Airline Meals Explained: Codes, Special Meals & What to Order

Updated: June 19, 2025

Airline Meals Explained: Codes, Special Meals & What to Order

HNML, AVML, VJML, VGML, DBML, GFML—airline meal codes can be surprisingly confusing. The biggest trap for Indian travelers is HNML: despite the word “Hindu,” it is normally a Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal and may contain chicken, lamb or fish. If you want an Indian-style vegetarian meal, AVML is usually the more appropriate code.


Airlines also offer meals for Jain passengers, vegans, children, babies, people requesting gluten-free food, low-salt meals, diabetic meals and other dietary preferences. But meal availability, ingredients and ordering deadlines vary by airline and route.


This guide explains the most common airline meal codes, what may actually arrive on your tray, which meal vegetarians should choose, how Air India meals differ from IndiGo, Air India Express and Akasa Air, and how to avoid ordering the wrong special meal.

Airline meals and special meal codes explained

Choosing quickly? If you are vegetarian and prefer Indian-style food, look for AVML. If you follow Jain dietary restrictions, look for VJML. If you are vegan, choose VGML. Do not choose HNML expecting vegetarian food—HNML means Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal.

Table of Contents

Airline Meal Codes at a Glance

Code Meal What It Generally Means
HNML Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal May contain chicken, lamb or fish; generally excludes beef and pork.
AVML Asian Vegetarian Meal Indian/Asian-style vegetarian meal with no meat, seafood or egg; dairy may be included.
VJML Vegetarian Jain Meal Vegetarian meal prepared without root vegetables and other ingredients restricted in Jain diets.
VGML Vegan Meal No meat, seafood, dairy, eggs or other animal-derived ingredients.
VLML Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Meal Vegetarian meal that may contain dairy and eggs.
GFML Gluten-Free / Gluten-Intolerant Meal Prepared without common gluten-containing ingredients according to the airline's meal specification.
DBML Diabetic Meal Designed around reduced added sugar and balanced food choices.
LSML Low-Salt Meal Prepared with little or no added salt.
LFML Low-Fat Meal Prepared with reduced fat and saturated fat.
BLML Bland Meal Mild, easily digestible foods with limited spicy or irritating ingredients.
FLML Fruit Platter Meal Fresh fruit.
MOML Muslim Meal Prepared according to the airline's Muslim-meal specification and excludes pork and alcohol ingredients.
KSML Kosher Meal Prepared according to Jewish dietary requirements; often supplied as a sealed prepared meal.
CHML Child Meal Meal intended for children rather than infants.
BBML Baby Meal Infant food or commercially prepared baby-food products.

Important: Meal codes are useful shorthand, but the exact ingredients are not identical on every airline. Always read the operating airline's description rather than assuming the same code means an identical menu worldwide.

What Are Airline Meals?

An airline meal is food provided or sold onboard a commercial flight. Depending on the airline, route, flight duration, cabin and fare, this can range from a small snack and drink to a multi-course meal.

Typical Economy meal trays can contain:

  • A hot main dish
  • Rice, pasta, potatoes or bread
  • Vegetables
  • Salad
  • Dessert
  • Water or another beverage
  • Tea or coffee on selected services

Premium Economy, Business and First Class may offer more courses, larger menus and greater choice.

Low-cost airlines work differently. Instead of automatically including a full meal, they may sell snacks and beverages or allow passengers to pre-book a meal before departure.

Standard Airline Meal vs Special Meal

A standard meal is whatever vegetarian or non-vegetarian meal the airline normally loads for that flight.

A special meal is requested in advance for a dietary, cultural, religious, medical or age-related preference.

Examples include:

  • Asian Vegetarian Meal
  • Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal
  • Jain Meal
  • Vegan Meal
  • Gluten-Free Meal
  • Diabetic Meal
  • Low-Salt Meal
  • Kosher Meal
  • Muslim Meal
  • Child Meal
  • Baby Meal

Why pre-order? If your diet matters, relying on whatever happens to remain on the meal cart is risky. A pre-requested special meal gives the catering team advance notice of what should be loaded for you.

Why Do Airlines Use Meal Codes?

Airlines, reservation systems and catering companies need short standardized identifiers that can travel with your booking.

Instead of writing:

“Passenger wants an Indian-style vegetarian meal with no meat or fish.”

the reservation can simply contain:

AVML

The same principle applies to codes such as BBML, CHML, GFML and VJML.

These codes can appear in:

  • Your booking confirmation
  • Manage Booking
  • Travel-agent systems
  • Catering manifests
  • Cabin crew meal lists

What Is HNML?

HNML means Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal.

This is the meal code causing the most confusion among Indian travelers.

On Air India's current special-meal menu, HNML is explicitly described as a non-vegetarian meal that may contain:

  • Lamb
  • Poultry such as chicken
  • Fish
  • Dairy products

Air India's HNML excludes:

  • Beef
  • Veal
  • Pork
  • Smoked fish
  • Raw fish

HNML does NOT mean Hindu Vegetarian Meal. If you are vegetarian and select HNML because you see the word “Hindu,” you may receive chicken, fish or lamb.

Read our full guide: HNML Meal on Flights: Is a Hindu Meal Vegetarian?

What Is AVML?

AVML means Asian Vegetarian Meal.

This is usually one of the most useful special-meal codes for Indian vegetarian passengers.

Air India's current AVML is:

  • Vegetarian
  • Prepared in an Indian style
  • Free of meat
  • Free of seafood
  • Free of egg
  • May contain dairy products

The actual tray can vary considerably by flight and catering station, but examples may include combinations of:

  • Rice
  • Dal
  • Paneer
  • Vegetable curry
  • Indian bread
  • Salad
  • Dessert

Indian vegetarian traveler? AVML is generally the code to investigate first. Do not select HNML unless you are willing to eat non-vegetarian food.

Read Vegetarian In-Flight Meals: Codes, Options and Ordering Tips.

HNML vs AVML: What Is the Difference?

Feature HNML AVML
Full name Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal Asian Vegetarian Meal
Vegetarian? No Yes
Chicken May be included No
Fish May be included No
Lamb May be included No
Beef Generally excluded under HNML specification No meat
Pork Generally excluded No meat
Egg Depends on airline specification Air India's current AVML excludes egg
Dairy May be included May be included

Simple rule: HNML = Hindu non-vegetarian. AVML = Asian vegetarian.

Also read Hindu Meal HNML Confusion: Chicken or Fish Explained.

What Is VJML?

VJML means Vegetarian Jain Meal.

It is intended for passengers following Jain dietary requirements.

Air India's current VJML excludes:

  • Meat
  • Seafood
  • Egg
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Mushrooms
  • Root vegetables

This is very different from AVML.

A passenger may be vegetarian but still eat:

  • Potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Onion
  • Garlic

Those ingredients can make an ordinary vegetarian meal unsuitable for someone specifically requesting a Jain meal.

Read: Jain Meal on Flights (VJML): Menu and How to Order.

What Is VGML?

VGML means Vegan Meal.

A vegan meal excludes animal-derived ingredients.

Air India's current VGML specifically excludes:

  • Meat
  • Fish
  • Dairy
  • Eggs
  • Honey

Typical ingredients can include:

  • Vegetables
  • Rice
  • Legumes
  • Grains
  • Fruit
  • Plant-based alternatives
Vegan VGML airline meal

Read: Vegan vs Vegetarian Meals on Flights.

What Is VLML?

VLML means Vegetarian Lacto-Ovo Meal.

This is vegetarian but may contain:

  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Cheese
  • Other dairy products
  • Vegetables
  • Fruit
  • Soy products

It does not contain meat, poultry, fish or seafood under Air India's current specification.

Strict vegetarian who avoids eggs? Do not assume VLML is appropriate. AVML may be a better option if its airline-specific definition excludes egg.

What Is GFML?

GFML means Gluten-Free or Gluten-Intolerant Meal.

Air India's current GFML is vegetarian and is prepared without common gluten-containing foods such as:

  • Wheat
  • Barley
  • Standard breads
  • Crackers
  • Normal pasta
  • Other specified gluten-containing ingredients

However, passengers with severe gluten-related medical conditions should not assume that requesting GFML guarantees a completely contamination-free catering environment.

Read: Gluten-Free Meal on Flights (GFML).

What Is DBML?

DBML means Diabetic Meal.

This is intended for passengers who want food prepared with diabetes management in mind.

Air India currently describes DBML as a vegetarian meal emphasizing:

  • Whole foods
  • Balanced ingredients
  • No added sugars
  • Limited excessive salt

DBML is not medical treatment. Passengers with diabetes should continue following their doctor's instructions, carry necessary medication and supplies, and not assume the carbohydrate content of an airline meal will exactly match their personal meal plan.

Diabetic DBML airline meal

Read: Diabetic Meal (DBML) on Flights.

Low-Salt, Low-Fat and Bland Airline Meals

Some airlines also offer meals designed around particular dietary preferences.

LSML — Low-Salt Meal

A meal prepared with little or no added salt.

LFML — Low-Fat Meal

A meal prepared with reduced total and saturated fat.

BLML — Bland Meal

A mild meal designed around foods that are easier to digest and avoid strongly spicy, acidic or irritating ingredients.

These are catering categories, not medical prescriptions. If you have a medical condition requiring strict limits on sodium, sugar, fat, potassium or another nutrient, ask the airline for ingredient information and carry suitable backup food when permitted.

Muslim Meals and Kosher Meals

MOML — Muslim Meal

Air India's current MOML uses halal-certified ingredients and excludes:

  • Pork
  • Pig by-products
  • Ham
  • Bacon
  • Alcohol in meal preparation

KSML — Kosher Meal

KSML is prepared according to Jewish dietary requirements. Airlines frequently provide it as a sealed meal supplied by a specialist caterer.

Air India currently requires a KSML request at least 72 hours before departure and offers it only on selected international sectors.

Read: Kosher and Halal Meals on Flights.

What Is CHML?

CHML means Child Meal.

This is the standard code you are likely to see for a meal intended for a child.

Air India's current CHML is designed for children aged roughly 2 to 12 and includes a vegetarian main dish. Its specification allows dairy but excludes meat, seafood and egg.

Other airlines may serve different child-meal contents, such as:

  • Pasta
  • Sandwiches
  • Fruit
  • Yoghurt
  • Small desserts
  • Other child-friendly foods

CHML, not CPML: If you see CHML in your booking, it means Child Meal. Do not confuse it with BBML, which is intended for infants.

Read: Child Meal on Flights: How to Order CHML.

What Is BBML?

BBML means Baby Meal.

This is intended for infants rather than older children.

Air India's current BBML is intended for infants up to 24 months and can contain commercially prepared baby-food products.

Parents should still carry familiar food because:

  • The exact brand may vary.
  • Your baby may refuse unfamiliar food.
  • The requested meal could fail to be loaded.
  • A flight delay may extend feeding time.
  • Airline baby food may not match your child's normal diet.

Read:

What Is FLML?

FLML means Fruit Platter Meal.

It is a simple meal centered on fresh fruit.

It may appeal to passengers looking for something:

  • Light
  • Vegetarian
  • Simple
  • Less heavily seasoned

However, a fruit platter may not provide enough calories or protein for a long flight, so choose it based on your own needs.

What Meals Does Air India Serve?

Air India currently has one of the broadest special-meal selections among Indian airlines.

Its published options include:

  • AVML — Asian Vegetarian Meal
  • HNML — Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal
  • VJML — Vegetarian Jain Meal
  • VGML — Vegan Meal
  • VLML — Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Meal
  • VOML — Vegetarian Oriental Meal on selected international sectors
  • GFML — Gluten-Intolerant Meal
  • DBML — Diabetic Meal
  • LSML — Low-Salt Meal
  • LFML — Low-Fat Meal
  • BLML — Bland Meal
  • FLML — Fruit Platter Meal
  • MOML — Muslim Meal
  • KSML — Kosher Meal on selected international sectors
  • CHML — Child Meal
  • BBML — Baby Meal

Air India currently asks passengers to request most special meals at least 24 hours before departure. Kosher meals require at least 72 hours.

Are Air India meals free?

Air India says complimentary refreshments and meals are generally served on Air India-operated flights. However, its current Basic Fare does not include a complimentary meal, and food may instead be available for purchase where applicable.

Check the exact ticket. Do not rely on an old statement that every Air India fare automatically includes the same meal service. Fare rules can change.

Check Air India's current special-meal menu.

Does IndiGo Serve Meals?

Yes, but IndiGo operates differently from a traditional full-service airline.

Its current food program is called 6E Eats.

Passengers can buy or pre-book options such as:

  • Vegetarian snacks
  • Non-vegetarian snacks
  • Sandwiches
  • Regional food selections
  • Beverages

Some IndiGo fare bundles may include a snack or meal benefit, but an ordinary low-cost ticket should not automatically be assumed to include a free full meal.

IndiGo also says:

  • Hot meals and hot beverages are not available on ATR flights.
  • Hot snacks and hot beverages are generally offered only on flights over 60 minutes.
  • Free cups of drinking water are provided.
  • Bottled water is available for purchase.

Nut allergy: IndiGo currently warns that nuts are served on all of its flights either in meals or as accompaniments and advises passengers with allergies to take appropriate precautions.

Read: Is Food Free on IndiGo Flights?

Check the current IndiGo 6E Eats menu.

Does Air India Express Serve Meals?

Air India Express sells food rather than automatically providing the same type of complimentary meal service found on many full-service flights.

The airline's current Gourmair service includes pre-bookable hot meals.

Air India Express currently says hot meals should be pre-booked before departure. Limited snacks, bottled water, ready-to-eat products and beverages may also be sold onboard.

Want a hot Air India Express meal? Pre-book it rather than waiting until you are onboard, because the airline says hot meals are not sold as ordinary onboard purchases.

Check Air India Express meal options.

Does Akasa Air Serve Meals?

Akasa Air's food service is called Café Akasa.

It offers a changing menu that can include:

  • Vegetarian meals
  • Non-vegetarian meals
  • Sandwiches
  • Regional options
  • Seasonal meals
  • Snacks
  • Beverages

Akasa currently allows most perishable meals to be pre-booked until 12 hours before departure. Cakes require more advance notice.

Hot ready-to-eat food and hot beverages are generally limited to flights longer than 60 minutes.

Food allergy warning: Akasa says it cannot guarantee that ingredients such as peanuts, gluten, dairy or eggs will be completely absent from its catering environment.

Check the current Café Akasa menu.

Are Meals Free on Flights?

It depends on the airline, fare and route.

Airline General Meal Model
Air India Generally complimentary meals/refreshments on Air India-operated flights, but current Basic Fare does not include complimentary meals where applicable.
IndiGo Low-cost model; meals/snacks usually purchased or pre-booked unless included in a fare bundle.
Air India Express Pre-bookable paid hot meals and selected onboard food/beverages.
Akasa Air Café Akasa paid/pre-booked food, with some fare or bundle arrangements potentially including meals.

Codeshare flights add another complication because the airline selling your ticket may not be the airline actually preparing and serving your food.

How Do You Order a Special Airline Meal?

  • Check the operating airline: Find the words “operated by” on your ticket.
  • Open Manage Booking: Enter your PNR and passenger name.
  • Find meal preferences: Look under passenger details, special services or meals.
  • Select the code carefully: Do not choose based only on the meal name.
  • Save confirmation: Take a screenshot showing the requested meal.
  • Check again before travel: Confirm that the meal request still appears after schedule changes.
  • Ask at check-in if necessary: Confirm that your special-meal request appears in the booking.
  • Tell cabin crew early: If your dietary requirement is important, politely mention that you have a pre-ordered special meal.

How Early Should You Request a Special Meal?

There is no universal deadline.

As an example, Air India currently asks for:

  • Most special meals: at least 24 hours before departure
  • KSML Kosher Meal: at least 72 hours before departure

Other airlines use different cutoffs for paid food and pre-orders. Akasa currently accepts ordinary meal pre-orders until 12 hours before departure.

Best practice: If you know what meal you want, request it when booking. There is little benefit in waiting until the deadline.

What Happens to Special Meals on a Codeshare Flight?

This is an easy place to make a mistake.

Suppose your ticket says Air India but underneath it says:

Operated by another airline.

The operating carrier may control:

  • Available meal codes
  • Meal ingredients
  • Ordering deadline
  • Whether the meal is complimentary
  • Whether your request transfers automatically

Air India itself advises passengers whose journey or part of the journey is operated by a partner airline to contact that airline regarding special meals.

Always check “operated by.” The airline logo on the ticket is not enough when you have an important dietary requirement.

What If Your Special Meal Is Missing?

Even a confirmed special meal can occasionally fail to reach the aircraft.

Possible reasons include:

  • Late aircraft substitution
  • Catering error
  • Booking change
  • Meal request not transferred after rebooking
  • Codeshare communication problem
  • Late request

If the meal is missing:

  • Tell the cabin crew immediately.
  • Ask what suitable alternatives are available.
  • Check packaged items for ingredients where possible.
  • Do not eat food you believe could violate a serious allergy or medical restriction.
  • Keep proof of your original meal request if you intend to complain afterward.

What If the Airline Serves the Wrong Meal?

First determine whether the airline actually served the wrong meal or whether the meal code was misunderstood.

You ordered HNML and received chicken

This may be completely correct. HNML is a non-vegetarian meal and can contain chicken.

You ordered AVML and received chicken

That is a different situation. AVML is intended as a vegetarian meal.

You ordered VJML and received potatoes or onion

That could indicate the meal did not match the expected Jain specification.

Read: Vegetarian Meal Served Non-Veg on Flight: What to Do.

Are Special Airline Meals Safe for Food Allergies?

A dietary special meal and an allergy-safe meal are not necessarily the same thing.

An airline may offer:

  • Gluten-free
  • Non-lactose
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Other special meals

but catering kitchens may still handle allergens nearby.

Air India warns that its meals may contain nuts or traces of nuts because nut products are handled in the catering environment.

IndiGo says nuts are served on all flights.

Akasa similarly says it cannot guarantee an environment completely free of allergens such as peanuts, gluten, dairy and eggs.

Severe allergy? Do not treat the special-meal code as a guarantee against cross-contact. Contact the airline before travel, carry prescribed medication, and consider bringing suitable backup food where security and customs rules permit.

Read: Peanut Allergies on India Flights.

Can You Bring Your Own Food on a Flight?

Often yes, but airport-security and destination customs rules still apply.

Dry foods are generally easier to travel with than:

  • Liquid curries
  • Gravies
  • Soups
  • Yoghurt
  • Chutneys
  • Other liquid or semi-liquid foods

International arrivals create an additional issue: food that is allowed through airport security may still be restricted by the destination country's agricultural or customs rules.

Read:

Which Airline Meal Should You Choose?

What You Want Meal to Investigate First
Indian-style vegetarian food AVML
Hindu non-vegetarian food without beef/pork HNML
Jain vegetarian food VJML
No animal products VGML
Vegetarian but eggs/dairy acceptable VLML
Gluten-free requirement GFML
Diabetes-oriented meal DBML
Reduced salt LSML
Mild/easily digestible meal BLML
Muslim dietary meal MOML
Kosher food KSML
Child aged roughly 2–12 CHML
Infant/baby BBML
Fresh fruit only FLML

The biggest mistake to avoid: If you are vegetarian, do not select HNML because you think “Hindu Meal” automatically means vegetarian. Check AVML, VJML, VGML or another vegetarian code that matches what you actually eat.

Official Airline Meal Sources

Menus change frequently. Airlines can change ingredients, meal codes, ordering deadlines and availability by route. Always check the operating airline's current menu shortly before travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does HNML mean on a flight?

HNML means Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal. It may contain chicken, lamb or fish. It should not be ordered by someone expecting a vegetarian meal.

Is a Hindu meal HNML vegetarian?

No. HNML is normally a non-vegetarian airline meal. Air India's current HNML can contain lamb, poultry, fish and dairy while excluding beef, veal and pork.

Which airline meal should an Indian vegetarian choose?

AVML, or Asian Vegetarian Meal, is often a good option for passengers wanting Indian-style vegetarian food. Check the specific airline's definition before ordering.

What is the difference between HNML and AVML?

HNML is non-vegetarian and may contain chicken, fish or lamb. AVML is vegetarian and normally contains Indian- or Asian-style vegetarian food.

What does AVML mean?

AVML means Asian Vegetarian Meal. Air India's current AVML contains no meat, seafood or egg but may contain dairy.

What does VJML mean?

VJML means Vegetarian Jain Meal. It is intended for Jain dietary requirements and excludes meat, seafood, eggs and specified root vegetables and related ingredients.

What does VGML mean?

VGML means Vegan Meal. It excludes animal-derived ingredients such as meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey.

What does VLML mean?

VLML means Vegetarian Lacto-Ovo Meal. It contains no meat or seafood but may include eggs and dairy products.

What does GFML mean?

GFML refers to a gluten-free or gluten-intolerant special meal. The exact preparation and cross-contact precautions depend on the airline and caterer.

What does DBML mean?

DBML means Diabetic Meal. It is designed with diabetes-friendly food choices in mind but should not be considered a substitute for an individual's prescribed medical diet.

What does CHML mean?

CHML means Child Meal. It is intended for children rather than babies. Air India's current CHML is designed for children aged approximately 2 to 12.

What does BBML mean?

BBML means Baby Meal. It is intended for infants and may contain commercially prepared baby foods.

Are airline special meals free?

On a full-service airline, a special meal may be included when the normal meal is included in the fare. Low-cost airlines may instead charge for food or require passengers to pre-book a paid meal.

How early should I order an airline special meal?

Deadlines vary by airline and meal. Air India currently requests most special meals at least 24 hours before departure, while its Kosher Meal requires at least 72 hours.

Can I order a special meal at the airport?

You can ask, but many special meals must be prepared and loaded by the caterer well before departure. Do not rely on being able to order one at check-in or onboard.

What happens if my special meal is not loaded?

Tell the cabin crew and ask what suitable alternatives are available. If you have a strict medical, religious or allergy-related restriction, carry suitable backup food when permitted rather than depending entirely on the airline meal.

Can I bring my own food on a plane?

Many solid foods can be carried onboard, but liquids and semi-liquids may be subject to security limits and international travelers must also follow destination customs and agricultural rules.

Does Air India have vegetarian meals?

Yes. Air India's current special-meal menu includes AVML, VJML, VGML, VLML, VOML and several other vegetarian dietary meals.

Does IndiGo give free meals?

IndiGo generally operates a paid food model through 6E Eats, although certain fare bundles can include a snack or meal. Check the benefits included with your exact fare.

Does Akasa Air give free meals?

Akasa operates Café Akasa with meals and snacks that can be purchased or pre-booked, while some fare or package combinations may include food. Check the benefits of your ticket.

Are airline special meals guaranteed to be allergen-free?

No. Airlines may use shared catering environments and cannot necessarily guarantee the absence of traces of allergens. Passengers with serious food allergies should review the airline's current allergy policy before flying.

Updated: August 10, 2026

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