When Travel Goes Wrong: Gluten-Free Lessons from a Canceled Flight

If you’ve ever followed a travel blogger or content creator in the gluten-free space and thought, “They must have it all figured out,” let me assure you: we absolutely do not.

Last week, I found myself unexpectedly grounded at London Gatwick for a full 24 hours. I was supposed to take a quick flight home to Florence, but a string of cancellations, rebookings, delays, and miscommunications turned a very normal travel day into one of those classic “this is a nightmare, right?” situations.

And while I eventually made it home (24 hours later!!), it wasn’t without some real moments of panic, frustration, and a healthy dose of problem-solving under pressure. I want to share the story not because it was dramatic or awful (though at certain points, it was both), but because it reminded me of something I try to tell my clients all the time:

Even the most experienced travelers run into unexpected chaos. The key is how you respond.

The Situation

I was in London for the Allergy & Free From Show and had the last Vueling flight of the day back to Florence. Nothing seemed off until I tried to scan my boarding pass at the e-gates for security... and it didn’t work.

That was my first clue.

I headed down to the check-in area, where I found a crowd of confused, frustrated passengers and a very frazzled airline desk. That’s when I learned my flight had been canceled. No email, no notification, nothing. Classic Vueling.

As if that weren’t enough, the first flight out the next morning was already overbooked. The best they could offer was a spot on the afternoon flight, which meant I wasn’t getting home for another full day. And I had no food on me, rookie mistake.

I checked into the hotel attached to the airport and wandered the M&S in the terminal cobbling together a kind of sad, kind of brilliant gluten-free girl dinner. Some rotisserie chicken, cheese, grapes, carrots and hummus, and a kombucha. Not gourmet, but it got the job done.

The next morning I thought, surely this is the part where it gets better. Wrong. The hotel’s breakfast buffet had exactly zero gluten-free options. And when I tried to explain my needs to the kitchen staff, it quickly became clear that no one spoke English well enough to have the kind of cross-contact conversation I needed, let alone with confidence.

Thank goodness I had a bag of gluten-free cereal in my suitcase left from the trade show. That, and more rounds of last-minute M&S snacks, got me through the rest of the day while my rescheduled flight kept getting delayed again and again.

By the time I landed in Florence, it had been a full 24 hours since I was originally supposed to be home.

The Mental Spiral (and How I Slowed It Down)

There were definitely a few moments that night when I felt the edge of a spiral coming on. My brain went straight to worst-case scenarios. Would I have to sleep on the floor? Would I find anything safe to eat? Would I even make it out tomorrow?

Here’s the thing. I know I can handle travel stress. I do this all the time. But when you’re sleep-deprived, hungry, and far from home, it’s so easy for fear and overwhelm to sneak in.

I took a breath. I reminded myself that while this wasn’t ideal, it also wasn’t unmanageable. I charged my phone, secured a room in the hotel attached to the airport, secured food, and started reworking my plan.

This is where confidence and real-time problem-solving kick in. They’re skills I’ve built over years of traveling with celiac disease, and they were absolutely the reason I was able to stay calm, advocate for myself, and get through it.

The Gluten-Free Reality

Let’s talk about food. Because of course, food is what really complicates situations like this.

If you eat gluten-free for medical reasons, you don’t just need something to eat, you need something that’s SAFE to eat. Gatwick is not the worst airport in terms of gluten-free options, but navigating cross-contact risks and unclear labeling at 11 p.m. in a crowded terminal is not fun. Especially when you're starving and tired.

It reinforced something I say often but still need to hear myself sometimes: always, always travel with food. Even if you’re just connecting. Even if it’s supposed to be a short day. Even if you’ve mapped out every safe restaurant between your gate and your destination.

Things happen. Flights cancel. Plans shift. Having something in your bag can make the difference between powering through or breaking down.

What I’m Taking Away from This

Looking back, I wouldn’t say I handled everything perfectly. But I handled it. And it made me reflect on what it really means to be a confident gluten-free traveler.

It doesn’t mean nothing ever goes wrong. It means you know how to care for yourself when things do go south.

It means having snacks in your bag, even when you don’t feel like carrying extra weight. It means asking questions, checking labels, and speaking up when something doesn’t feel safe. It means trusting yourself to stay calm, find a solution, and make the next best choice.

And sometimes, it means sleeping five hours in a tiny airport hotel and eating beef jerky for breakfast.

If You’re Traveling Soon…

Let this be your gentle reminder that the best thing you can pack is preparation. Bring food, stay flexible, and know that even when things go sideways, you’ve got what it takes to handle it.

And if you're planning a trip to Europe and want support figuring out where to eat, what to pack, and how to prepare for the unexpected, we're here to help.

At Celiacs in Europe, we offer personalized travel consultations to help gluten-free travelers feel safe, confident, and excited about their trip. Whether you’re heading to Italy, France, Greece, or beyond, we’ll help you build a game plan that fits your itinerary and your needs.

Book a consultation and let’s make sure your next adventure is full of incredible food and zero stress…no matter what the travel gods throw your way :)