Gluten Free Meals in UC? And what perks?

Hello all, newbie here so please be gentle.

We are flying Upper class for the first time on our flight in October. My husband doesn't know, it's going to be a surprise on the day! Has anyone experienced special meals in UC? My husband has a gluten free diet and I've specified this on the manage booking section but I was wondering if I should call special assistance to make sure he still gets the UC meal experience (ie: not just plonked a pre prepared economy style meal in front of him!) as it's a special trip and I want to get it off to the perfect start

Also, are there any other perks with our UC tickets? I know there's the clubhouse but is there a fast track security (we're going from Gatwick)?

Thanks!

Welcome to V-Flyer,

To my understanding the special meals are uniform across the flight. They will not serve it on a tray like economy though.. it will be plated up for him. Maybe call special assistance the day before to make sure the meal has made it from the booking page onto their system though - VS IT is not always reliable I am afraid ii)

I would recommend taking a look at the VS website to find out exactly what is included in UC.

Yes there is fast track security at Gatwick, although they usually run a very efficient ship there making the normal queue faster than the business channel at times... at least from my own experience, no doubt others will have seen different - best to judge it on the day.

Enjoy the flight 8D

Knowing the Catering company the catering for each flight is Finalised a
Few days before I would ring 4 days before at least.

Also, are there any other perks with our UC tickets? I know there's the clubhouse but is there a fast track security (we're going from Gatwick)?

As JoeyC said, there is fast track security but it is airport fast track, rather than VS specific dedicated as at LHR.

Excellent surprise for the other half!

As JoeyC said, there is fast track security but it is airport fast track, rather than VS specific dedicated as at LHR.

Excellent surprise for the other half!

yeah! He deserves it. Goodness knows how much overtime I've been working but he doesn't notice as he just works overtime anyway and doesn't get paid!!

I might take off the meal request then and take my chances. I don't want him to miss out on ge experience. I'll have to give them a ring on Monday and decide

not too sure what gluten-free means (so no flour?) but I'd have thought that most of the menu would be flour free (other than the pasta).

I guess flour could be used in some of the sauces in which case is is possible to ask for a dish not to have sauce on (unless its totally integral of course)

If someone could post the current UC menu that might help Kavanne make up her mind on whether to go down the special or ordinary meal route.




[some v-flyers may well remember 'cup cake gate' which also involved someone having a wheat allergy ...]

You know how sensitive your husband is to gluten. I have friends who are celiac and feel unwell with the smallest amount of gluten contamination (sharing a knife for example) and others who are less sensitive.

A pre-packaged gluten free meal will I am sure be just that; other food prepared in the galley might have some contamination with gluten. It is very difficult I would have thought, especially in the confines of an aircraft galley, to have an area that is scrupulously gluten free.

I've had the gluten free meal in Upper Class and it came on all the upper class crockery etc. but was was basically the same meal that you would get in economy or pe emptied out onto a UC plate.

It came with a huge apology from the cabin crew as it did not look anything like normal UC fare, but I was so happy to have a plain safe edible meal for the first time in days (I was flying out of PVG and avoiding the foods I need to avoid was a challenge in Shanghai whilst on a business trip)

This was over a year ago, I haven't been fortunate enough to get into upper since so things may have changed.