What Does ALML Mean? ALML Meal Code Explained

If you have seen the ALML meal code when booking a flight or looking through a list of airline special meals, you may be wondering what it means.

ALML is the airline meal code for an Allergen Meal.

An ALML meal is designed for passengers who need to avoid certain common food allergens when travelling by air. However, the exact ingredients excluded from an ALML meal can vary between airlines, and passengers with food allergies should never assume that requesting an ALML meal guarantees an allergen-free meal or environment. ALML can be assigned to a meal for a passenger who has a food allergy, but it does not describe a specific meal or set of ingredients and could be different each time.

In this guide, I explain what the ALML airline meal code means, what food may be included, who it may be suitable for and what passengers with food allergies should know before flying.

ALML Airline Meal Code Quick Wins

• ALML means Allergen Meal.
• An ALML airline meal is intended for passengers with certain food allergies.
• The allergens excluded from an ALML meal can vary depending on the airline.
• ALML meals are not offered by every airline.
• An ALML meal is not necessarily free from all major allergens.
• Passengers with severe food allergies should contact the airline directly before travelling.
• Special meals usually need to be requested at least 24 to 48 hours before departure.
• Always check that your ALML meal request has been confirmed before travelling.
• Consider carrying suitable food and snacks in case your special meal is unavailable or unsuitable.

What Does ALML Mean?

ALML stands for Allergen Meal. It is a special meal code that may be used by airlines to identify a meal intended for passengers with food allergies or specific allergen-related dietary requirements.

Unlike some airline meal codes, ALML does not describe one specific diet with a universally agreed list of permitted and prohibited ingredients. This is particularly important for passengers with allergies because the allergens excluded from an ALML meal may depend on the individual airline and its catering arrangements.

What Is an ALML Airline Meal?

An ALML airline meal is a special meal designed to accommodate certain food allergy requirements.

Depending on the airline, passengers may be able to request an ALML meal when managing allergies to ingredients such as:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Wheat
• Soya

However, requesting an ALML meal does not automatically mean that the meal will be free from every one of these allergens. Airline policies and catering procedures vary considerably, so it is essential to check exactly what an individual airline means when it offers an Allergen Meal.

What Food Is Included in an ALML Meal?

There is no single standard menu for an ALML airline meal. The food provided will depend on the airline, catering company, flight route and the allergens the meal has been designed to exclude.

An ALML meal could potentially include foods such as:

• Rice
• Potatoes
• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Meat
• Poultry
• Fish
• Salads
• Suitable breads or alternatives
• Specially prepared desserts

The ingredients used will depend on the specific allergen requirements being accommodated. Passengers should not rely on the meal code alone to determine whether a meal is safe for them to eat.

What Foods Are Excluded from an ALML Meal?

The foods excluded from an ALML meal will vary. For example, one airline may use the ALML code for meals designed to avoid several common allergens, while another may require passengers to provide details of their individual food allergies. This means there is no universal list of ingredients that every ALML meal excludes.

If you have a food allergy, contact the airline before travelling to ask:

• Which allergens can be accommodated?
• How is the meal prepared?
• Is cross-contamination possible?
• Are ingredient lists available?
• Do you need to provide medical information?
• How far in advance must the meal be requested?

The answers can help you decide whether the airline’s ALML meal is suitable for your individual needs.

While contacting the airline, you can also mention to them that you intend to fly with EpiPens.

Who Is an ALML Meal Suitable For?

An ALML meal may be suitable for passengers who have food allergies and whose specific dietary requirements can be accommodated by the airline. However, suitability should always be confirmed directly with the airline.

The ALML code alone does not provide enough information to determine whether a meal is safe for someone with a particular allergy. This is especially important for passengers at risk of severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis.

Is an ALML Meal Free From All Allergens?

No. You should not assume that an ALML meal is free from every major allergen. The term Allergen Meal can sound as though the meal is completely allergen-free, but this is not necessarily the case. The meal may only exclude specific allergens, and there may still be a risk of cross-contamination during preparation, storage or service.

Always check the individual airline’s allergy policy before booking or requesting a special meal. For more advie for travelling with allergies, my guide to travelling with an allergy is a good starting point.

Is an ALML Meal Suitable for a Milk Allergy?

An ALML meal may be suitable for someone with a milk allergy if the airline can provide a meal that excludes milk and milk-derived ingredients. However, this should never be assumed. A passenger with a milk allergy should contact the airline directly and ask whether milk can be excluded from the meal and what procedures are used to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

You may also come across other airline meal codes relating to dairy products.

NLML means Low Lactose Meal and is intended for passengers who need to limit lactose. It is important to understand that lactose intolerance and cow’s milk protein allergy are different conditions, and an NLML meal may not be suitable for someone with a milk allergy.

Is an ALML Meal Suitable for a Peanut or Nut Allergy?

This depends on the airline. Some airlines may be able to provide meals that do not contain peanuts or tree nuts as ingredients. However, airlines generally cannot guarantee a completely nut-free aircraft or catering environment. Passengers with peanut or tree nut allergies should contact the airline before travelling to discuss its current allergy procedures. You can also ask for the PNUT disability code to be applied to the passenger booking so that the airport and airline staff are aware of your allergy.

It is also important to remember that other passengers may bring their own food onto the aircraft.

What Is the Difference Between ALML and Other Special Meal Codes?

ALML is different from most other airline meal codes because it relates specifically to food allergies.

For example:

• GFML means Gluten Intolerant Meal and is designed for passengers who need to avoid gluten.
• NLML means Low Lactose Meal and is designed for passengers who need to limit lactose.
• DBML means Diabetic Meal and is intended for passengers managing diabetes.
• VGML means Vegetarian Vegan Meal and excludes animal products.
• KSML means Kosher Meal and is prepared according to Jewish dietary laws.
• ALML is intended to accommodate specific food allergy requirements, although exactly how this is managed depends on the airline.

How Do I Request an ALML Meal?

If an airline offers the ALML meal code, you may be able to request it when booking your flight or through the Manage My Booking section of the airline’s website. You may also need to contact the airline directly. Because food allergies can vary significantly between passengers, it is particularly important to speak to the airline about your individual requirements rather than simply selecting a meal code.

Most airlines require special meals to be requested at least 24 to 48 hours before departure, although some have longer notice periods. Check the airline’s requirements as early as possible.

Should I Bring My Own Food If I Have Allergies?

Passengers with food allergies may want to consider carrying suitable food and snacks when travelling. Even when a special meal has been requested, problems can occur. The meal may not be loaded onto the aircraft, a last-minute aircraft change could affect catering arrangements or the food provided may not be suitable for your individual allergy requirements.

Carrying suitable backup food can provide an alternative if you are unable to eat the meal provided. You may be entitled to travel with medical luggage if you have to bring safe food to eat while you travel.

Remember to check airport security and destination customs rules before travelling with food.

What Should I Do Before Flying With a Food Allergy?

If you have a food allergy, preparation can make travelling by air easier.

Before your flight:

• Check the airline’s current food allergy policy.
• Contact the airline to discuss your individual requirements.
• Request your special meal within the required timeframe.
• Check that the meal request appears on your booking.
• Reconfirm your request before travelling.
• Carry suitable snacks or food where permitted.
• Keep any prescribed medication easily accessible.
• Check the rules for carrying medication through airport security.
• Tell cabin crew about your allergy when boarding if appropriate.

Airline policies can change, so always check the latest information directly with your airline.

What Happens If My ALML Meal Is Not Available?

Unfortunately, requesting a special meal does not guarantee that it will always be available onboard. Catering mistakes, schedule changes and aircraft changes can result in special meals being unavailable.

If your ALML meal has not been provided, speak to the cabin crew before eating an alternative meal.

Do not assume that a standard meal is safe simply because an ingredient is not obvious. This is another reason why carrying suitable backup food can be particularly useful when travelling with food allergies.

ALML Airline Meal FAQs

ALML means Allergen Meal and is a special airline meal code intended for passengers with food allergies.

However, ALML is not a guarantee that a meal is free from every allergen. The ingredients excluded, preparation procedures and availability of the meal can vary between airlines.

If you have a food allergy, contact your airline directly before travelling to discuss your individual requirements and find out exactly what its ALML meal includes.

Request your meal as early as possible, confirm that it has been added to your booking and consider carrying suitable backup food in case the special meal is unavailable or unsuitable.

Resources for Travellers With Allergies

Travelling with food allergies can involve extra planning, particularly when flying, eating away from home or visiting an unfamiliar destination. The resources below offer helpful advice and practical information for travellers with allergies, from managing food allergies on flights to eating safely while abroad and preparing for unexpected situations during your trip.

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?
• Download and print a copy of all of the airline meal codes for your own reference

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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