An Indian-Australian passenger travelling with his family from Sydney to Ahmedabad in business class has received confirmation that their Indian vegetarian meal requests have been added to the booking after more than two weeks of unsuccessful attempts to arrange them.
Viraj Mehta, who is due to travel with his family of four in November, raised the issue publicly on X after he was unable to select meal preferences through the Singapore Airlines app or call centre.
Mehta said he had contacted the airline’s call centre and lodged two complaints, but was repeatedly advised to wait for an update.
“All I want is to choose Indian vegetarian meal,” he wrote, explaining that on a previous flight a vegetarian meal had not been available by the time cabin crew reached his seat.
His post attracted more than 200k views, bringing attention to the difficulties passengers can face when trying to confirm dietary requirements before an international journey.
Singapore Airlines initially apologised for the inconvenience and said the request had been escalated to the relevant team.
“We have checked our system and note that your meal request has been escalated by our colleagues to the relevant team for their assistance,” the airline responded, adding that its staff would provide an update as soon as possible.
Mehta later said the airline had indicated it could change flights but not meal preferences.
“They have communicated that they can change flights but not change meals. This is ridiculous to say the least.”
He also told another social media user that he generally considered Singapore Airlines to provide good service, but suspected a technical issue was preventing changes to his booking. He said attempts through the airline’s website had also failed and that he had escalated the matter by email.
Following the public exchange, Singapore Airlines posted a further response confirming that the meal requests had been added.
“We are pleased to share that the special meals have been added to your bookings. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and look forward to welcoming you and your family on board with us soon.”
The issue has since been resolved, although the exchange highlights the importance of clear communication and reliable systems for passengers seeking to confirm dietary requirements before travelling.
For travellers whose food choices are shaped by religious observance, cultural preferences or medical needs, having the requested meal confirmed before departure can be an important part of planning an international journey.
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