I have flown with Turkish Airlines since I was a little kid and once I started ordering the Kids Menu, I never looked back. It was familiar and it was predictable. No matter what the main course was, there would always be a chocolate mousse with a chocolate drizzle on top, shaped like a face with a tongue sticking out.
On my long-haul flight off to college, I sought comfort in the same meal. When the flight attendant realized the meal was for me, she gave me a chuckle. Maybe I was a decade past the target demographic.
However, I wanted to branch out from Standard Meals. On long-haul flights, Turkish Airlines has two entrée options for standard meals, one of which tends to run out by the time the cart reaches the middle of the economy cabin. I've seen this catch some vegetarian people off-guard. With two meals spaced 8 hours apart, I figured it would be nice to be fully satiated.
Over the next few years, I began using the Special Meal Request option through the ticketing portal. With just a few clicks from a drop-down menu, you can submit your request, as long as it’s done a few days before your flight. There is no extra charge for it. Among the many options, the gluten-free meal was the only one I hadn’t tried, and I was curious.
Admittedly, I had some reservations. The vague descriptions on the website left me wondering if I’d end up with simple starches, leading to a sugar spike and crash. I also feared bias; some establishments treat gluten-free needs as a fad diet or don’t take it seriously. While I’ll share my experience, it’s worth noting that since I don’t have celiac disease, I can’t vouch for the absence of cross-contamination.
The IST-SFO flight spans roughly 13 hours, with the first meal served two hours into the journey. Flight attendants are prepped with a list of seats requesting special meals and deliver them without being asked. Every meal is covered in foil. Then, generic bread rolls are handed out with tongs. The flight attendant kindly fetched my gluten-free bread roll, which came in sealed packaging. To my surprise, it was super warm and far tastier than the regular version. Once I uncovered the foil, I was pleasantly surprised:
The main was the traditional Turkish dish, "Karniyarik", which is an aubergine roasted and filled with minced meat. It was close to the original once I emptied out the salt packet. I received the same fruit salad and dessert as those with regular meal recipients, which made me feel very happy, because I love figs. The dessert was a nougat topped with crisp figs. The salad was different and honestly it might have been for the better. I love a good cucumber salad with feta cheese!
The second meal came about 10 or 11 hours into the flight. Passengers could grab sponge cake or cheese sandwiches from the corridor, but I was not informed of any gluten-free snack options. While I managed, packing a snack might be wise for those with specific dietary needs.
I knew the regular second meal was a lasagna (everybody is handed out the standard menu - special menu contents remain a mystery until meal times), so I was second-doubting my decisions. However, I think my meal came out looking even more appetizing!
The meal featured tender, juicy chicken alongside steamed vegetables, which made a well-balanced meal. My dessert was a strawberry yogurt, albeit very tart.
Overall, I was very happy with my experience. The flight attendant was super caring and respectful and the meals were commonly consumed dishes that helped avoid feeling alienated. Turkish Airlines’ gluten-free option exceeded my expectations.