How Can You Request Special Meal Options (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Halal) Before Your Flight?
Finding meals that meet special dietary needs, religious requirements, or health conditions during air travel is highly practical when planned in advance. Airlines offer a variety of special meal options to accommodate these requests, provided that they are notified before the flight.
What Is a Special Meal on an Airplane?
A special meal is a meal option served outside the standard onboard catering service and prepared according to religious requirements, medical needs, or personal dietary preferences.
What Special Meal Options Are Available?
Common special meals offered in the aviation industry include vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, diabetic, low-sodium, halal, kosher, and child/baby meals.
What Is the Difference Between Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Halal Meals?
- Vegan meal (VGML): Completely plant-based meals that contain no animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, or honey.
- Gluten-free meal (GFML): Meals prepared without gluten-containing grains such as wheat, barley, and rye, intended for passengers with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
- Halal meal (MOML): Meals prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary rules and halal slaughter standards, without pork products or alcohol.
On Which Flights Are Special Meals Available?
They are generally available on medium- and long-haul international flights where meals are included in the service. Policies may differ on short-haul flights and low-cost airlines where food and beverages are sold separately.
How Can You Request a Special Meal Before Your Flight?
There are several ways to add your special meal preference to your reservation before your flight.
Requesting a Special Meal Through the Airline's Website
Visit the airline's official website and access your booking through sections such as "Manage My Booking" or "Retrieve Booking" using your ticket or reservation details. You can then select your meal preference if the option is available.
Selecting a Special Meal Through the Mobile App
In the airline's mobile application, access your flight details and look for the catering or meal preferences section to select and save your preferred meal.
Requesting a Special Meal Through Customer Service
You can call the airline's customer service center, provide your PNR or booking reference, and ask the representative to add the special meal request to your reservation.
Requesting a Special Meal When Purchasing Your Ticket
When purchasing your ticket online, you may be able to select your preferred meal under sections such as "Special Requests" or "Meal Preferences" during the passenger information stage.
When Should You Request a Special Meal?
Preparing and loading special meals onto the aircraft requires a specific logistical process.
How Many Hours or Days Before the Flight Should You Make the Request?
Special meal requests generally need to be submitted to the airline at least 24 to 48 hours before departure.
Can You Request a Special Meal at the Last Minute?
Requests made at the airport during check-in or onboard the aircraft at the last minute are generally not accepted. Since meals are loaded onto the aircraft before departure, airlines impose a deadline for special meal requests.
Do You Need to Make a Separate Request for Each Flight on Connecting Itineraries?
For connecting flights booked under a single ticket (PNR), the request will generally apply to all flight segments. However, it is important to check your booking summary to make sure the meal preference has been correctly added to each segment.
How Can You Request a Vegan Meal?
What Is the Difference Between a Vegan and Vegetarian Meal?
Vegetarian meals may contain animal-derived products such as milk, cheese, or eggs, whereas vegan meals contain no animal-derived food products.
Things to Consider When Requesting a Vegan Meal
When making your request, make sure that the meal code selected is VGML (Vegan Meal).
Checking Your Vegan Meal on the Flight
Before opening the package, check the label and meal code on the packaging to make sure the vegan meal assigned to your seat is the correct one.
How Can You Request a Gluten-Free Meal?
What Does a Gluten-Free Meal Include?
It may include rice, potatoes, vegetables, meat, chicken, and special bread or dessert alternatives prepared with gluten-free flour.
Be Careful With Products Containing Gluten
Passengers with celiac disease are advised to check the labels and warnings on packaged products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Informing the Airline About Your Dietary Needs
If you have a serious medical condition or allergies, it is advisable to inform the airline's customer service team in addition to submitting a special meal request.
How Can You Request a Halal Meal?
What Is a Halal Meal?
A halal meal is specially prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary requirements and does not contain alcohol or non-halal meat products.
What Should You Consider When Requesting a Halal Meal?
On some national carriers based in predominantly Muslim countries, standard meals may already comply with halal standards. However, on airlines based elsewhere, you should request a MOML (Muslim Meal).
Checking Whether the Halal Meal Is Confirmed for Your Flight
Before your flight, make sure that the halal meal code appears as confirmed in your booking or reservation summary.
What Should You Consider When Requesting a Special Meal?
Check the Airline's Special Meal Codes
Knowing the internationally used meal codes can make the process easier:
- VGML: Vegan Meal
- GFML: Gluten-Free Meal
- MOML: Muslim Meal / Halal Meal
- DBML: Diabetic Meal
Confirm That the Request Appears on Your Booking
After completing the request, check the updated ticket or e-ticket document sent to your email address to make sure the relevant meal code is listed.
Recheck Your Request Before the Flight
During online check-in, verify that your meal preference is still active and correctly assigned to your booking.
Find Out Whether the Special Meal Service Is Free
On traditional full-service airlines, special meals are generally provided free of charge. However, on low-cost airlines, meals may be subject to an additional fee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Special Meal Options
Are vegan meals available on airplanes?
Yes. Airlines may offer vegan meals as long as they are requested in advance, generally at least 24–48 hours before departure.
Can I request a gluten-free meal on a flight?
Yes. You can request a gluten-free meal through the booking management system or customer service using the GFML code.
How can I request a halal meal on a flight?
You can select the halal meal option through the booking management page or contact customer service and request a MOML meal.
Is there a fee for requesting a special meal?
On full-service airlines where meals are included in the ticket price, special meal requests are generally free of charge.
Can I request a special meal on the day of the flight?
Generally, no. Since meals are loaded onto the aircraft several hours before departure, special meal requests usually cannot be made on the day of the flight or onboard the aircraft.
