When working in aviation you will be required to learn lots of key terminology (just take a look at this post all about IATA codes to get an idea of what you will need to learn). One of the areas that you will need to learn about are meal codes.
What are meal codes?
Meal codes are exactly as it says on the tin- a code that represents a particular meal. They are four-letter codes, standardised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), that airlines, caterers and crew use to identify special meals.
Why are meal codes important?
Cabin Crew and ground staff are required to know the different meal codes when delivering meal services onboard a flight. They need to be able to respond to the request of the passenger and deliver them the correct meal. This not only ensures that the passengers are happy and receive a good standard of customer service, but it also ensures passengers don’t eat anything they are not allowed to. Special meals normally need to be requested when booking or at least 24–48 hours before departure, and they are listed on the passenger information list (PIL) so that crew know which passenger should receive each one.
Here are some examples of why Cabin Crew need to know the different meal codes:
- If a passenger has a baby or child onboard the flight, then Cabin Crew will need to give them a meal correlating to the correct codes (BBML or CHML).
- If a passenger has pre-ordered a religious meal, it is the responsibility of the Cabin Crew to make sure they receive it. E.g, if a passenger is Jewish they will require a Kosher meal (KSML) that contains Kosher foods. Similarly, if a passenger is Muslim they will require a Muslim meal (MOML) that contains halal foods. It is important they are given the correct meal so that they don’t eat foods which are not permitted in their religion.
- If a passenger has any dietary requirements then Cabin Crew will need to ensure they are given a meal that is safe and free from anything that could harm them. For example, someone with diabetes will require a diabetic meal (DBML), and a passenger with a gluten or lactose intolerance will require a gluten-free meal (GFML) or a non-lactose meal (NLML). This is especially important as if they were given the wrong meal they could become seriously ill.
- There may also be some passengers who request meals based on personal preference. For example, a vegetarian might request a lacto-ovo vegetarian meal (VLML), while a vegan would request a vegan meal (VGML), or a passenger may request a low-calorie meal (LCML) or a low fat/low cholesterol meal if they are watching their calorie or cholesterol intake.
To see how meal codes are used in action, take a look at this video made by easyJet crew.
Examples of meal codes
Here are some examples of meal codes that are commonly used in aviation:
- AVML – Asian Vegetarian meal
- BBML – infant/baby meal
- CHML – Child meal
- DBML – Diabetic meal
- FPML – Fruit platter
- GFML – Gluten free meal
- HNML – Hindu (non-vegetarian) meal
- KSML – Kosher meal
- LCML – Low-calorie meal
- LFML – Low fat/low cholesterol meal
- LSML – Low sodium/salt meal
- MOML – Muslim meal
- NLML – Non-lactose meal
- ORML – Asian (oriental) meal
- SFML – Seafood meal
- SPML – Special meal, food to be specified
- VJML – Vegetarian Jain meal
- VLML – Vegetarian lacto-ovo meal (contains dairy and eggs)
- VOML – Vegetarian oriental meal
- RVML – Raw vegetarian meal
- BLML – Bland meal
- VGML – Vegan (strict vegetarian) meal
Meal codes: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about airline meal codes.
What are airline meal codes?
Airline meal codes are four-letter codes, standardised by IATA, that identify special meals such as vegetarian, kosher, halal, gluten-free or children’s meals.
What does VGML mean on a flight?
VGML stands for vegan meal (sometimes called a strict vegetarian meal). It contains no meat, fish, dairy, eggs or honey. VLML is the code for a lacto-ovo vegetarian meal that can contain dairy and eggs.
What is the difference between KSML and MOML?
KSML is a kosher meal prepared according to Jewish dietary laws, while MOML is a Muslim meal that contains halal meat and no pork or alcohol.
How do I order a special meal on a flight?
Special meals are usually requested when booking or through the airline’s manage booking page, normally at least 24–48 hours before departure. Low-cost airlines often have more limited options.
Do cabin crew need to learn meal codes?
Yes. Cabin crew use meal codes to identify which passengers have pre-ordered special meals and to make sure each passenger receives the correct meal, which is particularly important for allergies and religious requirements.
Meal codes: further reading
So, there we have it- meal codes explained! If you found this article helpful, you may also like these articles:
- Are Airlines The New Tour Operator? Dynamic Packaging In Aviation
- The Fascinating History Of Aviation
- 20 Types Of Aircraft- The Past, Present + Future Of Air Travel
- IATA airport codes explained
- What is a pre-flight briefing?
- 150 Types Of Tourism! The Ultimate Tourism Glossary
