Special thanks for this article go to Sharon, an American expat mother in France and a former flight attendant for two carriers in five countries over thirteen years.


9. Special Meals

Consider ordering special meals. Do not assume your child will like and eat the standard fare. To respond to complaints about bland airline food, some companies have gone exotic so unless your child is used to sushi, pâté and quinoa, order some sort of special meal when you book. If you reserve online, call the airline afterwards to let them know. Tell the reservation agent the age of the children if you choose children's meals, but sometimes it works better if the whole family is eating the same thing. Some parents complain that the "children's meals" are too "greasy" and some airlines have cut them out due to budgetary constraints.

If your child has any food allergies, you may have meal options to accommodate your little one. Nut allergies are especially common and very serious if they occur in-flight. The airline at least has to know and they should be able to inform you of their policy, whether it be with a special meal or whether the airline has eliminated nuts from their menu.

We usually order Kosher, which is usually pretty tame and almost always an option. It has the added advantage of coming in handy individually wrapped containers of which various units can be saved for eating later on. Since We are not religious, I ask them to remove the bulky outer wrapping ahead of time. You do not have to be Jewish to order it but they often arrive from the kitchen frozen so ask the Flight Attendants to check that it's completely thawed before serving.

Be aware that once you order a special meal, you usually cannot change your mind and have a standard meal. If the flight is not full and/or they are over-catered, maybe they can accommodate this request but do not expect or demand it.

Airline policies can vary but it's usually best to order these meals at least a few days ahead of time. Do not wait until check-in.

For future updates to Sharon's information, or to contact Sharon directly, please visit her Blog: http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

Sharon's Disclaimer: This article is not a legal document and cannot be used as proof of any of the laws or rules that I refer to throughout. Check the FAA websites, or other relevant agencies to confirm any statements that are made. I try to provide links where I can. Be aware, also, that airlines often have their own policies which might be stricter than their own government's laws. Most of the employees that you encounter do not have the power to change or make exceptions to any rule. They simply must follow them, even in cases where logic or safety is questionable.