What Does VVML Mean? VVML Meal Code Explained

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

VVML is an airline meal code used for a Vegetarian Vegan Meal.

This type of special meal is designed for passengers who follow a vegan diet and do not eat meat, fish, dairy products, eggs or other animal-derived ingredients.

In this guide, we explain what the VVML meal code means, what food you might receive as part of a VVML airline meal and how it differs from other vegetarian meal codes.

VVML Airline Meal Code Quick Wins

• VVML means Vegetarian Vegan Meal.
• A VVML airline meal does not contain meat, fish, dairy products or eggs.
• VVML meals are intended for passengers following a vegan diet.
• A VVML meal may include vegetables, fruit, grains, pulses, pasta and other plant-based foods.
• VVML is closely related to the more commonly used VGML airline meal code.
• Not every airline uses the VVML code, so you may see VGML used for a vegan meal instead.
• A VVML meal is not automatically suitable for passengers with food allergies.
• Special meals usually need to be requested at least 24 to 48 hours before your flight.
• Always check that your special meal request has been confirmed before travelling.
• Consider carrying suitable snacks in case your special meal is unavailable or unsuitable.

What Does VVML Mean?

VVML means Vegetarian Vegan Meal. It is a special meal code that may be used within airline reservation and catering systems to identify a meal suitable for passengers following a vegan diet.

A Vegetarian Vegan Meal should not contain meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy products or eggs. The meal should instead be made using plant-based ingredients. However, the exact food served will depend on the airline, flight route, departure airport and catering company.

What Is Included in a VVML Airline Meal?

A VVML airline meal may include a variety of plant-based foods.

Depending on the airline and flight, you could receive:

• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Rice
• Pasta
• Potatoes
• Beans
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Bread
• Salads
• Plant-based sauces
• Vegan desserts

Breakfast meals might include fruit, bread, cereal or other plant-based options.

Lunch and dinner meals could include dishes such as vegetable curry with rice, pasta with a tomato-based sauce, lentil dishes or vegetable stews.

The exact contents of a VVML meal can vary considerably between airlines.

What Is Not Included in a VVML Meal?

A VVML airline meal should not contain:

• Meat
• Poultry
• Fish
• Seafood
• Dairy products
• Eggs

As the meal is intended to be vegan, ingredients derived from animals should also be excluded. However, passengers with allergies should remember that ordering a vegan meal does not guarantee that the meal is free from specific allergens or cross-contamination.

If you are travelling with someone who has an allergy, you will find my guide to travelling with allergies helpful in planning your next trip.

Is VVML the Same as VGML?

VVML and VGML are both used to describe vegan airline meals.

VGML means Vegetarian Vegan Meal and is the more widely recognised airline special meal code.

Some airlines or booking systems may use VVML to refer to a vegan meal, but VGML is the standard code passengers are more likely to see. If both codes appear during the booking process and you are unsure which meal to request, contact the airline directly for clarification.

Is VVML the Same as VLML?

No. VVML and VLML are different airline meal codes.

VVML means Vegetarian Vegan Meal. A VVML should not contain meat, fish, dairy products or eggs.

VLML means Vegetarian Lacto-Ovo Meal. A VLML meal does not contain meat or fish but may contain dairy products and eggs.

Passengers following a vegan diet should therefore request a vegan meal rather than a VLML meal.

Is VVML the Same as AVML?

No. VVML and AVML are different types of airline special meals.

VVML is intended for passengers following a vegan diet. A VVML should not contain meat, fish, dairy products or eggs.

AVML means Asian Vegetarian Meal. An AVML meal does not contain meat or fish but may contain dairy products. The dishes served as part of an AVML are usually prepared in an Indian or South Asian style and may include curries, rice, vegetables and pulses.

If you follow a strict vegan diet, you should not assume that an AVML meal will be suitable.

Is a VVML Meal Suitable for People With Food Allergies?

Not necessarily. A VVML special meal excludes meat, fish, dairy products and eggs because it is intended for passengers following a vegan diet.

However, it may still contain common allergens such as:

• Nuts
• Peanuts
• Soya
• Wheat
• Gluten
• Sesame

There may also be a risk of cross-contamination during food preparation and handling. If you or your child has a food allergy, contact the airline before travelling to discuss its allergy policies and available meal options.

You may also want to carry suitable food and snacks, subject to airport security and customs restrictions.

If you have to travel with safe foods because of an allergy or medical condition, you may be entitled to bring medical luggage with you when you fly.

How Do I Order a VVML Airline Meal?

The process for requesting a VVML meal varies between airlines.

You may be able to request your special meal:

• When booking your flight
• Through the manage booking section of the airline’s website or app
• By contacting the airline
• Through your travel agent

Many airlines require special meals to be requested at least 24 to 48 hours before departure. Some airlines require even more notice.

After requesting your meal, check your booking to make sure the request has been recorded. It can also be helpful to confirm your special meal request when checking in for your flight.

What Happens if My VVML Meal Is Not Available?

Unfortunately, requesting a special meal does not always guarantee that it will be available on board. Catering errors, aircraft changes, schedule disruptions and booking problems can sometimes result in a requested meal not being loaded onto the aircraft.

For this reason, passengers with dietary requirements may want to carry suitable snacks or food for the journey. This is particularly important when travelling with children, passengers with restricted diets or anyone who may struggle if suitable food is unavailable.

Remember to check airport security and destination customs rules before packing food for your journey.

Do All Airlines Offer VVML Meals?

No. Not every airline offers the same special meals or uses exactly the same meal codes.

You are more likely to see VGML used as the code for a Vegetarian Vegan Meal.

The availability of vegan meals may also depend on your flight route, cabin class and flight duration. Always check directly with your airline before travelling.

Should I Order a VVML Meal?

A VVML meal may be suitable if you follow a vegan diet and want a plant-based meal during your flight. However, it is important to check which meal codes your airline uses.

If VVML is not available, look for VGML or contact the airline to ask which special meal is suitable for vegan passengers.

Passengers with food allergies should not rely solely on the VVML meal code and should contact the airline about their individual dietary requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions About VVML Airline Meals

Resources for Vegan Travellers

If you follow a vegan diet, planning ahead can make it easier to find suitable food while travelling. I have put together some useful resources below to help vegan travellers research food options, communicate their dietary requirements and prepare for flights and trips abroad. These guides may be particularly helpful when visiting unfamiliar destinations, travelling with children or dealing with language barriers when trying to explain a vegan diet.

• Explore Vegan travel in France with France EcoTours
• Learn about everything vegetarian and vegan travel from HappyCow
• Download the HappyCow app to find veg-friendly restaurants
• Watch NonStopDan for veg-friendly reviews of airlines, restaurants and hotels
• Use the VeganSociety Vegan Passport book or app to have your dietry needs translated to 96% of the languages used around the world
• Book Vegan travel tours in Asia with Vegan Travel Asia

VVML means Vegetarian Vegan Meal and is used to identify a plant-based airline special meal that does not contain meat, fish, dairy products or eggs. However, VGML is the more commonly recognised code for a Vegetarian Vegan Meal, and not every airline uses VVML.

If you are unsure which vegan meal code to select, contact your airline before travelling.

Passengers with food allergies should also remember that a vegan meal is not automatically allergen-free and may contain ingredients such as nuts, soya, wheat, gluten or sesame.

Request your special meal as early as possible, check that it has been confirmed and consider carrying suitable snacks in case your requested meal is unavailable.

Continue Learning About Airline Meal Codes

• Airline meal codes and what they mean
• What does LSML mean?
• What does HNML mean?
• What does ALML mean?
• What does VOML mean?
• What does FPML 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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