Special Meals
 

An acquaintance who has flown vast numbers of long and short haul flights over the last 40yrs commented to me today that on a recent long-haul flight he reckoned that at least half the pax were served 'special' meals before the regular meals were trotted out, and that this is a relatively new phenomenon. I haven't flown long haul for a decade or more and then very few special meals were in evidence.

Is this due to dietary fads/preferences/'allergies' or, as he suspected, because special meals get served before regular ones thus allowing the diner to get the meal done early and get to sleep more quickly?

Any views on this?

Where they 'special' meals, or just pre-ordered choices?
Last several times I flew flights where meals were served, you could pre-order the meal that you wanted - usually the same choices you'd be given on-board, but no worries about them running out of your choice.

I've seen quite a few "travel hack" articles suggesting ordering a special meal (e.g. Vegetarian) as that way you get served first...

Something like many kosher meals might just indicate a group travelling. There used to be an internet theory that special meals in general might be slightly above economy class standard because airlines would combine special meals in economy and business class with just one product. I think this is not the case and special meals often feel pretty basic.

Its because so many people nowadays think they are extra special!

Well speaking as a pax who has travelled economy or premium economy only and who always orders the low salt meal (I don't use salt at home and I don't use it when abroad on GP advice) ....my meal has always been served first along with the other "special" meals. That has applied to flights with Iberia, BA, Emirates, KLM, Air France, TUI, Virgin Charter and Cathay Pacific since 2005. Previous flights with Britannia, Court Line, Orion, Thomsons, BEA, BOAC and Thomas Cook many, many, many moons ago did have "special" meals but nowhere near the choice or quality of nowadays and they too were generally handed out before the "normal" meals.

Because they are more available now, and easier to order i.e just click a box on-line