Let's Talk About Domestic Flights

They're not easy for the gluten-free — or anyone else

Friends, I am back from my travels! It was a trip with two distinct destinations and two very different vibes. Part One took place in the San Francisco Bay Area — mostly Berkeley and Oakland — where my husband and I got to visit with our eldest niece, who is in school there. Part Two was just for my husband and me, and we had a blast in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, we brought home a souvenir neither of us wanted: Covid. Even though we’re vaccinated, it’s been a pretty rough ride. Next week, I’ll start sharing about where I ate, because I found some truly incredible restaurants in both destinations. But for now, I wanted to talk a bit about flying domestically in the United States, because it’s got its own special set of challenges.

Normally, my first piece of advice to anyone with celiac disease who books a long flight is to request a gluten-free meal as soon as possible. Airlines like to get advance warning about this, and the cut-off window is between anywhere from 72 hours to 24 hours before the flight departs (well, for international flights, anyway). I tried to follow my own advice after booking my flight on United Airlines between New York City and San Francisco, but the system wouldn’t let me.

My first reaction was shock. Was United refusing to offer gluten-free meals? Not exactly: the airline wasn’t offering any free meals in coach, even on a cross-country flight. But there were meals available for purchase… and not a single one was gluten-free. In fact, the only gluten-free “food” available for purchase was a 2.5-ounce bag of gummy bears (for $5 😳).

This isn’t to single out United; other airlines are doing the exact same thing. You’re on your own to forage for food on domestic flights in the US these days. Which means you have a choice: you can bring something from home, and/or buy food at the airport. Of course, the selection will vary depending on the airport, and even the particular terminal. Here are some guidelines to make sure you don’t go hungry on you next flight within the US: