Flying GLUTEN FREE Club World with British Airways (Summer 2018)…

It used to be the case that I would always pre-order a GLUTEN FREE Meal (in “My Booking” with an Airline) as then you’re guaranteed a special meal and often, served before all the other passengers) but from my experiences, I also know that the Airlines always provide you with a dull, plain and rather tasteless meal. Indeed, the highlight is usually the dessert of “Fresh Fruit” which is just awfully dull. So for this BA Club World flight, I took a risk (and with knowledge from friends and onboard), I decided to fly solo without the pre-ordered meal.

On my blog the’s quite a few U Airlineeals including: BA Club Europe (both a pre-ordered GLUTEN FREE Meal and a non-ordered one Spring 2017), Delta (Delta One Suite and Delta First Class Domestic Spring 2017), BA (BA CW Autumn 2016, BA CW 2015, Emirates (Business 2015), BA (Traveller Plus 2014),Thai Airlines (Business 2014), Dragon Air (Business 2014), Cathay Pacific (Business 2014), BA (Club World Business 2014), BA (Club World Business 2013), BA (First 2015) and BA CW Summer 2016).

So back to the British Airways long haul flight to Vancouver on the A380: the future of airtravel! It’s a big plane: some 456 passengers in four different travel classes with Business (Club World) both on the Upper Deck as well as the Main Deck. My preference is for the upstairs cabin as it feels larger (with extra space with side lockers on either side) although this is a personal preference but before boarding, one has to check out the lounge:

BA Terminal 3 Lounge

Out of Terminal 3 at London’s Heathrow Airport, there is a dedicated BA Lounge which caters for those Executive Club passengers with GOLD and SILVER statuses as well as for those passengers travelling Business Class. This is a recently added Lounge as BA used to operate solely out of Terminal 5 before this became too small for their huge flying schedule. It is an impressive lounge with long windows overlooking the gates and a view of the southern runway. Plenty of seating and various areas with food, hot drinks and bar drinks.

Fridge of Food

Soup Station

So what did I eat…

My plate of hot food in the BA lounge

Now at T5, in the lounge we know there hot on labels (with allergen information) so it was great to see that in this new lounge, they’ve used this as well as I know from my experience overseas, this is rarely the case. And it is good that there is a good selection of hot dishes which are GLUTEN FREE and also DAIRY FREE.

Gluten Free Carrot Cake

And even better that there is a Carrot Cake which is GLUTEN FREE, although I am sure some Coeliacs would object to the fact that it is located in the same fridge unit as scones (WITH WHEAT) and sandwiches (WITH WHEAT). But at some point, it was time to leave the lounge as we had a plane to catch.

On the ground at LHR

Onboard BA A380: Club World: Upper Deck. After the take off, we’re served a drink with hot

Drinks Darling

BA Menu for Club World (Starters)

So after the hand-run bar service, the Flying Staff take your food order:

Outbound Lunch

So for my starter I choose the Pea & Mint Veloute. I think there’s something quite decadent in having a hot soup on a plane. I know that Upper Class on Virgin have done this forever, and it was always offered in BA First Class, but it is relatively new to have this in BA’s Club World. This soup is really light, with a good light mint flavour contrasting with the beautiful fresh pea taste. It is always a delight! (And because I didn’t do the pre-order, I wasn’t offered any GLUTEN FREE bread as it isn’t carried as standard which is a shame but I would have missed out of this great starter if I had pre-ordered my meal and probably had a salad!)

Starter

BA Menu Main Courses & Desserts

For my Main Course, I went for the Thai Green Curry which is a generous portion swimming in a warming chili based sauce. It has lots of king prawns and a refreshing rice accompaniment. Whilst there are a handful of Edamame beans in the sauce, there’s no real vegetable side with this but it is a good wholesome dish and very filling.

Main Course

And after that quite spicy main course, they come offered a good selection of puddings and desserts: They have now introduced a hot pudding alongside various cakes as well as the standard cheese and biscuits (which I sometimes have as I carry my own GLUTEN FREE crackers with me) but quite fancied the Panna Cotta.

Dessert

This is very light and moist, but a little small! But they are generous and do offer a second dessert when they passby which is probably due to availability and whether they have any more. It is a good airline meal, and one which I rather enjoyed.

After a few films, some sleep, it’s eating time again, and on this flight they offer a light Afternoon Tea:

Afternoon Tea: Tapas Selection

Rather than the little danty sandwiches, I opted for the Tapas Plate. This is slices of lovely thick salami alongside some accompaniments. It is quite a nibble and not necessarily a full meal service but then they do offer warmed Scones (with clotted cream and jam) although this is NOT GLUTEN FREE! And on the Tray is also a Bakewell Tart (which is also NOT GLUTEN FREE). But alongside the Club Kitchen (which has yogurts, salads, sandwiches (not GLUTEN FREE), snacks including Popcorn and crisps, and of course Cadbury Chocolates) this is a good quick light snack before landing.

So yet another good flying experience with a comprehensive selection of GLUTEN FREE foods to enjoy whilst flying at 37,000 ft.

Other destinations reviewed on my blog includes the USA (Texas, NYC, Boston and Philadelphia), Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, UAE and London!

Other Gluten Free Airline Meals covered on this blog include (Delta First Class Domestic & Business Class International Winter 2017, BA CW Autumn 2016, BA CW 2015, Emirates (Business 2015), BA (Traveller Plus 2014),Thai Airlines (Business 2014), Dragon Air (Business 2014), Cathay Pacific (Business 2014), BA (Club World Business 2014), BA (Club World Business 2013), BA (First 2015) and BA CW Summer 2016.

(And more by clicking on the picture to open up the reviews):

If you “Like” my Facebook page you will automatically receive new posts into your Facebook Newsfeed.

If you are a member of Coeliac UK, they produce a comprehensive directory which covers over 16,000 food and drink items (including GLUTEN FREE Chocolate Bars). This is available in a paper-based Manual and online FREE to members of Coeliac UK.

One of the hard-hitting posters (featuring Yours Truly) from Coeliac UK launched for Awareness Week, held in 2015 and to seen in The Netherlands last year in 2016.

And remember I love my revised Chocolate Bars, Chocolate Bags, my Chocolate Easter Eggs (based upon Chocolatier Producers such as Cadbury & Nestle, High Street Own-Label including M&S, Lidl & Tescos and Decadent Department stores including Fortnum & Mason & Harrods).

This information was correct as of August 2018. But as I am learning, ingredients do change and therefore you should always read the label and check for yourself whether it is GLUTEN FREE or not!