Besides those with allergies, vegans necessarily have a particular concern about obtaining food appropriate to their diet when traveling. Although I plan to talk more about this generally in future posts, I'd like to specifically address flying here.
I have flown with Lufthansa internationally in the past and they were very accommodating (they are even offering fruit meals now). On my most recent trip I flew with Delta and pre-ordered vegan meals for my flights. Delta allows travelers to order a special meal called vegetarian (non-dairy) which is vegan (a.k.a pure veg). You can also save this preference to your profile so it can be applied to future flights, but this is somewhat tricky to figure out.
On my departing flight, I had no trouble and was very satisfied with the meals. I had a dinner with a black bean burger, veggies, bread, fruit and more. For breakfast they made a tofu and veggie sandwich with fruit. Also, little secret, anyone with a special meal gets their food first ;)
On my returning flight things were more troublesome. For some reason the system did not register that my entire family had ordered vegan meals. When I checked us in the night before I noticed that only my mother was marked for a vegetarian meal, so I changed it to all three of us. Unfortunately, they were unable to accommodate this request. When we were seated a flight attendant told us that they would be able to give us lacto-ovo veg meals but I told her I don't eat animal products. She did not seem to understand what this meant so after explaining she brought me some leftovers crackers and salad.
This could be avoided with appropriate planning, however. First off, check ahead of time that your special meal is listed in your trip details on the website. Secondly, bring food. On the flight to Europe I brought fruit, veggies with hummus, and Larabars. On the way home I was thrown off because I had been planning to buy snacks but everything was closed on Sunday. Third, utilize the airport selection. Many places sell a few vegan snacks, if not meals, like Clif bars or fruit cups that you can grab.
Now, if you're a fruithead like me, you may be wondering about airport/airplane policies when traveling internationally. These are much stricter than domestic regulations and it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with TSA policies.
Fruit (like any produce) is treated more strictly than other foods. You can bring it in your carry on, but not your checked bags, usually. All fruit has to be either unpeeled or in sealable bags. Also, you can't take a lot because then they will suspect you are going to sell it.
If you are going through customs then they are much more strict. I was able to bring fruit to Europe but not when I came back to the States. I had a connecting flight both ways, so I'm not sure how much that matters.
Another thought might be to fast when traveling. We all know those tiny airplane toilets and busy airport bathrooms are not the most enjoyable things to use, so fasting might be a good option. It also saves you interruptions if you want to sleep on your flight. Furthermore, it can be more pleasing for your tummy since sitting in a cramped seat isn't conducive to good digestion. Your breath might thank you, too!
All in all, I recommend that my vegan friends travel fearlessly and have fun! With a little planning, you should have no trouble getting the food you need on your flight.
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