Gadling

Thank goodness I haven't seen a special meal in years. But that's because I fly domestic routes. Will never forget the time, years ago, I counted, sorted, and then had to find all 85 peope who had ordered Kosher meals on the airplane!

Personally, when I had to deal with special meals, I didn't care who ordered what. But it seemed like more times than not it was like the FA in your post said...people would order a Kosher and then say they didn't want it. Actually they'd throw a fit and say their travel agent must have ordered it and follow that with, "And I'm not eating it!" My guess is the FA your sister met needed a Kosher (for a passenger who wanted one and perhaps forgot to order one) and hoped (prayed) your sister wouldn't want hers. To keep the peace.

Just my two cents.

Heather Poole
(who is now off to the airport)

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I almost exclusively order Vegetarian in-flight meals despite the fact that I eat meat, albeit irregularly. The meal is almost always more tasty and you often get served before everyone else :-)

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Two more things...

The FA probably should have asked, "Did you order a Kosher meal," instead of, "Are you Jewish."

And keep in mind IF there is food, the catering numbers are right on (number of meals for passengers)...therefore if you order a Kosher, and do not want the Kosher, unless someone else chooses not to eat, there is nothing else to give you.

Heather Poole

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At my airline, it is more common to see the Ppilots and Flight Attendants have ordered a special meal usually kosher, light, or hindu--than our passengers (we get crew meals when we work X number of hours without a break)

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how about this ...

FA: Would you like chicken or pork sir?
P: Pork please
FA: Aren't you Jewish?

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Since airlines no longer seem to have meals on domestic flights, I always pack a light meal in a carry on, that way, I have what I like and since I usually will prepare it at home, i don't have to pay ridiculous airport prices. However, I do miss the days of being served a meal on a flight, not only did you feel you were getting your money's worth for the flight, but it was nice to be served with a smile---sure beat the crackers and soda's of todays flights.
Hats off to all airline attendants of today that can tolerate a plane full of people making demands tho'!!!

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Charge for Special Meals...Then no one will order them. It happened that way when we started selling booze internationally, everyone wanted it if it was free now no one wants it...

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Charge for special meals and then they wont order them... same happened with the booze on international flights. Once we charged for wine and such it was no longer wanted.

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I forgot to mention....
Its an AIRPLANE... No one is special anymore.

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Not to mention what a HUGE pain in the butt 37 special meals can be to dole out on a full 747. With mininum staffing, and the need to keep a balance on both sides of the aircraft. 36 meals in a cart. There is a method to our madness and the special meals throw everything out of balance. The meals need to be hand delivered out of order all over the airplane. The regular service can't begin until this is complete. The passenger ends up eating in front of his starving seat mate and then holding on to his tray forever. Its not the extra work I'm complaining about, its the chaos it creates. There is no quick easy way to satisy everyone. All of the other perks have gone away, it surprises me this one remains! Think of the manpower involved from the reservationist to the kitchen, to the catering truck and then to the seat! "What you didn't order this"? Oh, and the poor guy may die of thirst before he gets that glass of wine for his meal.

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