Virgin Atlantic Don't Understand Vegetarians
By @edent
· food rant travel vegetarian · 5 comments · 300 words · read ~876 times.
The life of a vegetarian isn't always an easy one. I'm aware that I'm lucky enough to live in a society which is broadly accepting of my dietary preferences - which is what makes it all the more annoying when a company which should know better cocks up. Twice.
This has been sent to Virgin Atlantic's complaints team.
Dear Sir, I realise that it's a standing joke to complain about the quality of airline food - but I wish to convey my distress at the vegetarian meals provided on the last two flights I took with you. On flight VS069 (27/12/2010) I had specifically requested a vegetarian meal. Hidden in the salad were prawns - something I did not realise until after I had taken a mouthful. I asked the cabin crew if they had any vegetarian alternatives and was told that they did not. On flight VS070 (03/01/2011) I had, again, specified my meal preferences in advance. Having now learned to be wary of Virgin's vegetarian meals, I was disappointed to note that the Caesar salad dressing contained anchovies. I'm not looking for compensation or thousands of Flying Club air miles. I just want you to show a little more respect to your vegetarian and vegan passengers. I don't expect gourmet food on an economy flight; I do expect my requested vegetarian meal to not contain meat, fish, poultry, or their derivatives. I spend a lot of time travelling for business and leisure. As much as I enjoy the Virgin Atlantic experience, this episode has rather put me off travelling with you again. Yours faithfully, Terence Eden
So now I get the joke on BBC1's Come Fly With Me trailer about chicken being the vegetarian option.
PAUL says:
how nice to have a choice of what you can eat and what you cant eat when most people in this world dont oh what a trauma to find a prawn in your salad !, was it about to attack you ? go and spend a week with people who would give anything to eat any food some people just need to get real and stop forcing themselves not to eat this , not to like that ,be greatful that you have food , how can you seek any compensation ? you got your seat , you travelled safely from A to B ,what more do you want?
Sam says:
What a ridiculous comment from 'Paul'. Yes, it is very sad that people are starving in the world but this has little to do with booking and paying for a vegetarian meal. I feel for you, when you are in a long haul flight & have booked and paid for a specific meal yet they present you with a non veg meal. It's frustrating and should not happen when you are paying so much for a flight. Choosing to be a vegetarian is not being fussy, it's choosing not to eat animals! It's easier to eat meat & fish! Vegetarians should be respected for being disciplined and making a stand for animals who cannot protect themselves. Having a prawn in your salad may not be the en of the world but would you pick around a fish head in your salad? Slightly off putting? That is what it is like for a vegetarian!
kjk says:
So,how long have you been a vegetarian? I ask because I ,too am vegetarian (I am also a dietician/ nutrition coach) Primarily, a vegetarian diet includes fish/seafood. So, actually, you are a lacto-ovo vegetarian.
Terence Eden says:
S'funny - fish don't appear to be a vegetable. I suspect you mean "pescatarian" or, as I prefer to call them "Fish and Chypocrites".