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Ordering vegan airline meals should be simple, and most of the time it is.
The problem is that airlines all seem to have slightly different rules. Some ask you to order at least 24 hours before you fly, others need longer, and special meals may not be available on every route. Then there are the meal codes. Does vegetarian mean vegan?
If you’re flying to Thailand, Vietnam or Japan, sorting this out before you leave home can make a big difference to both ends of your trip. Your flights are the one part of your holiday outside your tour operator’s control, so it’s worth getting them right before you go.
If Thailand is your destination, our guide to vegan travel in Thailand also covers some of the food issues worth knowing about once you arrive.
Here is what you need to know.
What does VGML mean?
The main airline meal code to remember is VGML. Airlines may describe this as a Vegan Meal or Vegetarian Vegan Meal, but either way, VGML is the code to look for. It should exclude meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy and animal derived ingredients.
Most airlines describe VGML clearly enough. For example, Emirates says it excludes animal products and by products, including eggs, dairy, gelatine, animal fats and honey. Qatar Airways uses similarly clear wording, while Singapore Airlines describes VGML as free from meat, seafood, eggs and dairy.
The details can still vary by airline and route, so check the airline’s current special meal information when you book.
The actual food on your tray depends on the airline, airport and caterer, it might be a vegetable curry, pasta, or rice with tofu. VGML tells the airline what type of meal you need, not which dish you’ll get.
VGML, VLML and AVML: what’s the difference?
Several options sound suitable but still contain animal products.
Quick answer: VGML is normally the correct choice for vegan passengers.
- VGML: Vegan Meal or Vegetarian Vegan Meal. No meat, fish, eggs or dairy.
- VLML: Vegetarian Lacto Ovo Meal. May contain eggs and dairy.
- AVML: Asian Vegetarian Meal, generally Indian or South Asian style. May contain dairy, depending on the airline.
There are other options too, including Jain, raw vegetarian and fruit meals, but VGML is normally the clearest choice for a standard vegan meal.
Don’t rely on the word vegetarian by itself. Read the airline’s description and look specifically for the vegan option.
How to order a vegan meal on a flight
Most airlines let you request a special meal while booking or later via Manage Booking, on their website or app.
Where do I find the meal option?
Every airline hides it somewhere different, usually under Manage Booking, Special Assistance or Special Meals once your ticket is issued. If you can’t find it, search your airline’s name plus “special meals.”
Check whether a meal is served
Not every flight includes a full meal. A short regional flight may offer only a snack or nothing at all, and some airlines limit special meals on shorter routes. Check what service your flight actually includes before worrying about the code.
Request VGML as early as possible
Add the request as soon as the flight is booked. Many airlines require at least 24 hours’ notice, some need longer, so the deadline shown in your own booking is the one that matters.
Check every flight separately
This is probably the most important part. A journey from London to Bangkok might appear as one booking but include more than one flight, sometimes with more than one airline, even if you only booked with one.
Check that VGML appears against:
- Your outbound flight
- Every connecting flight
- Your return flights
- Every passenger who requires that meal type
Don’t assume adding it once covers the entire journey. Also check the “operated by” information on your itinerary, the airline flying the aircraft isn’t always the one on your ticket.
Save the confirmation, and check again before departure
Take a screenshot or save the confirmation email showing VGML against the correct passenger and flight. Then set a reminder to recheck Manage Booking a couple of days before you travel, and ask again at check in. It takes a minute and gives you a little more reassurance before boarding.
Are vegan airline meals any good?
Sometimes very good, sometimes perfectly acceptable, occasionally mostly beige. Airline food has a difficult job, prepared in advance, chilled, then reheated at 35,000 feet, so most vegan meals are better than people expect. A decent one might include curry, rice, vegetables, bread, fruit and a small dessert.
One small advantage: special meals are often served before the main service, so you might beat the post meal rush for the bathroom. The main aim isn’t to find the finest vegan food of your trip, it’s to have a proper meal you can eat during a long flight.
The flight just gets you there. The really good food starts once you land.
Common mistakes when ordering vegan airline food
- Choosing VLML or AVML without checking the ingredients
- Requesting VGML on the first flight but not the connection
- Forgetting to add it to the return journey
- Checking the ticketing airline rather than the operating carrier
- Waiting until check in to ask
- Assuming every flight includes a meal
- Treating an old third party airline list as current
- Assuming vegan automatically means allergen free
Should you take your own food?
Yes. Not an entire buffet, just enough for one missed meal or a delay, and nothing that’ll cause problems at security, soups, jams and spreads count as liquids.
Fresh fruit, vegetables and seeds may need to be eaten or discarded before arrival due to import restrictions, packaged food is usually the simplest option.
Take something you’d genuinely be happy to eat, not something crushed at the bottom of your bag for six months.
What if your vegan meal is missing?
Tell the cabin crew as early as possible, ideally once the seatbelt signs are off. They’ll usually check whether your meal was loaded, and if not, may be able to find a spare meal, snack, fruit or bread with ingredients they can check. Be clear about what you don’t eat, and stay polite, they didn’t book your flight or load the catering.
After the flight, if a confirmed VGML wasn’t provided, contact the operating airline with:
- Your booking reference, passenger name, date, flight number and route
- A copy of the meal confirmation
- A brief explanation of what happened
Keep it factual, so the airline can identify where the request failed and avoid it on your return flight.
VGML tells the airline you want a vegan meal, it isn’t an allergy request. If you have a serious food allergy, contact the airline directly and follow their medical guidance.
A simple checklist before you fly
- Check that food is served on every flight sector.
- Select VGML for every relevant passenger and flight.
- Check the operating airline.
- Save confirmation of the request.
- Recheck the booking before departure.
- Ask about it at check in.
- Carry a sensible backup.
That’s really all there is to it. Five minutes checking at home is much easier than trying to solve it after the aircraft doors have closed.
If you’d rather not spend the rest of the trip doing the same sort of checking for restaurants, meals and activities, that’s one of the reasons we run small-group vegan tours in Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.
Useful airline links
- ANA – international special meals
- British Airways – dietary requirements
- Cathay Pacific – Special meals
- Emirates – dietary requirements
- EVA Air – Special meals
- Japan Airlines – special meals
- Korean Air – Special meals
- Qatar Airways – special meals
- Singapore Airlines – special meals
- Singapore Airlines – meal requests
- Thai Airways – special in flight meals
- Vietnam Airlines – special meals
Frequently asked questions
VGML is the standard airline code for a vegan meal, but check the airline’s current description, each carrier controls its own menu and catering.
At least 24 hours for most airlines, some require more. Request it as soon as you book.
You can ask, but check in is often too late for a special meal to be prepared and loaded. Advance ordering is much more reliable.
Not necessarily, check every flight sector, particularly when another airline operates part of the journey.
Not automatically, vegan meals can contain common allergens. Contact the airline directly about any medical allergy.
Last updated: September 2026
