jsp

IIRC don't they offer a veg option in UC anyway? However you run the risk of them running out. It does depend on what you do eat, it is probably best to reg a Veg meal, you can always take the veg option on the menu if you do not like what they have provided you.

Dominic

Definitly not the Vegan meal - you want veggie lacto - Code is VLML

[HighFlyer]

Hi Gilly,

VS typically do this, taking 'Vegetarian' to mean 'Vegan' so your meal wont have cheese and eggs. I would either call back and explain this if you decide you do want the vegetarian meal, or if you are not too fussy but dont eat meat and fish why not see what they have on the day onboard and cancel the special meal? There is always a vegetarian option onboard and if you mention it to the crew when you board I am sure they'll make sure one gets to you. I have bever had a problem getting the veggie meal onboard VS.

Dont worry about making a fuss, you paid for your ticket and requesting a meal that you can eat is hardly being a diva [:)]

Thanks,
Sarah

Thanks for the comments - I don't eat meat, fish and eggs(hate eggs) but do love cheese. If you think it's ok to ask for a veggie meal when we board to ensure I get something [:0] I'll do that and cancel the vegan.

Thanks.

Hi there,

I'm a vegetarian, and my wife is a vegan, so I've experiences of both special meals, in economy, premioum and upper.

First thing - the vegan meal has so far always been, to be honest, disgusting. I know airplane food is not the greatest anyway, but this really is the worst option to have - on a recent flight in premium, my wife was given salad (no dressing), fruit and water as her meal. I know there are a lot of carnivores who will read this, and wonder what else she expected - but trust me, it's not *that* difficult!

As a veggie, the expereince is slightly more mixed.

* The veggie speical meal is often identical to the vegan meal - no idea why - but even if you order the correct code, you'll end up with the same meal as the vegan sitting next to you. I don't know why they do this - cost cutting? - but it is very frustrating!

* There is always a veggie option on the standard menu, and I have often not bothered to order a special meal and had this. However, be warned - if you are a strict veggie, this option may not work as the meal may well contain stuff like gelatine (pork fat), fish oils and cochineal (crushed beetles - yum). I also once had a 'veggie' ceasar salad which had anchovies on it....

* Following a tip from a friend, I now always order a Asian Vegetarian special meal. This is 90% of the time a fantastic vegetable curry, and often better than the meat options IMHO. Having said that, I have had a couple of oddities (steamed artichoke and rice - very asian) and once, on Continental, a chicken curry...[:$]

One final consideration is the rumour - how true I don't know - that if you order a special meal, you will never be upgraded. I have never have been upgraded, so can't tell if that is the truth or not...

My wife always has to request the Gluten-free meal (we fly PE). From the UK, it's disgusting, to the point where she almost doesn't bother requesting it, as she ends up just taking her own food to eat. Coming back from the US, it's always pretty decent - nothing fancy and fairly plain, but edibable at least.

I'm sure with a lot of the 'special' meals it's a case of one meal for lots of different 'special requirements', hence why it ends up being the most plain bland creation known to man.

[Scrooge]

I have also heard from a veggie friend that the veggie curry is very very good, while (to me) it doesn't look that good she gives it a very large thumbs up.

quote:Originally posted by Scrooge
I have also heard from a veggie friend that the veggie curry is very very good, while (to me) it doesn't look that good she gives it a very large thumbs up.


I am a veggie and the ONE thing I cant eat is their veggie curry [:$]

I just choose the veggie option on the menu in Upper - it is sometimes beteer than the other two according to my meat eating friends - it certainly was when on the party bus (remember the coq au vin Sarah & Richard ! [:?][:$])

Regards,

Hackneyguy

quote:Originally posted by ajb69
One final consideration is the rumour - how true I don't know - that if you order a special meal, you will never be upgraded. I have never have been upgraded, so can't tell if that is the truth or not...


It is true with BA (not sure about Virgin).

When they shell out extra for a special meal then they 'expect' you to be served it. I was once offered an upgrade to First from Club then they saw my request for a VML and said that they withdrew the offer. I have never again requested a special meal plus the veggie meals now in Club are generally excellent.

Regards,

Hackneyguy

quote:Originally posted by gilly
I don't eat meat, fish and eggs(hate eggs) but do love cheese. If you think it's ok to ask for a veggie meal when we board to ensure I get something [:0] I'll do that and cancel the vegan.


I you *really* hate eggs, in any form, then I'd suggest you order the vegan ([:#]), or just don't eat on-board to be on the safe side. The veggie meal may well have an egg sandwich in it somewhere, or a cake/sauce/dressing which is egg-based.

On the other hand, if you just don't like plain eggs, but will happily eat batters, sauces and cakes etc with eggs in, then you will probably be fine with the standard meal, as long as you check first.

To be honest, if you have any form of special diet, my rule of thumb is to eat well before you leave - then any decent food on the plane is a nice bonus!

Cheers

Drew

Sounds as though I'd better fill up in the Clubhouse then and just eat whatever is onboard that takes my fancy. It's only eggs as eggs - I don't mind things that contain eggs as long as it isn't apparent.

I'm almost ashamed to say the reason I'm veggie isn't one of morals - I just don't like meat and fish [:I]

Thanks folks.

I've been upgraded to First after ordering a special meal, but they may have taken into consideration my exceptional circumstances.

I've always assumed it was a compasionate thing, and its why I've continued to book with Virgin when i can, as it was a thoughtful thing to do

quote:Originally posted by twicezero
I've been upgraded to First after ordering a special meal, but they may have taken into consideration my exceptional circumstances.

I've always assumed it was a compasionate thing, and its why I've continued to book with Virgin when i can, as it was a thoughtful thing to do


But Virign DONT have First [:?][:w]

DO you mean BA ?

Or do you mean Upper Class (i.e.Business Class) ? [;)]