Vegetarian Meal Codes for International Flights: VGML, VJML, AVML Guide

Every year, millions of Indian vegetarians fly internationally — and a large share of them end up with the wrong meal because they didn’t know which code to select. The IATA special meal system uses four-letter codes, and picking VGML when you meant AVML means getting a bland Western vegan plate instead of a spiced paneer tray. More than twenty distinct special meal codes are in active use across IATA member airlines. This guide covers every vegetarian code you need, what’s in each meal, and exactly how to request it.

TL;DR: For Indian vegetarians, AVML is the right code for spiced Indian-style food (dairy included). Choose VJML for Jain meals (no root vegetables, no onion/garlic). Use VGML only if you’re strictly vegan. Book on HappyFares, then add the code with the airline: the 24-hour airline deadline is easy to miss.

What Are IATA Meal Codes and Why Do They Matter?

IATA meal codes are four-letter shorthand that airlines and catering kitchens use worldwide to handle special dietary requests. According to IATA’s Standard Schedules Information Manual, these codes are accepted by all major full-service carriers globally (IATA SSIM, 2024 edition). Without a code, your meal preference is not communicated to the catering team at all.

The codes matter because “vegetarian” means different things in different food cultures. A Western airline’s default vegetarian meal often contains eggs and dairy. An East Asian airline’s vegetarian option may use fish stock in the broth. If you’re a lacto-vegetarian, a Jain, or a strict vegan, you need the exact right code — not just a vague request written in the comments field.

Selecting the correct code at booking is the single most reliable way to eat well at 35,000 feet. Airlines prepare special meals in limited quantities to match confirmed requests. Last-minute verbal requests on board usually go unfulfilled.

The 5 Vegetarian IATA Meal Codes Explained

There are five distinct vegetarian codes in the IATA system, each designed for a different dietary philosophy. Vegetarian and vegan codes are among the most requested special meals on India-origin international routes, within the wider IATA special meal system. Here is what separates them.

AVML — Asian Vegetarian Meal

AVML is the most requested code by Indian travellers, and for good reason. It’s prepared in a South Asian / Hindu vegetarian style — think jeera rice, dal, paneer curry, sabzi, and roti. Dairy products like ghee, paneer, curd, and milk are permitted. Eggs and meat are strictly excluded.

Typical tray: Jeera or plain rice, dal makhani or yellow dal, paneer or mixed vegetable curry, raita, bread roll, and a dessert like halwa or gulab jamun.

Best for: Most Indian vegetarians who eat dairy and want familiar flavours. This is the right default choice for Hindu vegetarians, most South Indian vegetarians, and anyone who wants an Indian-style meal rather than a Western salad.

VJML — Jain Vegetarian Meal

VJML follows Jain dietary principles strictly. It excludes all root vegetables — no onion, garlic, potato, carrot, beetroot, ginger, radish, or turnip. Mushrooms and fermented foods are also excluded. The meal is free of meat, fish, and eggs.

Typical tray: Steamed or jeera rice, a mild gravy made from above-ground vegetables like ridge gourd, bottle gourd, or capsicum, roti, a piece of fruit, and a simple sweet like semolina halwa (without ghee on some carriers).

Best for: Jain travellers and anyone observing paryushana or similar dietary restrictions. It’s also a safe choice for people who prefer onion-garlic-free cooking for personal reasons.

Important deadline note: Most airlines require VJML requests at least 48 hours before departure. Jain-compliant sourcing takes longer than standard vegetarian catering. Don’t leave this until the day before.

Many Jain travellers book AVML instead of VJML because they don’t know the code exists. If you’re Jain and you’ve been receiving onion-based gravies on international flights, you were likely on the wrong code.

VGML — Vegetarian Vegan Meal

VGML is strictly plant-based: no meat, fish, eggs, dairy, or honey. The preparation style is typically Western — think grain bowls, pasta with tomato sauce, steamed vegetables, or couscous. This is not an Indian-style meal; the catering kitchen treats it as a Western vegan plate.

Typical tray: Pasta with tomato-vegetable sauce or couscous with grilled vegetables, a green salad, bread roll without butter, and fresh fruit.

Best for: Strict vegans who avoid all animal products. If you’re vegetarian but not vegan, AVML will serve you far better — the food is more familiar and better-flavoured for Indian palates.

RVML — Raw Vegetarian Meal

RVML is a niche code for raw food followers — no cooked ingredients, no processed foods. The meal consists of uncooked fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. It’s rarely offered on all airlines; availability is limited to a subset of major carriers on long-haul routes.

Typical tray: A plate of sliced raw fruit, raw vegetable crudités, nuts, seeds, and perhaps a small raw salad with a basic dressing.

Best for: Travellers following a strict raw food diet. Not relevant for most Indian travellers — mention it only if you know you need it.

VLML — Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian Meal

VLML is the Western vegetarian standard: dairy and eggs are permitted, but no meat or fish. It’s essentially the default “vegetarian” meal in most Western cultures. Expect omelettes, cheese-based dishes, pasta with cream sauce, or egg-fried preparations.

Typical tray: Vegetable quiche or cheese pasta, garden salad, yoghurt, bread and butter, dessert like cheesecake or yoghurt parfait.

Best for: Indian travellers who eat eggs and are comfortable with Western-style cooking. Not suitable if you’re a strict lacto-vegetarian who avoids eggs — choose AVML instead.

Quick Reference: Vegetarian Meal Code Comparison

The IATA meal code system covers more than twenty dietary categories, and the vegetarian codes are the ones most Indian travellers need. Use this table to pick the right code before you book.

How to Request a Special Meal on Your Booking

Adding a meal code takes a couple of minutes and removes the risk of missing the airline’s deadline. The request has to reach the operating airline’s own PNR, so the reliable route is to book your flight, then add the code with that airline as soon as the PNR is issued. Doing it early is what locks it in.

Step 1 — Search and Select Your Flight

Search your route on happyfares.in and select your preferred international flight. Proceed to the passenger details screen.

Step 2 — Add Your Meal Preference

Once your booking is confirmed, open the operating airline’s manage-booking page and sign in with your airline PNR and surname. Look for the “Special Requests” or “Meal Preference” section and select your code. Airlines accept a separate preference for each passenger, so a family travelling together can mix AVML, VJML, and VGML.

Step 3 — Complete Booking and Confirm PNR

After payment, your confirmation carries the airline PNR. Keep it handy: it is what the airline needs in order to attach the meal code. Log into the airline’s manage booking page 48 hours before departure to verify the code is still showing — schedule changes can occasionally reset meal requests.

What If You’ve Already Booked Without a Meal Code?

Add it on the operating airline’s manage-booking page, or call the airline, as soon as possible and ideally outside the 24-hour deadline. HappyFares support can help you find the airline PNR you need for that. If you’re within 24 hours, inform the cabin crew at boarding — they’ll do their best, but it’s not guaranteed.

Airline-Specific Quirks: What to Expect by Carrier Type

Special meals do go missing, most often on return legs from Western hubs where the catering kitchen is less familiar with Indian dietary requirements. Understanding how different airlines handle the process reduces the risk.

Airlines on India Routes

Full-service carriers operating direct flights from Indian metros typically handle AVML and VJML very well. Indian catering kitchens at Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore airports have decades of experience preparing these meals at volume. The spicing is authentic and portion sizes are generous. On the return leg — say, London to Delhi — quality depends on the overseas catering kitchen. Some are excellent; others produce a generic “Indian-inspired” plate that bears little resemblance to the real thing.

Gulf Carriers (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad)

Gulf airlines handle AVML consistently well on India-origin flights because they cater to a very large Indian passenger base. Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi catering units all maintain dedicated Indian vegetarian lines. VJML is also reliably available if requested 48 hours in advance. These carriers publish sample special meal menus on their websites — worth checking before you fly.

European and North American Carriers

Airlines like Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, and United generally manage AVML adequately on long-haul sectors. However, on connecting intra-European or domestic US legs, special meal availability may drop significantly — the catering kitchen may not prepare AVML for short segments. Always carry backup snacks for connection flights.

East and Southeast Asian Carriers

Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and ANA take special meal requests seriously. AVML quality is generally good on India routes. On other Asian routes with fewer Indian passengers, VOML (Vegetarian Oriental) may be the better choice if the kitchen is more familiar with that preparation style.

What Does Each Meal Actually Contain? A Typical Tray Breakdown

Airlines serving Indian routes prepare special meals to the IATA code definitions, though the exact contents vary by carrier and by catering kitchen. Here’s what you can realistically expect on a long-haul flight tray for each vegetarian code.

AVML Tray (Typical Long-Haul)

• Main: Jeera or plain rice + one dal (makhani, tadka, or yellow) + one subzi (paneer, mixed vegetables, or aloo-based)
• Bread: 1-2 rotis or a bread roll
• Accompaniments: Raita or plain curd, pickle
• Dessert: Gulab jamun, halwa, or kheer
• Salad: Small green salad or sliced vegetables

VJML Tray (Typical Long-Haul)

• Main: Steamed or cumin rice + mild gravy of ridge gourd, bottle gourd, or capsicum (no onion/garlic)
• Bread: Dry roti (no butter/ghee on strict Jain variants)
• Accompaniments: Plain boiled lentils, sliced raw vegetables or plain salad
• Dessert: Fresh fruit, semolina-based sweet, or dry halwa
• Snack: Dry poha or plain puffed rice on some carriers

VGML Tray (Typical Long-Haul)

• Main: Pasta with tomato-herb sauce, couscous with roasted vegetables, or grain bowl
• Bread: Crusty roll (no butter)
• Accompaniments: Mixed leaf salad with oil-based dressing
• Dessert: Fresh fruit or sorbet
• Beverage: Often served with an unsweetened herbal tea or juice

Common Questions

What is the difference between AVML and VGML?

AVML (Asian Vegetarian Meal) is prepared in an Indian/South Asian style with spices and may include dairy like paneer and ghee. VGML (Vegan Meal) is strictly plant-based — no dairy, no eggs, no honey — and follows a Western preparation style. Most Indian vegetarians prefer AVML for familiar flavours.

What does a VJML Jain meal exclude?

A VJML Jain meal excludes all root vegetables — no onion, garlic, potato, carrot, beetroot, or ginger. It is fully vegetarian and free of eggs. Most airlines require VJML requests at least 48 hours before departure because sourcing Jain-compliant ingredients takes longer.

How far in advance must I request a special meal?

Most international airlines require special meal requests at least 24 hours before departure. For VJML (Jain) and KSML (Kosher) meals, 48 hours is the safer deadline. The best approach is to book early on HappyFares and add the meal code with the airline as soon as your PNR is issued.

Is there a charge for special vegetarian meals on international flights?

No. On full-service international airlines, special dietary meals including AVML, VJML, VGML, and RVML are included at no extra charge in economy, business, and first class. You just need to request in advance. Low-cost carriers may charge for any pre-ordered meal regardless of the type.

What if I forgot to request a special meal before my flight?

Inform the cabin crew as soon as you board. They may not have a pre-labelled AVML tray for you, but they can often assemble a vegetarian plate from available ingredients — bread, fruit, salad, and cheese. For longer flights, it is safer to carry dry snacks as backup.

Book Your International Flight With the Right Meal Code

Choosing the right meal code is a two-minute task that makes a real difference on a 9-hour flight. AVML for most Indian vegetarians, VJML for Jain travellers, VGML only for strict vegans. Add the code as soon as you have your PNR, not at the airport.

Search for your next international flight on happyfares.in, then add your meal code with the operating airline once your PNR is issued. If you are not sure where to find the PNR, the HappyFares help centre can point you to it.