Requesting an
Allergy Meal on a Flight
Five steps, in order: pick the right code, book it early, confirm it before you fly, check for it the moment you board, and have a backup ready regardless. Most of what goes wrong with special meal requests happens because one of these steps got skipped, not because the airline ignored the request.
Step 1: Request it when you book, or right after
The request goes through the same "Manage My Booking" or "My Trips" section you'd use to select seats, usually under a special assistance, special service request, or dietary requirements option. If you booked through a travel agent or a third-party site, you may need to call the operating airline directly, since not every booking channel passes special meal requests through correctly. Do this as soon as you have a confirmed itinerary. Some meal categories are limited to a set number per flight and can be unavailable if you wait until the week before departure.
Step 2: Pick the right meal code
Most international airlines use a shared set of IATA special meal codes. Picking the wrong one is one of the most common mistakes allergy travelers make, usually by assuming a plant-based code covers a nut allergy when it doesn't.
| Code | Meal type | Good fit for | Not a fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| GFML | Gluten-free | Celiac disease, wheat allergy | Any other allergen; not necessarily nut- or dairy-free |
| NLML | Non-lactose | Dairy allergy or lactose intolerance | Egg allergy (eggs are not dairy); other allergens |
| VGML | Vegan | Dairy and egg avoidance as a side effect of no animal products | Nut, soy, sesame, or gluten allergies — plant-based meals often lean on these as protein sources |
| AVML | Asian vegetarian | General vegetarian preference | Nut allergies specifically — commonly contains peanuts or tree nuts despite being plant-based |
| BLML | Bland | A simplified, low-seasoning baseline when nothing else fits well, or for multiple allergies at once | Guaranteeing exclusion of any specific allergen — it's simpler, not allergen-free |
| SFML | Seafood | Passengers who want seafood | Fish or shellfish allergies — this is the opposite of what you want |
| CHML | Child | Young children with no allergy restrictions | Allergy accommodation — typically high in dairy, wheat, and sugar |
There is no universal IATA code for a peanut-free or tree-nut-free meal, which is a genuine gap in the system rather than an oversight on your part. A small number of carriers, including Japan Airlines, offer a dedicated peanut-free meal outside the standard code list, and a few others offer their own multi-allergen-free program built on top of it. If your airline doesn't have one, BLML is usually the closest standard fallback, paired with your own backup food.
Compare how 19 major airlines actually handle peanut and nut allergies before you pick a carrier.
See the Airline Comparison →Step 3: Confirm it 24 to 48 hours before departure
Booking the request and having it actually load onto the flight's catering manifest are two different things, and the gap between them is where most special-meal failures happen. Call the airline directly, or check "Manage My Booking," roughly 24 to 48 hours before departure to confirm the meal is still attached to your reservation. Some international carriers ask for longer windows for allergen-specific meals or a special seat-cleaning request, closer to 48 to 96 hours, so check your specific airline's stated window rather than assuming 24 hours is always enough.
If your itinerary includes a connection, a codeshare segment, or an award ticket booked through a different airline's program, request and confirm the meal separately for every operating carrier on the itinerary. A meal request tied to your original booking does not automatically transfer to a partner airline operating one of the legs.
Step 4: Check for it the moment you board
Don't wait until meal service to find out whether the request went through. As you board, ask the flight attendant to confirm your special meal is on the catering manifest for that flight. If it isn't, this is the point where crew still have the best chance of tracking it down or finding an alternative before the cabin doors close and the galley locks in for the flight. Waiting until food service starts to raise the issue leaves the crew with far fewer options.
Step 5: Bring your own backup, every time
Even a correctly loaded, correctly labeled special meal was prepared in a shared catering kitchen alongside meals that do contain your allergen. Treat the special meal as a bonus, not the plan. Bring sealed, shelf-stable food you know is safe for every segment of the trip, including layovers and delays, regardless of whether the meal was confirmed. This is the one part of the process that doesn't depend on a booking system, a catering kitchen, or which crew happens to be working your specific flight.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance do I need to request a special meal on a flight?
Most airlines want 24 to 48 hours before departure; some international carriers ask for 48 to 96 hours for allergen-specific meals or seat-cleaning requests. Book as early as possible, ideally at the time of booking, since some meal categories have limited daily capacity per flight.
What meal code should I request for a peanut or tree nut allergy?
There's no universal IATA code for a peanut- or nut-free meal. A few carriers, including Japan Airlines, offer their own dedicated peanut-free meal outside the standard code list. Elsewhere, BLML (bland meal) is usually the closest standard fallback, treated as reduced-risk rather than guaranteed nut-free.
What happens if my special meal doesn't show up on the flight?
It happens more often on connections, codeshares, and last-minute schedule changes than most travelers expect. Ask the flight attendant to check the catering manifest as soon as you board, not once meal service starts. Always carry your own sealed backup food regardless of whether the meal was confirmed.
Is a vegan or vegetarian meal safe for a nut allergy?
No. Vegan and vegetarian meals, including the Asian Vegetarian Meal (AVML), exclude meat and animal products, not nuts. Several commonly contain peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame as a protein source. Don't use a plant-based code as a substitute for a nut-allergy accommodation.