What Is the Asian Vegetarian Meal on Air India?

Updated October 2026 · HappyFares

If you eat vegetarian food and fly Air India, you will see the code AVML on special meal lists. This guide explains what it means, how to ask for it and what to confirm before you travel.

What does AVML mean on Air India?

AVML stands for Asian Vegetarian Meal. It is one of the standard special meal codes used by airlines worldwide, and Air India lists it on its special meals page. According to Air India, the Asian Vegetarian Meal is a vegetarian meal prepared in an Indian style, and it may include dairy products.

That last point matters. Vegetarian in the Indian sense usually allows milk, curd, paneer and ghee, and the AVML follows that idea. If you avoid dairy as well, for example because you follow a vegan diet or have a milk allergy, do not assume AVML is right for you. Ask Air India which special meal suits that need, and mention any allergy clearly when you request it.

The word “Asian” in the code comes from the global airline meal system, where the code is shared across many carriers. On Air India, the airline’s own description is the one to rely on, because menus and recipes differ between airlines and can change over time.

How do you request an Asian Vegetarian Meal?

Air India says special meals can be requested through Manage Booking, through customer service, or through your travel agent. The airline also lets you pre-order a meal on its website. Because Air India asks for requests ahead of travel, do not count on arranging one at the airport counter on the day, so plan this when you book or soon after.

A simple routine works well:

• Keep your booking reference (PNR) and the surname used on the ticket ready.
• Open Manage Booking on the Air India website or app and look for the meal or special services option for your flight.
• Select the Asian Vegetarian Meal for each passenger who wants it. The request is per traveller, not per booking.
• If the option does not appear for your flight, contact Air India customer service and ask them to add the request to your booking.
• Check your confirmation and carry a screenshot of it.

Special meals on an airline are generally planned and loaded at the catering stage, which is why a request made at the last minute can be missed. Treat the request as part of your booking checklist, in the same way you would add baggage or seat selection.

How much notice does Air India need?

Air India asks passengers to request a special meal at least 24 hours before departure. This is the figure given on the airline’s special meals information, and it applies in general terms to the meals Air India offers on request.

Treat 24 hours as the minimum, not the target. Asking at the time of booking, or a few days ahead, leaves room to fix any problem, such as the option not showing up in your booking. If your trip is booked at short notice, less than a day before departure, you may not be able to get the special meal, so carry a vegetarian snack you are comfortable eating as a backup.

If you booked a ticket through a travel agent, the agent can pass on the request, but it is worth checking with the airline later that the meal is actually showing against your booking.

Which flights and cabins offer it?

This is where you should check rather than assume. Air India’s special meals page is written for its own flights, and the airline says that if your flight or part of your journey is operated by a partner airline, you need to contact that partner’s customer care for the meal request. A codeshare ticket can therefore be a partial case: the Air India flight may offer AVML while the partner’s flight follows its own process.

Meal service on board also differs by route and by fare. On many short domestic flights the airline may sell food rather than serve a complimentary tray, and availability of special meals can vary by route. Air India does not, on the pages we reviewed, publish a single list of every flight and cabin where AVML is offered. So the safe approach is to look at your own booking in Manage Booking: if the meal option appears for that flight, it is available to request, and if it does not, ask customer service before you travel.

We did not find a clear published statement on which cabins carry AVML, so we are not claiming one. Ask the airline for your specific flight.

What should you check before and during the flight?

A few small habits reduce the chance of a mix-up:

• Confirm the request. A day before flying, open Manage Booking again and check that the meal is still shown against each traveller.
• Tell the crew. Let the cabin crew know early if yours has not arrived, since the main service often starts quickly.
• Read the tray. If the meal looks different from what you expected, ask the crew to check what it contains. Recipes can differ from one route or caterer to another.
• Mention allergies. A meal code is a dietary preference, not an allergy guarantee. Declare allergies directly to the airline.
• Carry a backup. A sealed packet of dry fruits or a fruit is a sensible extra on a long flight if your plans change.

One small aviation fact: meal codes like AVML are a shared language across airlines, a four-letter shorthand that lets a booking system, a caterer and a cabin crew all understand the same request.

Common Questions

Is AVML the same as a Jain meal?

No. AVML is a separate meal code. Jain dietary needs are different, for example around certain vegetables, so ask Air India whether it can accommodate them on your flight rather than assuming AVML covers it.

Is the Asian Vegetarian Meal free?

We could not confirm a single rule for every flight and fare, so check at the time of requesting. On flights where Air India includes a meal in the fare, the special meal usually replaces the regular one. On flights where food is sold separately, pricing follows the airline’s on-board or pre-order rules.

Can I request it at the airport?

Air India asks for requests at least 24 hours before departure, so a request at the airport on the day is unlikely to work. Make the request online or by calling the airline in advance.

Can I request AVML for children?

We did not confirm what Air India offers as a special meal for children, so ask customer service what is available for the child on your flight and request it in the same window.

What if my flight is operated by a partner airline?

Air India says to contact that partner airline’s customer care. Their meal codes, cut-off times and menus may differ from Air India’s.

Does HappyFares arrange special meals?

No. HappyFares sells flights only. Special meals are requested from the airline through its own Manage Booking page or customer service.

Meal options, notice periods and rules change. Verify current specifics with Air India before you travel.