Airline Vegetarian and Vegan Meal Options: Which Carriers Do It Best?
By Ananya Singh (Meera Iyer writes about the intersection of Indian food culture and international travel — halal trail maps, budget food cities, cooking-class itineraries, and the practical side of eating well abroad without breaking the bank.) · Published · 10 min read
AVML, VGML, VJML — airline meal codes are confusing and the actual food varies wildly. This guide compares vegetarian and vegan meal quality across airlines that fly from India.
Quick answer
For vegetarian meals, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways serve the best AVML (Asian Vegetarian Meal). Air India has improved but consistency is an issue. For vegan meals (VGML), quality is generally poor across all carriers — expect bland vegetables and rice. Jain meals (VJML) are best on Air India and Singapore Airlines. Always order special meals 48 hours before departure.
Understanding the meal codes — complete table
Airlines worldwide use IATA standard meal codes. Here are the four vegetarian codes Indian travellers need to know, plus two related ones:
| Code | Full name | What it includes | What it excludes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVML | Asian Vegetarian Meal | Indian-style curry, paneer/sabzi, dal, rice, bread, pickle, dessert. May contain dairy and honey. | Meat, fish, eggs | Most Indian vegetarians (lacto-vegetarian) |
| VGML | Vegan Meal | Vegetables, grains, legumes, fruit. No animal products at all. | Meat, fish, eggs, dairy, honey, ghee, butter | Strict vegans |
| VJML | Vegetarian Jain Meal | Non-root vegetables, grains, legumes. No animal products. | Meat, fish, eggs, dairy (sometimes), onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, radish, all root vegetables | Jain travellers |
| VLML | Vegetarian Lacto-Ovo Meal | Western-style vegetarian with dairy and eggs. May include omelette, cheese, pasta with egg. | Meat, fish | Ovo-vegetarians; Western palates |
| VOML | Vegetarian Oriental Meal | Chinese/East Asian-style vegetarian. Tofu, soy sauce, stir-fried vegetables, rice. | Meat, fish, eggs, dairy | Travellers who prefer East Asian flavours |
| RVML | Raw Vegetarian Meal | Uncooked fruits, vegetables, salads, nuts. | All cooked food, meat, fish, eggs, dairy | Raw food adherents (rare request) |
The code you choose matters: an AVML on Emirates gives you a different meal from a VGML on the same flight. If you are a standard Indian lacto-vegetarian, AVML is almost always the correct choice — it includes ghee, paneer, and butter, which makes it substantially tastier than VGML.
How to pre-order by airline
Every airline has a different process for ordering special meals. Here is the step-by-step for the carriers Indian travellers fly most:
- IndiGo: no AVML/VGML/VJML system — IndiGo uses a buy-on-board meal model domestically. On international routes, a standard meal is included; vegetarian option is one of the default choices. You select veg/non-veg during booking or web check-in. No IATA special meal codes available.
- Air India: go to airindia.com, open Manage Booking, select Special Meals, choose your code (AVML, VJML, etc.). Alternatively, call +91-124-2641407. Order at least 24 hours before departure.
- Emirates: emirates.com → Manage Booking → Meal Preferences. Select from 20+ meal types. Must be ordered 24 hours before departure.
- Singapore Airlines: singaporeair.com → Manage Booking → Meal Selection. "Book the Cook" (available in Business and Premium Economy) lets you choose from an expanded menu 24 hours before departure.
- Qatar Airways: qatarairways.com → Manage Booking → Meal Preference. Minimum 24 hours before departure.
- Thai Airways: thaiairways.com → Manage Booking → Special Meal. Must be ordered 24 hours before departure.
Golden rule: order 48 hours before departure and reconfirm at 24 hours. Special meals are loaded based on the manifest at the 24-hour mark. If you order at the last minute, the meal may not be loaded.
Quality comparison — airline by airline
Based on consistent traveller feedback across multiple flights in 2024-2026, here is an honest quality ranking of vegetarian meals on carriers serving India:
| Airline | AVML quality | VJML quality | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines | Excellent | Very good | Well-spiced curries, proper rice, good dessert. Book the Cook option. | Portions slightly smaller than Air India |
| Qatar Airways | Very good | Acceptable | Dal-rice reliably good, Qsuite a la carte excellent | VJML sometimes includes garlic by error |
| Air India | Good (inconsistent) | Best in class | Most authentic Indian flavour; VJML genuinely Jain-safe | Consistency varies flight to flight |
| Thai Airways | Good | Acceptable | Coconut-curry-rice combinations are flavourful | Limited Indian-specific spicing |
| Etihad | Good | Acceptable | Abu Dhabi catering maintained quality | Portions modest |
| Emirates | Acceptable | Acceptable | Large network, convenient ordering | Quality has declined in 2024-2026; portions smaller |
| IndiGo | N/A (no AVML system) | N/A | Simple veg option on international flights | No special meal codes; buy-on-board domestic |
Singapore Airlines
SIA's AVML is consistently the best among carriers flying from India. The meals are well-spiced, the paneer or vegetable curries have actual flavour, and the rice is properly cooked. SIA caters from SATS in Singapore and TajSATS in India — both have strong Indian food competence. The "Book the Cook" option in business and premium economy lets you pre-order from an expanded menu that includes vegetarian options you cannot get in the standard AVML rotation. Singapore flights on SIA include complimentary meals in all classes.
Qatar Airways
Qatar's AVML is a close second to SIA. The Doha catering kitchen handles massive Indian passenger volumes, so the vegetarian meals are well-calibrated for Indian tastes. The dal-rice combination on Qatar long-haul is reliably good. The VJML (Jain meal) on Qatar is acceptable but sometimes includes garlic despite the restriction — inspect before eating and flag to the crew if incorrect. Business class Qsuite vegetarian options from the a la carte menu are excellent. Gulf flights from India have the highest AVML demand.
Air India
Air India has a natural advantage: the catering teams understand Indian vegetarian food natively. The AVML typically includes a paneer or mixed vegetable dish, dal, rice, bread, pickle, and a dessert (usually a mithai or cake). On good days, it is the most authentically Indian meal in the sky. On bad days, the paneer is rubbery and the vegetables are overcooked. Consistency is the problem, not capability.
The VJML on Air India is the best among all carriers because the kitchen genuinely understands Jain restrictions — no onion, no garlic, no root vegetables. Other carriers treat VJML as a checkbox; Air India treats it as a legitimate cuisine. Airline pages have more details on Air India's fleet and routes.
Emirates, Etihad, and the other Gulf carriers
Emirates AVML has declined in quality over the past 2 to 3 years — portions are smaller and the cooking is less flavourful than it was. The meal is still acceptable but no longer a selling point. Etihad AVML is slightly better than Emirates in 2026 — the Abu Dhabi catering seems to have maintained quality while Dubai has slipped. Oman Air and Saudia offer AVML but the meals are basic — functional rather than enjoyable.
Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, and Cathay Pacific
Thai Airways AVML is underrated — the Thai catering team handles vegetarian well, and the coconut-curry-rice combinations are flavourful. Malaysia Airlines serves AVML with a slight Malay twist — coconut milk, pandan, and turmeric notes that Indian palates enjoy. Cathay Pacific AVML is competent but somewhat bland — Hong Kong catering is stronger on Chinese-style vegetarian (tofu, vegetables in soy sauce) than Indian-style. Bangkok, KL, and Hong Kong flights from India are all direct.
Fresh vs catered — how airline kitchens actually work
All airline meals are prepared in flight kitchens on the ground and loaded onto the aircraft before departure. No food is cooked onboard — crew only reheat using convection ovens. Understanding this explains why some meals taste better than others:
- Freshly catered at origin: meals loaded at your departure airport. For a Delhi-London flight, the first meal is catered in Delhi (usually tastes better for Indian food because the team is Indian).
- Return-leg catering: on the London-Delhi return, the first meal is catered in London by a UK-based caterer. The AVML from a London kitchen is typically less authentic.
- Hub catering for Gulf carriers: Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad cater all meals from their hubs (DXB, DOH, AUH). For a Mumbai-Dubai-London itinerary, both legs are catered in Dubai.
Practical implication: the first meal service on any long-haul flight is almost always better than the second.
Tips for long-haul vegetarian travellers
Order AVML, not VGML, unless you are strictly vegan — AVML includes dairy (ghee, paneer, butter) which adds flavour. Order 48 hours before departure and reconfirm 24 hours out via the airline app. If your special meal does not arrive, ask the crew for the vegetarian option from the standard service — there is usually one. Carry backup snacks regardless. On ultra-long-haul flights (12+ hours), the second meal service is often weaker than the first — this is where your thepla and khakhra earn their place. Our snack packing guide covers what to carry.
Additional tips:
- Bring your own food through security: solid food items (thepla, khakhra, sandwiches, fruit) pass airport security worldwide. Liquids and pastes must be under 100ml or packed in checked luggage.
- Request extras from crew: on full-service carriers, you can ask for extra bread, butter, fruit, and cheese even after your special meal has been served.
- Hydrate: cabin air is extremely dry. Drink water every hour — dehydration makes mediocre food taste worse and compounds jet lag.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AVML and VGML?
AVML (Asian Vegetarian Meal) is Indian-style vegetarian that includes dairy. VGML (Vegan Meal) excludes all animal products including dairy, eggs, and honey. AVML is generally tastier because it can use ghee, butter, and paneer.
Which airline has the best Jain meal?
Air India. The catering team understands Jain restrictions natively. Singapore Airlines is second. Other carriers often make errors like including garlic in VJML meals.
Should I order a special meal or eat the standard meal?
Order AVML if you are vegetarian — it is tailored to your needs and served first. The standard meal's vegetarian option is a backup, not a guarantee.
How far in advance do I need to order a special meal?
Order at least 48 hours before departure and reconfirm at 24 hours. Meals are loaded based on the manifest at the 24-hour mark. Last-minute requests may not be loaded.
Can I bring my own food on an international flight?
Yes — solid food items like thepla, khakhra, sandwiches, fruit, and dry snacks pass through airport security worldwide. Liquids and pastes must follow the 100ml rule. Most countries allow cooked vegetarian food onboard without issue.