So last week I was stressing about my Frankfurt trip cuz I’ve gotta eat gluten-free. Like, seriously, one crumb of regular bread and my stomach throws a tantrum for days. Totally forgot to request a special meal when booking through a third-party site, so I had to scramble online. Here’s exactly what went down.
The panic phase (booking already done)
First, I dug out my Lufthansa booking code from the email confirmation – that six-digit thing starting with “LH”. Couldn’t find it at first and almost rage-quit. Pro-tip: search your inbox for “Lufthansa itinerary” if you booked elsewhere.
Logging into their system
Went straight to Lufthansa’s manage booking page. Typed in my last name and booking code, hit enter. BAM – error message. Turns out I’d mixed up the order of names (used first name first when my ticket had last name first). Fixed that nonsense and finally saw my flight details.
Navigating the meal request maze
Scrolled down to “Special Requests” and clicked “Add service”. Saw like 20 meal options – halal, vegan, diabetic, all that jazz. Had to squint to find “Gluten-Free Meal” under “Medical Diets”. Selected it, but then the button said “Confirm for all passengers”. Nearly missed that! Unchecked it since my travel buddy eats like a normal human.
Key warnings from my screw-ups:
- Deadline is strict AF: Forgot you need to order at least 24h before departure. Almost missed it on my return flight.
- No confirmation email: Waited 4 hours thinking it failed. Actually just buried in promotions folder.
- App vs. website: Tried the app first – glitchy as hell. Website worked better.
Airport verification anxiety
Got paranoid nobody got the memo. Asked at check-in: “Hey, did my GFML request go through?” Agent checked her system and gave a thumbs-up. Still brought protein bars though. Trust issues, ya know?
Onboard reality check
Flight attendant double-checked my seat number when handing out meals. Got a sealed tray labeled GFML – cold chicken with rice, weirdly textured roll (typical), and fruit. Tasted like cardboard but didn’t poison me. Mission accomplished.
Honestly? Easier than I expected once I stopped overcomplicating it. Just gotta nail that 24-hour window and triple-check name formats. And pack snacks. Always pack snacks.