Can anyone tell me if I can take gluten free bread in my case when flying to Barcelona next week

[Jubry]

[Adnil]

Hi Jubry, I have not visited mainland Spain since becoming Coeliac, however I have visited Tenerife in the Canaries many times, I have also just returned from Florida and have never had a problem carrying my gluten free bread etc. either in the hold or in my hand luggage. If you contact the airline they will usually give you an extra outbound allowance for your GF stuff as long as you can provide them with either a repeat prescription slip or a letter from your GP confirming that it is for medical reasons, however, at check in they do not seem to be too bothered about this 'evidence'! We flew with Virgin to Florida and I was told to put it in a separate bag to go in the hold but at check in I was told I could carry it as extra hand luggage, better really as less chance of 'losing' it that way. Hope you have a great trip.

[Jubry in reply to Adnil]

Many thanks for your answer, that has eased my mind.

[potatochip]

Within Europe you can take what you want but to the US you have to declare any food to the customs officers. I've never had a problem taking anything in but there can be big fines if you get caught bringing undeclared food in. Good to know you can get extra baggage allowance.

[DartmoorGuerrilla]

Check with your airline in advance, though, get an email from head office that you can show to check-in staff. The likes of BA, Virgin, Iberia, Lufthansa will be fine, it's the charter flights and budget airlines that may be less customer-friendly. The ones that try and charge people extra for wheelchairs. You know who I mean...!

[Eggardon]

And of course you are heading to one of those European countries that gets gluten free.

[henblas]

I take a case full of bread with me twice a year to Tenerife always travel with monarch I have emailed them twice for permission for extra luggage for medical reasons but they have not replied so I have to pay for extra case expensive and on the way back the case is empty!!!

[LizzieJ]

I always take supplies in both hand luggage & case as I have before now ended up with little to eat on the plane. I've never had any problem. When I go to Australia I do declare any food stuff I take in, as they are very strict, so I make sure I don't take any tea, fruit, nuts & seeds. They have a very comprehensive landing card you have to fill in & declare anything you take in, or leave it in the "quarantine bin" or the plane rubbish if you know it's not allowed. Australia is great for GF supplies in supermarkets though - so my case usually holds Marmite for my son & chocolate for his partner!

[Jubry in reply to LizzieJ]

Hi Lizziej I didn't realize you can take your own food in your hand luggage, have usually made sure I eat before checking in at the airport, so that good to know thank you

[Penel]

Have a wonderful time! Barcelona is a lovely place and we found many gluten free places to eat, away from the main tourist places. The supermarkets were good too, just look for 'sin gluten'.

[MrsPepperpot]

'Sin gluten' - Barcelona is a lovely place as Penel says.

Find specialist gluten free products very easily available in pharmacies and supermarkets as well as good choice of unprocessed foods. There is a wonderful little wholefood shop which has a great range of GF near Segrada Familia.

We did the reverse and brought some different foods home to UK.

[bgol01]

Hi there, i'm Berenice, busy mum and academic, just stumbled across this page accidentally, what a fantastic accident as this post is so appropriate.

My son has to follow a gluten, wheat, nut, and sesame free diet and hopefully he will br going to Vancouver, Canada in October on a school Rugby Tour. Does anyone know about taking GF products into Canada?

He gets bread, pasta and flour on prescription.

Any advice would be most welcome!!

[Hidden in reply to bgol01]

I went there a few years back. I found that I had a good choice of food to eat in the restaurants but i don't remember seeing many supermarkets in the city itself. I took longlife bread/rolls and crackers with me. You cannot take fresh foods into Canada or USA but will be fine with those. I always take with me then if I can get stuff easily it doesn't matter but it can be a big problem if you can't find any things. I also bought a cheap toaster when I got there for the bread which I left behind when I came home. It might also be worth doing him some little cards similar to the restaurant cards on celiactravel.com which he can have attached to any food order he makes.

[Jacks]

Yes, and you can carry it on as part of your hand luggage. I've never been given extra allowance by Easyjet when I've been to Barca. Last time I had some in a carrier bag as my packed lunch and, despite showing the consultant's letter (which I like to bore them with) I was told at the boarding gate to cram it into my carry on bag! Ironically other passengers had separate bags of fags and booze and they weren't targeted!!!!! I later complained to Easyjet about this but never got a reply.

There are supermarkets with loads of GF and lactose free products. As someone said previously, I generally stock up and bring stuff back!

I would say do have some in your hand luggage in case you don't get to your destination as soon as you planned - I was once diverted because of fog and it was a further 8 hours! Thank goodness I had a supply.

[Hidden]

I've been allowed additional allowance by easyjet...just box up what I want to take, label the box and there has never been a problem. I always contact the airline direct. I have found some tour operators give out the wrong info. I've been all over Europe, the states and Canada and my food has gone with me. It's always been put in the ' oversize' luggage (though it's not that big a box) and I reckon it's handled more carefully.

[KarenBuechele]

I have always taken my bread and biscuits with me .but the good news is they also have many gluten and wheat free products available over there in chemists and supermarkets ,so I always bring back a lot more then I take, Hope you have a great holiday