If you or someone you are travelling with has a food allergy, understanding airline allergy codes can make it easier to navigate meal requests and communicate your needs before a flight.
Airlines use a mixture of special meal codes and Special Service Request (SSR) codes. Some relate to a specific dietary requirement, while others may be used to record an allergy or request precautions on a booking. Learn more about the codes airlines use in my complete guide to airline codes for travellers.
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However, airline policies vary considerably. A code on your booking does not guarantee that a flight or meal will be completely free from an allergen, and not every airline offers every code.
Below are some of the airline codes most relevant to travellers with allergies.
Airline Special Meal Codes for Allergies
PFML – Peanut-Free Meal
PFML is used to refer to a Peanut-Free Meal.vWhere offered, this meal is intended for passengers who need to avoid peanuts. However, passengers with a peanut allergy should check exactly what the airline means by “peanut-free”.
An airline may be able to provide a meal that does not intentionally contain peanuts without guaranteeing that it has been prepared in an allergen-free environment. Cross-contamination may still be possible during manufacturing, catering, transport or onboard service.
If you have a severe peanut allergy, contact the airline before travelling rather than relying solely on requesting PFML.
Learn more about the PFML airline meal in my dedicated guide.
NFML – No Fish Meal
NFML refers to a No Fish Meal.
This may be relevant for passengers with a fish allergy or those who avoid fish for another reason. Depending on the airline and caterer, the meal may exclude fish without necessarily excluding shellfish or other seafood.
Passengers with a fish or shellfish allergy should therefore confirm exactly which ingredients are excluded and discuss the risk of cross-contamination directly with the airline.
Learn more about the airline no fish meals in my guide to the NFML code.
NLML – Non-Lactose Meal
NLML stands for Non-Lactose Meal and is primarily intended for passengers who are lactose intolerant. It is important to understand that lactose intolerance and a milk allergy are not the same thing.
A non-lactose meal may not be suitable for someone with a cow’s milk protein allergy. Products can be lactose-free while still containing milk proteins that could trigger an allergic reaction.
If you have a milk allergy, do not assume that ordering NLML will automatically provide an allergy-safe meal.
If you require a no-lactose meal you can learn more about it in my NLML meal guide.
GFML – Gluten-Free Meal
GFML stands for Gluten-Free Meal. This meal is generally intended for passengers who need or prefer to avoid gluten and may be suitable for some people with coeliac disease.
However, coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition rather than a food allergy. Travellers who require strict avoidance of gluten should still check the airline’s cross-contamination procedures, particularly if even small traces of gluten could be a problem.
The exact standards applied to GFML meals can vary between airlines and catering providers.
If you want to learn more about the GFML meal then head straight to my guide.
ALML – Allergy Meal
ALML may be used by some airlines or catering systems to identify an allergy-related meal request.
This is not as universally available or standardised as codes such as VGML or GFML. If you see ALML offered by an airline, check what allergens the meal actually excludes. An “allergy meal” should never be assumed to cover every possible allergen. You may still need to provide the airline with details of the specific food or foods you need to avoid.
Learn more in my guide to the ALML meal code.
SPML – Special Meal
SPML stands for Special Meal. This is a more general code that may be used when a passenger requires a meal that does not fit neatly into one of the standard special meal categories.
In some circumstances, an airline may use SPML for a passenger with multiple allergies or an unusual dietary requirement. However, requesting SPML does not automatically mean the meal will be suitable for allergies. You will normally need to contact the airline to explain exactly what you cannot eat and establish whether its catering provider can accommodate your requirements.
Learn more about this meal in my guide to the SPML code.
Airline Disability Allergy Codes
PNUT – Peanut or Nut Allergy SSR Code
PNUT may be used as an SSR or airline booking code relating to a peanut or nut allergy.
Unlike a special meal code, an SSR disability code is used to communicate a passenger’s particular needs within the reservation. Depending on the airline, adding a peanut allergy to the booking may help alert staff or trigger specific procedures.
The assistance available varies. Some airlines may make an onboard announcement asking passengers not to consume nuts, suspend the sale or service of certain nut products, or create a buffer zone around the passenger. Others explicitly state that they cannot provide a nut-free environment. Learn more about the accommodations that airlines can make for passengers with allergies.
None of these measures can guarantee that an aircraft will be completely free from peanuts or nuts.
Can Vegetarian or Vegan Airline Meals Help With Allergies?
Some passengers use vegetarian or vegan meals to avoid particular ingredients. For example, someone avoiding dairy and eggs may consider requesting a VGML Vegan Meal. This can sometimes reduce the likelihood of certain ingredients being intentionally included, but it should not be treated as an allergy meal.
A vegan meal could still contain common allergens such as nuts, peanuts, sesame, soya, wheat or mustard. Similarly, vegetarian meals may contain milk, eggs and other allergens. Choose a special meal based on the ingredients you need to avoid, not simply on the name of the dietary category. And always, always contact the airline about your allergy before you travel.
What If I Have Multiple Food Allergies?
Multiple allergies can make airline catering considerably more complicated. Standard special meals are designed around broad dietary categories and may not accommodate a combination of individual allergies. For example, a gluten-free meal could contain dairy, while a vegan meal could contain nuts or sesame.
If you have multiple allergies, contact the airline well before departure and explain each allergen individually. Ask whether the information can be recorded on your booking and whether the catering team can provide a suitable meal.
For severe or complex allergies, you may decide that bringing your own food is the safest option. It is important to learn about travelling with medical luggage, because you could be entitled to bring extra baggage for free so you can travel with safe foods for your trip.
Remember to check airport security and customs rules, particularly when travelling internationally, as restrictions may apply to liquids and certain foods at your destination.
Should I Tell the Airline About My Allergy?
If you have a potentially serious allergy, it is sensible to inform the airline before you fly. Do this even if you have already selected a special meal.
Depending on the airline, allergy information may be added to your booking or passed to relevant airport and cabin crew. You should also tell cabin crew about a serious allergy when you board. While travelling with my daughter and her milk allergy we were often told “tell every member of staff you meet” when it comes to an allergy because the more people that know, the better.
Ask the airline what precautions it can realistically provide rather than assuming that a particular code guarantees specific procedures.
Can an Airline Guarantee a Nut-Free Flight?
Generally, airlines cannot guarantee a completely nut-free or allergen-free aircraft. Other passengers may bring their own food onboard, and traces of allergens may remain from previous flights. Airline meals are also commonly prepared in large catering facilities where multiple allergens are handled.
Even when an airline stops serving a particular product or makes an announcement, it may not be possible to eliminate every potential source of exposure.
Passengers at risk of anaphylaxis should follow the medical advice they have been given regarding carrying emergency medication. I have a gudie that talks more about flying with EpiPens that should help you when planning that next flight.
Travelling With Adrenaline Auto-Injectors
If you have been prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors, such as EpiPen or Jext, keep them accessible during your journey rather than placing them in checked baggage.
It can also be useful to carry medication in its original packaging and bring supporting documentation where appropriate, particularly when travelling internationally. Often it is best to have a doctors letter with you for your medication and I have a guide that breaks down what to include on a travel letter so you can be sure it covers everything it needs to.
Check the rules for carrying medication in both your departure country and destination before travelling. Just because a medication is legal where you live, it does not mean it will be allowed in your destination country (medication in general, not specifically allergy medications).
How to Request an Allergy-Related Meal or Add an Allergy to Your Booking
The process varies by airline, but you may be able to request a special meal while booking, through Manage My Booking or by contacting the airline directly.
Special meals usually need to be requested in advance. Deadlines vary, so check with your airline rather than leaving the request until you arrive at the airport. Typically you will have to add an airline special meal at least 48 hours before departure to secure it on your flight.
For a serious allergy, contacting the airline directly can also give you an opportunity to ask about:
- Which allergy-related meal options are available
- Whether your specific allergy can be recorded on the booking
- How the airline handles cross-contamination risks
- Whether onboard announcements or other precautions are available
- Whether you can pre-board to clean your seating area
- The airline’s rules for carrying your own food
- Any documentation required for medication
Are Airline Allergy Codes the Same on Every Airline?
No. Although many four-letter special meal codes are widely recognised within aviation, airlines do not all offer the same meals or interpret less common codes in exactly the same way. Some airlines may also have their own internal procedures for recording allergies that are not visible to passengers.
This is why it is important to use airline codes as a starting point rather than treating them as a guarantee.
Which Airline Code Should I Use for a Food Allergy?
The most appropriate code depends on the allergy and the options offered by your airline.
PFML may be relevant for peanut avoidance, NFML for avoiding fish, and ALML may be available as a broader allergy-related meal with some airlines. PNUT may be used to record a peanut or nut allergy as an SSR, while SPML may sometimes be used for more individual or complex meal requirements.
Codes such as NLML and GFML may also be relevant to certain dietary restrictions, but they should not be assumed to provide protection from other allergens.
The safest approach is to check the exact meaning of the code with the airline and discuss your specific allergy before travelling.
Resources for Travellers With Allergies
If you are travelling with a food allergy, planning ahead can make flying feel much more manageable. Explore our resources for travellers with allergies to learn more about airline meal codes, special meal requests, notifying airlines about allergies, carrying medication and food onboard, and other practical steps you can take before your journey.
- Start with my guide to travelling with allergies
- Download the list of airline meal codes for your own reference
- Make use of the ultimate holiday checklist by Natasha’s Foundation
- Follow Abigail and her children on allergy-safe tips at @allergysafemiles
- Learn everything you can from Allie @miss_allergic_reactor
- Learn more from my own allergy travel page @allergyfamilytravelguide
Airline meal and SSR codes can help communicate dietary and allergy-related requirements, but there is no single universal airline code that guarantees an allergen-free meal or flight.
PFML, NFML, ALML, PNUT and SPML are among the codes you may encounter when researching allergy-related airline requirements, while codes such as GFML and NLML cover dietary needs that are sometimes confused with allergies.
If you have a serious food allergy, contact your airline in advance, explain the specific allergen involved and ask what precautions are available. Always check the ingredients of any meal you are served and follow your usual medical plan for managing accidental exposure while travelling.
Continue Learning About Airline Meal Codes
Airlines use a wide range of special meal codes for passengers with dietary, religious and medical requirements. If you are comparing your options, continue reading our guides to airline special meal codes to find out what each meal code means and which option may be most suitable for your next flight.
- Airline meal codes and what they mean
- What does CHML mean?
- What does HNML mean?
- What does VLML mean?
- What does DBML mean?
- What does LSML mean?
- What does ORML mean?
Continue Planning Your Trip With an Allergy
- Start at the beginning – learn about travelling with an allergy from my main guide
- Learn about airline meal codes and what they stand for so you can be sure your meal is allergen free
- Find out what is in my babies allergy travel bag so you can save yourself the headache of packing without a list
- Explore what it means to fly with medical luggage as an allergy travellers
- Download and print some free allergy translation cards before your trip
- Find out what Equal Eats allergy translation cards are and how to use them to travel safer
- Learn why it is important to learn important phrases related to your allergy before you travel and downloaed the free accessible travel translations eBook
- Figure out what to include on a doctors travel letter for medication so you can get it right the first time
- Find out more about flying with EpiPens so you can travel with confidence
- Airport special assistance links for airports around the world
Continue Planning Your Accessible Travels Using My Guides
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