A vegetarian airline meal is not automatically vegan—or egg-free. A tray labelled vegetarian may contain cheese, butter, yoghurt or eggs. If you avoid all animal-derived ingredients, request a vegan meal rather than relying on the general vegetarian option.
The three most useful codes are VGML for vegan, AVML for Indian-style vegetarian food that may contain dairy, and VLML for vegetarian food that may contain both dairy and eggs. Always read the operating airline’s description before selecting your meal.
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026. Meal availability and request deadlines vary by airline and departure airport.
- Vegan vs vegetarian: the important differences
- Airline meal codes comparison
- Which meal should you choose?
- Jain, Oriental, raw and fruit meals
- Air India, IndiGo and international airlines
- Booking deadlines and how to order
- Common mistakes and missing meals
- Backup food and allergy considerations
- Frequently asked questions
What Is the Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian Flight Meals?
A vegetarian meal excludes meat, poultry, fish and seafood. Whether it contains eggs or dairy depends on the type of vegetarian meal selected.
A vegan meal excludes animal-derived ingredients, including eggs, milk, cheese, butter, ghee and honey. It may include vegetables, rice, pasta, lentils, beans, tofu, fruit or plant-based alternatives. The exact dishes depend on the airline and caterer.
For Indian travellers, the main point of confusion is often eggs. An Indian-style vegetarian meal and a Western lacto-ovo vegetarian meal are different requests. Do not select VLML if avoiding eggs is essential.
Airline Meal Codes Explained
These are common airline special-meal codes. Availability is not universal, and the airline’s published description takes priority over a general guide.
| Code | Meal | Dairy and eggs | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| VGML | Vegan meal | Neither should be included | Excludes animal-derived ingredients, including honey. |
| AVML | Asian or Indian vegetarian meal | May contain dairy; excludes eggs in the airline descriptions reviewed | Usually prepared in an Indian style. |
| VLML | Lacto-ovo vegetarian meal | May contain both | Unsuitable if you avoid eggs or dairy. |
| VJML | Jain vegetarian meal | Excludes eggs; verify the airline’s complete ingredient policy | Excludes root vegetables and ingredients such as onion and garlic. |
| VOML | Vegetarian Oriental meal | Typically excludes both | Usually prepared in an East Asian style. |
| RVML | Raw vegetarian meal | Check the airline’s description | Usually raw vegetables and fruit rather than a cooked main course. |
| FPML | Fruit platter | Check any accompanying items | A fruit-based meal, not a substitute for every dietary requirement. |
For example, Qatar Airways’ meal descriptions distinguish vegan, lacto-ovo, Indian vegetarian, Oriental vegetarian, raw vegetarian and fruit options. Its fruit platter may include fresh or dried fruit, illustrating why “fresh fruit only” is not a universal description.
VGML vs VLML vs AVML: Which Should You Choose?
Choose VGML If You Are Vegan
VGML is the clearest starting point if you avoid animal-derived ingredients. Do not replace it with AVML simply because both meals are vegetarian: an AVML tray may contain paneer, yoghurt, ghee or a milk-based dessert.
Check separately offered extras too. A suitable main course does not make a butter portion, milk sachet or replacement snack vegan.
Choose AVML If You Want Indian Vegetarian Food Without Eggs
AVML commonly suits passengers who eat dairy but avoid meat, fish and eggs. Typical dishes might include dal, rice, vegetables, roti or paneer, but these are examples rather than a promised menu.
It does not automatically exclude onion or garlic. For a detailed explanation, read AVML: What Is an Asian Vegetarian Meal?
Choose VLML If Dairy and Eggs Are Acceptable
“Lacto” refers to milk and “ovo” to eggs. VLML can therefore include cheese, an omelette or food prepared with egg. It is vegetarian, but it may not match what an Indian traveller means by an egg-free vegetarian meal.
Do Not Confuse HNML With a Vegetarian Meal
HNML is generally a Hindu non-vegetarian meal. It can contain chicken, fish or other permitted meat. The word “Hindu” does not establish that the meal is vegetarian.
Check the distinction before booking: HNML vs AVML: Which Meal Should You Choose?
Jain, Oriental, Raw and Fruit Meals
VJML: Jain Vegetarian Meal
A Jain meal is designed around additional ingredient restrictions, including avoiding root vegetables. However, selecting VJML should not replace checking the airline’s description against your own observance.
For example, Emirates explicitly excludes dairy from its Jain meal. Do not assume every airline’s Jain offering follows exactly the same specification, or that it includes dairy because you consume dairy at home.
See our Jain airline meal guide for questions to ask before departure.
VOML: Vegetarian Oriental Meal
VOML generally offers an East Asian-style alternative to an Indian vegetarian meal. The airline descriptions reviewed exclude meat, seafood, eggs and dairy. It may be useful when you want a different cuisine, but check its availability on your flight.
RVML and FPML: Raw Food or Fruit
These options can suit specific preferences, but they are different from a full cooked vegan meal. If you want a substantial meal with rice, lentils or another cooked dish, do not choose a fruit platter merely because it sounds easier to identify.
Also, a fruit platter is not automatically suitable for every religious fast. Check the actual contents against your requirements.
Which Airlines Offer Vegan and Vegetarian Meals?
Air India
Air India’s special-meal menu lists VGML, AVML, VLML, VJML and other options. Its VOML option is available only on selected international sectors.
Air India asks passengers to request special meals at least 24 hours before departure. You can add the request when booking, through Manage Booking or through your travel agent. For a partner-operated flight, contact the operating airline.
Check your actual flight’s options rather than assuming every listed meal is available on every sector. Our Air India special meal codes guide explains the choices.
IndiGo
IndiGo’s 6E Eats menu includes vegetarian products, but “veg” does not establish that a product is vegan. Its paneer sandwich, for example, contains a dairy ingredient.
Check the menu offered for your flight and ask about ingredients before purchasing. Do not assume that a full-service airline’s special-meal code can be requested on every IndiGo service.
Meal inclusion also varies. IndiGo’s Mumbai–Manchester launch information described an included Indian vegetarian economy meal. Therefore, “IndiGo never includes food” is too broad; check the route, cabin and booking conditions.
Emirates and Qatar Airways
Both publish vegan, Indian vegetarian and Jain meal descriptions. Use those descriptions to confirm ingredients, and request the meal for each eligible sector.
Qatar Airways requires requests at least 24 hours before departure and notes restrictions on special-meal provision for some short Gulf flights. A connection on the same booking does not guarantee an identical catering service.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines publishes departure-airport exceptions to its usual 24-hour special-meal deadline:
- At least 56 hours: Departures from Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.
- At least 32 hours: Departures from Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Kochi, among other listed airports.
This is why a general instruction to order “24–48 hours before departure” can be insufficient. Submit your request when you book and check the current deadline for your departure airport.
How to Book a Vegan or Vegetarian Airline Meal
- Identify the operating airline: Check who actually operates each flight, especially on a codeshare itinerary.
- Read the meal description: Match the ingredients to your requirements before choosing the code.
- Request early: Select the meal during booking where possible.
- Check every passenger and sector: One person’s request does not cover the whole family or automatically cover every connection.
- Save confirmation: Keep an offline screenshot or booking record showing the meal request.
- Recheck after changes: Confirm again if you change flights, are rebooked or move to another airline.
- Speak to the crew early: After boarding, ask them to check the special meal associated with your seat.
If the booking page does not offer the meal you need, contact the airline before relying on it. A request recorded in your booking is useful evidence, but it does not eliminate the possibility of a catering problem.
Common Mistakes That Lead to the Wrong Meal
- Choosing VLML while avoiding eggs: Lacto-ovo vegetarian meals may include eggs.
- Choosing AVML while avoiding dairy: Indian vegetarian food may contain milk products.
- Choosing HNML because it sounds vegetarian: It is normally a non-vegetarian option.
- Choosing a lactose-restricted meal as a vegan substitute: Some airlines’ NLML meals contain meat or fish.
- Assuming gluten-free means vegetarian: These are separate requirements.
- Waiting until boarding: The crew may have no suitable spare meal.
What If Your Meal Is Missing or Looks Wrong?
Pause before eating and ask the crew to check the meal label and your request. Explain the specific restriction—such as no eggs or no dairy—rather than repeating only “vegetarian.”
If the meal cannot be verified, ask whether there is a clearly labelled alternative. Keep a record of what happened if you want to raise it with the airline afterward. See what to do when a vegetarian passenger receives a non-vegetarian meal.
Backup Food and Allergy Considerations
Carry a modest backup that matches your diet, particularly for a long journey. Clearly labelled crackers, suitable snack bars or dry cereal can be easier to assess than an unfamiliar airport dish.
Check the rules at departure, transit and destination before packing food. Permission to eat something onboard does not automatically permit taking leftovers through customs. Our carry-on snacks guide covers the practical distinctions.
Vegan does not mean allergy-safe. Vegan food may contain nuts, soy, sesame or wheat. Airlines may prepare special meals in shared facilities, and an ingredient exclusion is not a guarantee against cross-contact.
Emirates explicitly states that it cannot guarantee meals are free of allergen traces. If you have a serious food allergy, discuss your requirements with the airline and follow your clinician’s travel plan. See our airline allergy guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the vegan airline meal code?
VGML is the commonly used code. Look for the airline’s vegan description and confirm that the option is available for your flight.
Does a vegetarian airline meal contain eggs?
It can. VLML permits eggs, while the AVML descriptions reviewed exclude them. “Vegetarian” alone is not precise enough if you avoid eggs.
Is AVML vegan?
No. AVML may contain dairy, including paneer, yoghurt or ghee. Select VGML if you avoid animal-derived ingredients.
Is VGML the same as a Jain meal?
No. A vegan meal may contain onion, garlic and root vegetables. Jain requirements involve additional restrictions.
Is VOML the same as VGML?
Both commonly exclude meat, seafood, dairy and eggs, but their usual cooking styles differ. Check the airline’s descriptions rather than assuming the dishes will be identical.
Can I request a vegan and gluten-free meal together?
Do not assume two meal codes can be combined. Ask whether the airline can accommodate both requirements; a standard gluten-free meal may contain animal ingredients.
Is a children’s meal automatically vegetarian?
No. Ask specifically for a suitable child meal. A standard children’s meal can contain chicken or fish, and a vegetarian child meal may still contain eggs or dairy.
Will the airline serve my special meal first?
It may be delivered before the main meal service, but do not rely on a particular serving order. The meal request specifies your dietary option, not guaranteed priority service.
Which option is best for an Indian vegetarian who eats dairy but not eggs?
AVML is usually the closest match, subject to the airline’s description. Choose VJML instead if you also need Jain ingredient restrictions.
