What Does LCML Mean? Airline LCML Meal Explained

If you have seen the LCML meal code when booking a flight or managing your airline meal preferences, you may be wondering what it means.

LCML stands for Low-Calorie Meal.

A low-calorie airline meal is a special meal designed for passengers who want a meal with a reduced calorie content while travelling. It may be available to pre-order on selected airlines, particularly on long-haul and international flights where complimentary meal services are provided.

In this guide, we explain what the LCML airline meal code means, what food you may receive, who might order a low-calorie meal and how to request an LCML meal before your flight.

What Does LCML Mean?

LCML is the airline meal code for a Low-Calorie Meal.

This airline code, and others, are used within the airline industry to identify special meals requested by passengers. For a full list of airline meal codes, check my guide with a free printable list of airline meal codes. When you order an LCML meal, the request is added to your booking so that the airline and its catering provider know that a low-calorie meal should be prepared for your flight.

An LCML meal is intended to contain fewer calories than the airline’s standard meal options. However, the exact ingredients, portion sizes and calorie content can vary considerably between airlines and catering providers.

What Is an LCML Meal?

An LCML meal is a special airline meal prepared for passengers who want to reduce their calorie intake. These meals are generally prepared using leaner proteins, vegetables, fruit and other foods that are lower in calories than some standard airline meals. Cooking methods may also be adapted. For example, foods may be grilled, steamed, baked or poached rather than fried.

An LCML airline meal may limit foods such as:

• Fried foods
• High-fat meats
• Rich sauces
• Cream
• Butter
• High-calorie desserts
• Foods containing large amounts of added sugar

The exact meal you receive will depend on the airline, departure airport, flight route and catering company.

What Food Is Included in an LCML Airline Meal?

There is no single menu used for every low-calorie airline meal.

A typical LCML meal could include:

• Grilled chicken, fish or another lean protein
• Steamed or roasted vegetables
• Salad
• Rice, potatoes or another carbohydrate in a controlled portion
• Fresh fruit
• Low-fat yoghurt
• A lighter dessert
• A bread roll or crackers

Breakfast LCML meals may include foods such as fruit, yoghurt, cereal or eggs, depending on the airline.

It is important to remember that ordering an LCML meal does not guarantee that every item on your tray will meet a specific calorie target.

How Many Calories Are in an LCML Meal?

The number of calories in an LCML airline meal can vary. Airlines do not always publish detailed nutritional information for their special meals, and the ingredients may change depending on the flight route and catering provider. This means that passengers who need to follow a precise calorie-controlled diet should not assume that an LCML meal will contain a specific number of calories.

If knowing the exact nutritional content of your food is important, consider contacting the airline before travelling and bringing suitable food or snacks where permitted. If you have to follow a low calorie diet for medical reasons, you may be entitled to fly with medical luggage.

Is an LCML Meal Suitable for Weight Loss?

Some passengers may choose an LCML meal because they are following a calorie-controlled diet or trying to lose weight. However, airline special meals are not personalised diet plans.

The calorie content and nutritional balance of an LCML meal can vary, and airlines may not provide detailed nutritional information.

Ordering a low-calorie meal can be an option for passengers who prefer lighter meals while travelling, but it should not be relied upon to meet a specific weight-loss programme or calorie target.

Is an LCML Meal Vegetarian?

No. An LCML meal is not automatically vegetarian. Low-calorie airline meals can contain meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.

If you require a vegetarian meal, you should request the appropriate vegetarian airline meal rather than choosing LCML.

Depending on your requirements and the airline, other meal codes may include VGML for a vegan meal, VLML for a vegetarian lacto-ovo meal or AVML for an Asian vegetarian meal.

Is an LCML Meal Vegan?

No. LCML meals are not necessarily suitable for vegans.

They may contain:

• Meat
• Fish
• Eggs
• Milk
• Cheese
• Yoghurt
• Other animal-derived ingredients

Passengers following a vegan diet should request a VGML Vegan Meal where available.

Is an LCML Meal Gluten-Free?

An LCML meal is not automatically gluten-free. It may contain bread, sauces, cereals or other foods containing gluten. Passengers who require a gluten-free meal should request the airline’s GFML Gluten Intolerant Meal where available.

Passengers with coeliac disease or serious food allergies should also contact the airline directly to discuss their requirements and the possibility of cross-contamination. If you are planning a trip and have an allergy, or your child does, you can start with my travelling with allergies guide to get started without missing any of the important steps.

Is an LCML Meal Suitable for Diabetics?

Not necessarily. Although an LCML meal may contain less sugar or fewer calories than some standard airline meals, it is not specifically designed for passengers with diabetes. Airlines may offer a DBML Diabetic Meal for passengers who require a meal designed around diabetic dietary requirements.

Passengers should select the special meal that most closely matches their dietary needs rather than assuming that a low-calorie meal will be suitable.

Who Might Order an LCML Meal?

Passengers may request an LCML meal for several reasons.

These can include:

• Following a calorie-controlled diet
• Preferring lighter meals while flying
• Wanting to avoid rich or heavy foods
• Trying to reduce their intake of fatty or fried foods
• Personal dietary preferences

You do not usually need to provide medical evidence to request a low-calorie airline meal.

How Do I Order an LCML Meal?

The process for ordering an LCML meal varies between airlines.

You may be able to request your meal:

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

Special meals normally need to be requested before your flight. Many airlines require passengers to order special meals at least 24 to 48 hours before departure, although deadlines vary.

It is a good idea to check your booking after requesting the meal to make sure the LCML special meal request has been recorded.

Do All Airlines Offer LCML Meals?

No. The availability of low-calorie meals varies between airlines. Some airlines offer a large selection of special meals, while others provide only a limited number of options.

LCML special meals are more commonly available on long-haul international flights with a full meal service.

Low-cost airlines and short-haul flights may not provide low-calorie special meals.

Always check directly with your airline before travelling.

Will My LCML Meal Be Served Before Other Passengers?

Special meals are often served before the main cabin meal service. Cabin crew may distribute pre-ordered special meals first so that the correct meals can be matched with the passengers who requested them. However, this varies between airlines and flights.

One advantage of receiving your meal early is that you may have more time to eat, particularly if you are travelling with children or require additional assistance during the flight.

What Should I Do If My LCML Meal Is Not Onboard?

Special meal requests can occasionally be missed due to catering problems, booking changes or operational issues. Before departure, check that your LCML request is still showing on your booking.

Once onboard, you can also mention your special meal request to a member of the cabin crew.

If following a particular diet is important, consider carrying suitable snacks or food with you where airport security, customs and airline regulations allow. This can be particularly useful during delays, cancellations or unexpected changes to your journey.

LCML vs Other Airline Special Meals

LCML is just one of many airline special meal codes.

The main difference is that LCML meals are designed to provide a lower-calorie option.

Other airline meal codes include:

• DBML – Diabetic Meal (learn more about the DBML special meal)
• GFML – Gluten Intolerant Meal
• LFML – Low Fat Meal
• LSML – Low Salt Meal
• NLML – Low Lactose Meal (learn more about the NLML special meal)
• VGML – Vegan Meal (learn more about the VGML special meal)
• VLML – Vegetarian Lacto-Ovo Meal (learn more about the VLML special meal)

Choosing the correct airline meal code is important because these meals are designed for different dietary requirements.

For example, an LCML meal is not automatically low-fat, low-salt, gluten-free, vegetarian or suitable for people with diabetes.

Tips for Ordering an LCML Airline Meal

If you plan to request a low-calorie meal for your flight:

• Order the meal as early as possible.
• Check the airline’s special meal request deadline.
• Confirm that LCML appears on your booking.
• Recheck your meal request if your flight changes.
• Ask cabin crew about your special meal after boarding if necessary.
• Carry suitable snacks if following your diet is important.
• Do not assume that LCML meals meet other dietary requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions About LCML Meals

LCML stands for Low-Calorie Meal and is one of the special meal codes used by airlines around the world. It is intended for passengers who prefer a meal with fewer calories than the standard onboard meal options. An LCML meal may contain lean protein, vegetables, fruit and lighter food choices while limiting fried foods, rich sauces and high-calorie desserts. However, the exact meal and nutritional content varies between airlines and catering providers.

If you want to order an LCML airline meal, request it before your airline’s deadline, check that the request appears on your booking and consider carrying suitable snacks in case your special meal is unavailable.

Continue Learning About Airline Meal Codes

Airlines use a wide range of special meal codes for different dietary, religious and personal requirements.

Continue exploring our airline meal code guides to learn what each code means, what food you may receive and how to choose the most suitable special meal for your next flight.

• Airline meal codes and what they mean
• What does DBML mean?
• What does KSML mean?
• What does VLML mean?
• What does VOML 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

You can click on each image to go directly to the guide for that topic.