Airline Meal Options: Finding The Best Choice for You in the Skies

Some travellers lean back, close their eyes, and hope for peanuts. Others stare at the in-flight menu like it’s a treasure map. Either way, airline food is its own little saga of tiny trays, unpronounceable sauces, and a weird kind of comfort miles above ground.

When someone books using the best flight deals online, the thought of food usually comes only just before “add check-in baggage.” But once you’re in your seat, fastened in, and cruising at 35,000 feet, airline meal options suddenly feel more important than legroom.

The Many Flavors of Sky Fare: Types of Meals on Airlines
Meals for Those Having Certain Health Conditions
When to Order What, and How
Why It Actually Matters?
Summing Up
FAQs: Airline Meal Options

The Many Flavors of Sky Fare: Types of Meals on Airlines

If one dives into airline meal options, there’s an alphabet soup of codes, and they all mean something. These are standardized “special meal” codes used by airlines, especially helpful if someone has dietary or religious restrictions.

Here are some common ones:

AVML (Asian Vegetarian Meal): A usually mild, curry- or noodle-based veggie meal—rice, veg, maybe fruit, no meat or fish.
VGML (Vegan Meal): Strict vegetarian. No meat, no eggs, no dairy. Just plants doing their thing. Some types of airline meal types under VGML are ST VGML and Vegan ML.
VLML (Veg Lacto-Ovo Meal): Vegetables + eggs + dairy, but no meat or fish.
HNML (Hindu Non-Veg Meal): Chicken or fish, no beef.
MOML (Muslim Meal): Completely Halal food in which pork and gelatin are avoided.
KSML (Kosher Meal): Prepared according to Jewish dietary laws, often sealed and stuck to strict prep rules.
GFML (Gluten-Free Meal): For those avoiding gluten, here’s a meal with no wheat, barley, or rye.
BLML (Bland/Soft Meal): Low spice, easy on the stomach, which is good for sensitive tummies and kids.
PRML (Low Purine): Meant for travellers with high uric acid; nods to gout sufferers, fish and dairy over organ meats.
RVML (Raw Vegetarian): All fresh fruit, salads, raw veg; no cooked stuff.
SFML (Seafood Meal): Seafood main course (if someone is okay with fish).
SPML (Special Meal): This is the wildcard. Anything else: medical meals, allergy-friendly, personal requests.
NLML (Non-Lactose): This is a meal for passengers who have allergies to milk or other milk products. These meals contain substitutes, like Soy Milk.

Explore: Top 5 Airlines Serving the Best In-Flight Meal

Meals for Those Having Certain Health Conditions

LPML (Low protein meal): Beans, pulses, red meat, and cheese are avoided in this meal for patients suffering from Kidney and Liver disorders.
LSML (Low Sodium Meal): Low or no salt meals for those with kidney problems and high blood pressure issues.
LCML (Low Calorie Meal): Meals with low calories for heart patients and overweight passengers looking to lose some inches.
DBML (Diabetic Meal): Carbohydrates and sugar are avoided for patients with pancreatic diseases or diabetes.
HFML (High Fibre Meal): For passengers with liver disorders. This meal contains green vegetables, whole grains, etc, while refined flour is avoided.
GFML (Gluten Free Meal): Perfect choice for passengers facing intestinal diseases.

These Airline meal codes are super important, especially for people who need something very specific. By securing personalized holiday tour packages, you can ensure these dietary requirements are followed even during your stay, and restaurants are selected as per your preferences.

Don’t forget to secure hotel bookings online to enjoy a flavourful vacation without complications.

Discover: Why Does Airplane Food Taste Bland? The Answer Lies in the Air.

When to Order What, and How

If someone needs a special airline meal, it’s usually better to order at least 24–48 hours before the flight. Many airlines need that time to confirm, prepare, and load the correct trays.

The process isn’t too hard: during booking, look for the “meal preference” section. Or call the airline. Sometimes, specifying can save a lot of midair disappointment.

Why It Actually Matters?

Here’s why understanding airline meal options isn’t just a nerdy travel detail; it’s smart.

Health & Comfort: If someone’s diabetic, vegan, gluten-intolerant, or follows a religion, these meal types are lifesavers.
Better Experience: No more opening a tray and feeling betrayed by pasta when they’d hoped for something with vegetables.
Less Waste: Passengers request what they’ll actually eat = fewer wasted meals.

Airline meals sometimes get a bad rap, but once someone cracks the code, literally, those meal codes, they’re a lot more than just “food in the sky.” They’re little expressions of care, shaped by religion, health, culture, and altitude.

So next time when you apply for online visa services for 180+ countries and plan to overtake the world, never forget this guide, because you can’t do it on an empty stomach!

Summing Up

Airline food isn’t random; it’s built on a surprisingly organized system of airline meal options and codes. Whether someone needs vegan (VGML), halal (MOML), kosher (KSML), gluten-free (GFML), or something soft and bland (BLML), there’s a tray for that. Long international flights bring multi-course meals, while budget or class differences change things up. Knowing these airplane in-flight meal options means fewer surprises and more comfort in the clouds.

FAQs: Airline Meal Options

What is Hindu meal in airlines?
This meal is prepared following Hindu customs, and is made avoiding pork, beef, veal, raw or smoked fish. It’s an Indian-style meal, which can be slightly spicy, served with rice or roti.

What kind of food is served on flights?
Depending on the hours of travel, you’ll be served a snack or meal on your flight. The meal will contain a main course, where you can choose if you want the veg or non-veg option. The meal also comes with sides and a dessert.

What is CPML and Cptr in flight?
CPML is the complimentary meal, which is a free meal and beverage provided to a passenger, depending on their ticket. CPTR is a corporate traveller meal, booked through a corporate fare agreement.

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Airline Meal Options: Finding The Best Choice for You in the Skies

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Many Flavors of Sky Fare: Types of Meals on Airlines

Explore: Top 5 Airlines Serving the Best In-Flight Meal

Meals for Those Having Certain Health Conditions

Discover: Why Does Airplane Food Taste Bland? The Answer Lies in the Air.

When to Order What, and How

Why It Actually Matters?

Summing Up

FAQs: Airline Meal Options

Also Read

Akbar Travels Services

Best Flight Deals

Domestic Flights

International Flights

Best Hotel Deals

Apply Visa Online

International Tour Packages

Domestic Tour Packages

Packages by Themes

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