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Special Meals

While maintaining an industry leading product, Continental Airlines remains committed to offer food in-flight during mealtimes.

What special meals are available?

Type of MealDescription
Child Meal

This meal is provided for children from two to 12 years of age and includes items that are generally appealing to children. The meals planned for Continental follow the Recommended Dietary Allowances for children.

Diabetic Meal

Diabetic meals are available for customers who need strict control of the blood glucose levels. These meals severely limit or exclude sugars, syrups, jams, cakes and chocolate, unless specifically produced for diabetics.

Gluten Intolerant Meal

Gluten Intolerant Meals do not contain wheat, barley, rye or oats.

Hindu Meal

Continental Hindu meals follow vegetarian guidelines by excluding meat and meat derivatives.

Special Note: Hindu vegetarian meals are offered as a standard choice on flights to and from Delhi and Mumbai, India; therefore, it is not necessary to place a special Hindu meal request for those flights.

Jain Meal

Jain Meals are prepared Indian style and according to Jain customs that prohibit the consumption of animal products and root vegetables.

Jain Meals are available only on flights to and from Mumbai, India.

Kosher Meal

Kosher meals are prepared by Kosher caterers under strict Rabbinical supervision and may also incorporate fresh fruit or sealed items such as individually packaged bagels that meet Kosher laws. Special Kosher for Passover meals are supplied during Passover.

All Kosher meals provided for flights departing the U.S., and flights departing Tel Aviv are "Glatt" Kosher.

Low Calorie Meal

The low calorie meal is based on a daily caloric intake of 2,000 calories and follows the Recommended Daily Allowances that state that less than 20% of the total calories should come from protein, less than 30% from fat and 50-60% from carbohydrates.

Low Fat / Low Cholesterol Meal

Low Cholesterol/ Low Fat Meals are planned to support the reduction of fat intake, especially saturated fat and cholesterol from animal sources. Foods with high saturated fat content are severely limited and polyunsaturated fat is allowed in moderation.

Low Sodium Meal

Low Sodium Meals follow the American Heart Association's recommendation to restrict sodium to two grams daily for individuals with mild to moderate hypertension.

Muslim Meal

These meals exclude all products derived from pigs, such as pork, ham and bacon and alcohol is not used for preparation. All meat products are prepared in accordance with the Halal method.

Vegan (Strict) Vegetarian Meal

Vegan (Strict) Vegetarian Meals are available for those customers who exclude all foods derived from animals from their diets including meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, honey, eggs and dairy products.

How far in advance must I order my special meal?

At least 24 hours before departure.

What will I receive?

You will receive a meal comparable to the service scheduled for your confirmed flight based on the departure time of the flight, the length of the flight and the level of service offered.

May I request a special meal when traveling on a partner or codeshare airline?

Continental is not able to make special meal requests on your behalf when you are traveling on a partner or codeshare airline flight. You may contact the airline directly to determine the availability of special meals and to make your request.

Information for Customers with Peanut Allergies

Continental is committed to the safety of its customers, including customers with peanut allergies. We do not serve packaged peanut snacks on our flights; however, some in-cabin food offerings may still contain nuts or trace amounts of nut ingredients, including peanuts. Additionally, other customers may bring peanuts on board. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee the aircraft and food offerings of Continental will be 100% peanut-free. If you have health concerns, we strongly encourage you to take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure during flight.

Markets with Special Meals

(except when serviced by ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. dba Continental Express)

Where does Continental offer special meals?

Special Meals are available when meals are served in all trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific markets, Latin America business (except on Continental Express flights) and South America markets, as well as on all Continental Micronesia, transcontinental and Hawaii flights:

Cleveland, OH (CLE) to/from:

  • London, England (LHR - Heathrow)

Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) to/from:

  • Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS)
  • Bogotá, Colombia (BOG)
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE)
  • Caracas, Venezuela (CCS)
  • Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA)
  • Honolulu, HI (HNL)
  • Leon/ Guanajuato, Mexico (BJX)
  • Lima, Peru (LIM)
  • London, England (LHR - Heathrow)
  • Managua, Nicaragua (MGA)
  • Mexico City, Mexico (MEX)
  • Panama City, Panama (PTY)
  • Paris, France (CDG)
  • Quito, Ecuador (UIO)
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (GIG)
  • San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)
  • San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
  • San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)
  • Sao Paolo, Brazil (GRU)
  • Tegucigalpa, Honduras (TGU)
  • Tokyo, Japan (NRT)

New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) to/from:

  • Athens, Greece (ATH)
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS)
  • Barcelona, Spain (BCN)
  • Belize City, Belize (BZE)
  • Beijing, People's Republic of China (PEK)
  • Belfast, United Kingdom (BFS)
  • Berlin, Germany (TXL)
  • Birmingham, England (BHX)
  • Bogotá, Colombia (BOG)
  • Bristol, England (BRS)
  • Brussels, Belgium (BRU)
  • Caracas, Venezuela, (CCS)
  • Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH)
  • Delhi, India (DEL)
  • Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
  • Edinburgh, Scotland (EDI)
  • Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)
  • Geneva, Switzerland (GVA)
  • Glasgow, Scotland (GLA)
  • Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA)
  • Hamburg, Germany (HAM)
  • Hong Kong (HKG)
  • Honolulu, HI (HNL)
  • Lima, Peru (LIM)
  • Lisbon, Portugal (LIS)
  • London, England (LHR - Heathrow)
  • Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
  • Madrid, Spain (MAD)
  • Manchester, England (MAN)
  • Mexico City, Mexico (MEX)
  • Milan, Italy (MXP - Malpensa)
  • Mumbai, India (BOM)
  • Orange County, CA (SNA)
  • Oslo, Norway (OSL)
  • Panama City, Panama (PTY)
  • Portland, OR (PDX)
  • Paris, France (CDG)
  • Rome, Italy (FCO)
  • San Diego, CA (SAN)
  • San Francisco, CA (SFO)
  • San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)
  • San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)
  • San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)
  • Sao Paolo, Brazil (GRU)
  • Seattle, WA (SEA)
  • Shanghai, People's Republic of China (PVG)
  • Shannon, Ireland (SNN)
  • Stockholm, Sweden (ARN - Arlanda)
  • Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
  • Tokyo, Japan (NRT)
  • Vancouver, BC (YVR)
  • Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH)

Other Markets:

  • All flights operated by Continental Micronesia. These flights depart from or arrive in Guam (GUM)
  • Los Angeles, CA (LAX) to/from Honolulu, HI (HNL)
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