Is it feasible to sue a US Airline for not offering a gluten free meal on a 4 hr flight, but offer everybody?

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John W

Is it feasible to sue? Depends what you are hoping to get out of it.

I have Celiac Disease, so can empathise with you, however if you order a day or so before the flight, they WILL make you a special meal, with your name on it and all.

And I wonder once you were on the plane, with no meal, did you attempt to ask nicely about what they could do for you? I wonder, given your straight out SUE SUE SUE attitude.

I have been stuck a few times: I ask, they will always find me fresh fruit, check what's in business class, heck one lady on a Japan Airlines flight even had the business class galley (kitchen) make me up a special omelette. Again, it all depends on your attitude I'm afraid - they don't HAVE to accomodate you.

And I never travel without gluten free health bars in my bag for emergencies. No quarantine or bag inspection has ever stopped this. They ask, I say I have special dietary requirements, and everyone is happy.

mr danger

We should all hope that a judge would throw such a frivolous lawsuit out.If you wanted or needed a gluten -free meal then you could have asked the airline for it or just carried one with you .

The Pink Airplane

No, it is not feasible to sue the airline in question for not offering you a special meal. You must request such a meal beforehand (usually airlines will accept these requests up to a day before your flight). If the airline did not offer a gluten-free meal as a choice for a special meal, you could possibly sue. Check the airline's website for details.

Just a note: sometimes it is necessary to do a little research before you travel. I highly recommend travel agents for this reason.

Ranjeeh D

Did you order a special meal when you booked?

Ferret

I think you'd struggle to win, dietary requirements aren't protected under the law to my knowledge, and even if they were it'd be a long shot.

Charlie

How many different special meals would they have to have on hand to meet the special needs of all the people who have special dietary needs? That would be impossible. IF you informed them ahead of time and requested a gluten free meal, perhaps they could have provided one. Otherwise, you should be responsible to meet your own special needs.

Some Guy

does it even matter? planes are for transportation.

loki_only1

Umm... They can not accomidate the needs of EVERYONE. Gluten Allergies, although common, are still a relatively small amount of the population. They JUST got rid of peanuts - and that allergy afflcits so many more people. You have to give them time to adjust. Im sure in time, they will make gluten free meals (if it is cost effective) As for discrimination.... i dont think so. There are items on the plate that a person with a gluten allergy can eat. Just like a person who is allergic to grass, keeps their shoes on at the picnic. Most people with food allergies would bring their own food on a flight.

Hey... wait a minute. Do they even have meals on 4 hr. flights anymore?!? I dont think they do!

greenjellybean

Dietary requirements aren't protected under law. Just like they don't have to provide a special meal for diabetics and a special meal for vegetarians and a special meal for people with peanut allergies. Your dietary needs are your own responsibility, not the airlines. So you would've needed to bring your own snacks or meals on flight with you if you had special dietary requirements.
If they were to, say not allow you to bring your own meal or snacks to allow for your special dietary needs, then you'd have a claim. But they don't need to provide it for you.

Lobengula

Not enough for a legal case. Discrimination is per definition: sex, religion and race. Maybe: age and handicap. Diet requirement is not discrimination.

However, you can bring this to customer service. If you have pre ordered the meal and didn't get it, this is ground for compensation. Either upgrade vouchers or miles into your account.

Techwing

Nothing obligates the airline to accommodate individual dietary restrictions. In fact, nothing obligates the airline to provide or sell any food at all. It's not discrimination.

You can sue anyone for anything these days, but that doesn't mean you'll win.

silentnonrev

sure, anybody can sue anybody for anything! Lawyers will be glad to take your retainer up front.

If you have any $ left over, you can send it to me.

Neil

I'm glad you asked "feasible" rather than "possible." Because it is possible to sue just about anyone for just about anything. But feasible is a different story.

You want (or "need") a gluten-free meal. I want a vegetarian meal, with protein, low-salt, tasty. He wants high-protein, low-carbs. She wants low-fat and high-fibre... It IS possible to bring your own, you know.

Not all discrimination is illegal, immoral, politically incorrect, or unjustified.

grumpy geezer

It's certainly feasible for the lawyer willing to charge you the billable hours for it. He'll get paid whether you win or lose your case.

tiggsy

Did you advise the airline at the time of booking that you had special dietary needs? If not, it's doubtful they are liable in any case. There's limited space in an aircraft and they can't stock food suitable for every special diet just on the off chance.

If you did make this plain at the time of booking, and you were advised that you would be provided with suitable food, then you may possibly have a case. But I would take legal advice before pursuing this further.

Richard G

I seriously doubt if you can sue, You would have to prove malice.

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