Yes, you can fly while fasting. Indian airlines offer pre-booked vegetarian meals and, on some airlines, a Jain vegetarian meal, but you must usually order in advance through Manage Booking. Air India asks for special meal requests at least 24 hours before departure. For strict fasts, carrying your own permitted food is often the safest plan.
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
Dev Uthani Ekadashi falls on 20 or 21 November 2026 depending on the tradition and the local panchang, and many people observe a fast that day. Check your own calendar for the day you observe. If you are flying on a fasting day, a little planning saves you from finding nothing suitable on the trolley.
Can I get a vegetarian or Jain meal on Indian airlines?
Yes, with notice. Most Indian airlines treat vegetarian and Jain meals as pre-order items rather than something the crew can produce on the spot. The common pattern is that you pick the meal in the booking flow or in Manage Booking, and the airline loads it for your flight.
- Air India: its dining page lists a Vegetarian Jain Meal that follows Jain dietary rules, so read that page for the exact ingredients left out. It says to request special meals at least 24 hours before departure through Manage Booking.
- IndiGo: meals are pre-booked from its 6E Eats menu on the website, app or Manage Booking, and are generally a paid add-on. Which items are listed depends on your route, so look at the menu for your own flight rather than assuming a Jain option exists.
- Air India Express: meals can usually be pre-ordered online through the add-ons step in Manage Booking, with a cut-off that depends on whether the flight is domestic or international.
- Akasa Air: check the meal options in your booking or Manage Booking. Read the deadline from the airline’s own page.
Menus, prices and cut-offs change, so use the airline’s own booking page as the final word.
How early do I need to pre-book a fasting meal?
Treat 24 hours before departure as the practical minimum, and book earlier if you can. Air India states 24 hours for special meal requests. Other airlines set their own windows, and some are shorter for domestic flights, but a meal booked at the last minute may simply not be loaded.
The best time to order is when you book the ticket, since the meal choice sits next to the seat selection. If you have already booked, open Manage Booking and add it there.
Does a vegetarian meal count as a fasting meal?
Not necessarily. Fasting rules differ between households, regions and festivals. Some people avoid grains and pulses on Ekadashi, some avoid onion and garlic, and some eat only fruit or milk-based items. An airline vegetarian meal is built for general vegetarian passengers, and an airline’s Jain meal follows Jain dietary rules, which are not the same as an Ekadashi or Navratri fast.
Airlines do not generally publish a special fasting menu, so do not assume one exists. If your fast is strict, read the meal description at booking, and treat the airline’s meal as a backup rather than your main plan.
What can I carry from home for a fast?
Dry, packaged and homemade items are usually fine in cabin baggage, since they are solid foods. Fruit, dry fruits, nuts, makhana and roasted snacks travel well. Liquids and semi-liquids such as curd, pickle or chutney can fall under the liquids limit in cabin bags, so pack those in checked baggage if you need them, or leave them out.
- Pack food in sealed containers that will not leak.
- Carry an empty bottle and fill it after security, so you have water that suits your fast.
- Keep fruit and snacks easy to reach, not buried at the bottom of the bag.
- On short domestic flights, eat before you leave for the airport, so the flight itself is not the main meal.
An aviation fact worth knowing: airline meals are prepared by catering kitchens on the ground and loaded onto the aircraft before departure, which is why special meal requests have a cut-off.
What should I do on the day of travel?
Check your booking a day ahead to confirm the meal shows against your name. Mention your meal to the cabin crew as you board. If the meal is missing, ask politely what vegetarian options remain on board, and have your own snacks ready as backup.
Also leave a little extra time at the airport on festival days. Travel is often busier around major festivals, and queues at security can be longer than usual.
Common Questions
Is there a Jain meal on every Indian airline?
Not necessarily. Air India lists a Vegetarian Jain Meal on its dining page. On other airlines, look at the meal list for your specific flight, since availability can vary by route and flight type.
Can I order a meal after I have already booked?
Usually yes, through Manage Booking on the airline’s website or app, as long as you are inside the airline’s cut-off time.
Are pre-booked meals free?
It depends on the airline and fare. Air India’s dining page covers its specialised meals, so check there and in the booking flow whether any charge applies on your fare. IndiGo sells meals as a paid add-on on most fares. Check the price shown in the booking flow.
Can I bring my own food on board?
Generally yes for solid food in cabin baggage, subject to security screening and the liquids limit. Check your airline’s baggage page for any restrictions.
What if my flight is a codeshare?
On a codeshare, special meal rules can differ from the operating airline’s. Contact the airline that operates the flight to confirm before you rely on a pre-booked meal.
Is checking in online free?
No. Checking in is free with Indian airlines.
Flying around the festive season? Search flights on HappyFares, set a price alert, and ask Meera, our AI assistant, to help you compare options. Domestic bookings carry zero convenience fee.
Meal options, prices and booking cut-offs change. Please verify current specifics with your airline before you travel.
