A New Zealand woman with coeliac disease and a severe dairy allergy faced a challenging 10.5-hour flight from Christchurch to Singapore when she was unable to eat most of the food offered on board, News Portal Stuff reported.
Lynn Clough, who selected a gluten-free meal when booking her January 31 flight with Air New Zealand, found that the flight operated by Singapore Airlines couldn't confirm the ingredients in their meals, leaving her with only a fruit platter and some chips.
"I just hoped that something would come out that was dairy free as well, and fruit is fruit," Clough said. "But the fruit platter came with buns and cakes and stuff, so there was very little fruit. And the other meal I didn't touch because I couldn't guarantee what was in it. Ten and a half hours is a blinking long time not to have anything but a bit of fruit and a packet of chips."
Despite asking cabin crew to check with ground staff about the ingredients, no further information was provided. Even on her return flight to Christchurch with Air New Zealand, Clough encountered the same issue.
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues when gluten is consumed, leading to damage in the gut and the inability to absorb nutrients properly. Symptoms can range from stomach issues to fatigue and joint pain. Clough also has a severe dairy allergy and hasn't consumed dairy for a decade, unsure of what reaction she might have if she were to consume it now.
When she shared her experience on a private Facebook group for coeliacs in New Zealand, several others reported similar incidents, highlighting the challenges faced by those with dietary restrictions when flying.
Clough emailed Air New Zealand to complain and received two apologies, with the airline expressing regret for the inconvenience caused and a commitment to address the issues to prevent recurrence. Air New Zealand's general manager for customer care, Alisha Armstrong, explained that the airline offers 14 special meals for passengers on long-haul flights, including a gluten-intolerant meal, though it may contain dairy and is not suitable for coeliacs.
Singapore Airlines, which operates some flights for Air New Zealand, offers 22 special meals catering to different dietary requirements. Both airlines recommend that passengers with specific dietary needs bring their own food on board if none of the special meals meet their requirements. While airlines are not required to label meals with ingredients, cabin crew should be aware of the contents to assist passengers with allergies or intolerances.
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