Special meal codes on Indian flights in 2026 — Jain VJML, Hindu HNML, Asian vegetarian AVML and the rest
By Kabir Malhotra (Kabir Malhotra writes about how Indian travel buyers actually pay — UPI vs credit card vs forex card surcharges, reward-point math on the top travel credit cards, RBI tokenisation, EMI-on-flights and the small fees that compound across a year of bookings.) · Published · 9 min read
Special meal codes — VJML for Jain, HNML for Hindu non-veg, AVML for Asian vegetarian, BBML for baby, DBML for diabetic — exist for good reason but the on-board reality varies enormously by carrier and route. The honest 2026 guide to ordering, confirming and surviving long-haul.
Quick answer
Order your special meal at the time of booking, or no later than 24 hours before departure on most carriers. The key codes for Indian flyers: VJML Jain (no root vegetables, no honey, no eggs), HNML Hindu non-vegetarian (no beef/pork, often Indian preparation), AVML Asian vegetarian (Indian-style vegetarian, with dairy and onion/garlic), VGML vegan / strict vegetarian (no dairy, no eggs, no honey), BBML baby meal, CHML child meal, DBML diabetic, LSML low-salt, GFML gluten-free. Confirm 48 hours before by calling reservations and verifying the SSR code is on the PNR; reconfirm at check-in. Honest reality: full-service Gulf and European carriers (Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa) deliver special meals reliably; Indian LCCs (IndiGo, SpiceJet) have a much narrower selection.
The IATA special meal codes — what each one actually means
Special meal codes are standardised under IATA's Special Service Request (SSR) framework. Every airline catering operation around the world recognises them. The codes most relevant to Indian flyers:
- AVML (Asian Vegetarian Meal): Indian-style vegetarian. Contains dairy, eggs (sometimes), onion, garlic. Standard fare is a vegetable curry with rice or roti. This is the meal most Indian flyers should order if they are vegetarian but not strictly Jain.
- VJML (Vegetarian Jain Meal): strict Jain. No root vegetables (no onion, garlic, ginger, potato, carrot), no eggs, no honey, no mushroom. Available reliably on Indian carriers and most full-service international carriers. Confirm 48 hours before — Jain meal stockouts are common on busy routes.
- HNML (Hindu Non-Vegetarian Meal): no beef, no pork, no veal. Typically chicken or fish curry with rice. Common request from Indian flyers travelling to Europe and the Americas on full-service carriers.
- VGML (Vegan / Strict Vegetarian): no animal products. Plant-based, dairy-free.
- BBML (Baby Meal): jar of pureed food for infants under 2. Often Heinz or Gerber on European carriers; Cerelac on Air India and IndiGo.
- CHML (Child Meal): kid-friendly portions, often pasta, chicken nuggets, fruit and dessert. For children 2-12.
- DBML (Diabetic Meal): low sugar, complex carbohydrates, controlled fats. Usually includes a fresh salad and a portion-controlled main.
- LSML (Low-Salt Meal): sodium-restricted, useful for hypertension, cardiac and renal conditions.
- GFML (Gluten-Free Meal): no wheat, barley or rye. Useful for coeliac disease and gluten intolerance.
- NLML (Low-Lactose Meal): minimised dairy.
- KSML (Kosher Meal), MOML (Muslim / Halal Meal): religious requirements; halal availability is high on Gulf carriers by default.
Booking — when, where, how
The reliable booking sequence: at the time of buying the ticket, on the passenger details or services screen, look for Meal Preference or Special Meal and select the IATA code matching your need. The airline confirms the code on the e-ticket or in a follow-up email.
If you book through an OTA (MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Cleartrip, Yatra), the special meal request may not flow through to the airline. Always re-confirm by logging into the airline's Manage Booking page directly with your PNR and either selecting the meal there, or calling the airline reservations line to confirm the SSR is on the record.
The cutoff: 24-48 hours before departure for most special meals. Catering operations load food onto the aircraft at the origin airport in the few hours before pushback; requests after the cutoff cannot be honoured. Some carriers (Emirates, Singapore Airlines) have shorter cutoffs of 24 hours; others (Air India, Lufthansa) are 48 hours. Beyond the cutoff, you can still request a vegetarian option from the regular menu if available on board — but you cannot get a specific code-meal.
Indian carrier reality — IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa, Air India Express
The honest 2026 picture on Indian carriers:
- IndiGo: limited fixed menu (purchasable on most domestic; pre-paid on international). Vegetarian and Jain options available. No baby meal as a separate code on domestic; vegetarian baby food on international long-haul. AVML, VJML and a basic veg child meal are reliable; DBML, LSML, GFML often unavailable. Order via "Add a Meal" in Manage Booking up to 4 hours before. See IndiGo policy hub.
- Air India: full IATA range available on long-haul. Domestic on 2-class routes (Mumbai-Delhi, Delhi-Bangalore) offers AVML, VJML and HNML reliably. The post-merger menu has improved markedly since 2024. See Air India policy hub.
- SpiceJet: BoB (Buy on Board) model with limited pre-bookable veg and non-veg options. Jain meal availability is patchy; confirm by phone.
- Akasa Air: BoB model with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Limited special-meal support; primarily short-haul.
- Air India Express: limited pre-bookable meals; primarily LCC-style on short international routes.
For long-haul international where meal quality matters, the Indian carrier hierarchy in 2026 is Air India long-haul (good) > Air India Express (basic) > IndiGo international (limited) > SpiceJet (limited).
Gulf and full-service carriers — the gold standard
Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, Etihad, Air France, KLM all offer the full IATA range of special meals on long-haul. The honest assessment:
- Emirates: AVML, VJML, HNML, BBML, CHML, DBML, LSML, GFML, MOML all reliably stocked on Mumbai/Delhi long-hauls. Jain meal is genuinely Jain (no onion, no garlic) and prepared in Bombay-style. Emirates policy hub.
- Qatar Airways: similar range. Strong reputation for AVML quality on Doha-Indian routes.
- Singapore Airlines: famous for Book the Cook on long-haul economy and above — pre-order from a wider menu (specific Indian dishes including Hyderabadi biryani, dal makhani). Available from 24+ hours pre-departure.
- Lufthansa: full range. Vegetarian option is often the strongest in-cabin food on long-haul.
- Etihad: Bombay-style and Hyderabadi-style options; reliably stocked AVML and VJML.
For long-haul with dietary needs, a Gulf or European full-service carrier is operationally easier than an Indian LCC. The fare difference often pays for itself in passenger comfort.
When the special meal does not arrive — what to do
Catering errors happen — a Mumbai-Frankfurt loaded the wrong AVML count, the Jain meal was given to the wrong row, or the meal simply did not board the aircraft. The right escalation path:
- When you board, mention the special meal politely to the cabin crew during pre-flight — "I am in 24B and have ordered VJML; can you confirm it is on board?"
- If the crew confirms it is not on board, ask for the best available vegetarian alternative. Most aircraft carry a stock of vegetarian sandwiches and salads for exactly this case.
- Carry your own small backup — a packet of biscuits, dry fruits, an apple (international transit rules permitting), a chapatti rolled in foil. Indian flyers routinely carry this on international flights; cabin crew do not object.
- After landing, file a feedback note on the airline's customer care page citing the PNR, the flight, the seat and the missed meal. On full-service carriers this often results in a goodwill voucher or miles credit.
Do not escalate aggressively on board — the crew did not load the meal; the catering operation did. The polite request gets the best in-flight outcome.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AVML and VJML?
AVML is Asian Vegetarian — Indian-style vegetarian with dairy and typically onion/garlic. VJML is Vegetarian Jain — strict Jain with no root vegetables (no onion, garlic, ginger, potato, carrot), no eggs, no honey, no mushroom. Pick AVML if you are vegetarian; VJML only if you observe strict Jain principles.
When should I order a special meal?
At the time of booking, or no later than 24-48 hours before departure depending on the carrier. Emirates and Singapore Airlines: 24 hours. Air India and Lufthansa: 48 hours. IndiGo: up to 4 hours before for in-app catering. Beyond the cutoff, code-specific meals cannot be loaded onto the aircraft.
Are Jain meals reliable on Indian airlines?
On Air India long-haul yes; on IndiGo international yes but stockouts can happen on busy routes; on SpiceJet and Akasa patchy. Always re-confirm by phone 48 hours before. Emirates and Etihad have strong Jain meal reputations from Indian routes.
Can I order a baby meal on a short domestic flight?
Generally no — most Indian domestic carriers do not stock baby meals on short hops (under 90 minutes). Carry a jar of baby food or formula yourself. On international and 2-class domestic flights, BBML is bookable up to 24 hours pre-departure.
What if my special meal does not arrive?
Politely inform the cabin crew, request the best vegetarian alternative on board, and file post-flight feedback citing PNR and flight. Always carry a small dry-food backup for exactly this case. Full-service carriers often offer a goodwill voucher in compensation.
Does Hindu meal (HNML) include beef?
No — HNML is Hindu non-vegetarian, no beef, no pork, no veal. Usually chicken or fish curry with rice. Pick HNML if you want non-vegetarian Indian-style food on international flights to Europe and the Americas.