Air India Meal Policy: A Complete Guide to In-Flight Dining
  • 03 Jan, 2025
  • Travel tips
  • Travomint

Air India Meal Policy: A Complete Guide to In-Flight Dining


Air India is one of India's most prominent flag carriers, which has its main hub at Indra Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The fleet size of Air India is around 200 plus. Furthermore, the destinations which are covered by Air India are going to around 80 plus. However, the number of destinations has rapidly increased, and there are now around 102, and they are going to have 102 domestic and international destinations. Air India, was started in the year 1932, and it started or commenced operations in 1946. 

Apart from that, Air India passengers who plan their trip with Air India will achieve various inflight services and facilities that are easy and simple to use during travel. However, those services also include meals and beverages for the onboard passengers, making their traveling much more convenient and smooth. But, before getting along with the complete set of information regarding the meals and beverages, you should read the following page, and you get a simple set of glimpses that will be concerning the policy referring to it. Just follow the below section, and you will gather a complete set of details and make the necessary arrangements. 

Air India In-Flight Meals Policy: 

  • According to Air India's meal policy, travelers will have the option to pre-book their meals before boarding the flight, which will help them manage their preferences quite easily. 
  • When booking a flight ticket at Air India, passengers have the option to add meals through the online procedure. Alternatively, they can use the official airline application to access the meals section and collect guidance accordingly. 
  • Note that passengers are also permitted to ask for special meals for different categories, such as diabetic, gluten-free, or Hindu meals, at the time of booking or at least 24 hours before their scheduled departure flight.
  • As per the Air India meal policy, passengers must give prior information to the airlines to access special meals so that the authorities can make the arrangements accordingly and at the right time.
  • Another important policy regarding Air India's meals is that alcoholic beverages are served with all the primary meals available except breakfast. 

Air India Domestic In-Flight Dining:

When traveling with Air India domestic flights, the onboard passengers are offered a significant variety of meals that will be included in their itinerary according to their travel preferences. As you book the domestic ticket at Air India, customization is the option offered to the passengers to make necessary arrangements for special dietary meals. Air India caters to culinary preferences to make the traveler's experience more consistent and enjoyable.  

Air India International In-Flight Dining:

With Air India's international in-flight dining, passengers are going to have the best travel experience because onboard they are going to have a satisfactory culinary experience. This shall include delicious cuisines, main courses, and a complete set of desserts to make the best traveling experience. 

Air India In-Flight Meal Plans: 

Air India's in-flight meal plans are divided into different categories, such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Thus, to familiarize yourself with some of the essential terms included in in-flight meal plans, go through the list below.

  • Breakfast - Egg Bhurji, Avocado Toast, Yoghurt, and Fruit Parfait. 
  • Lunch - Indian Lentil Soups, Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich and Quinoa Biryani
  • Dinner -  Indian Chicken Curry, Air Fryer Tofu, and Blackened Fish Tacos in Air Fryer. 

Air India International Inflight Meal Timing: 

The passenger can access meals with Air India on International flights from the below-mentioned timings. While, 

  • Up to 6 hours — One major meal
  • 6 to 8 hours — One major meal and one minor meal
  • 8 to 10 hours — Two major meals 
  • 10 hours and above — Two significant meals and one minor meal.

Air India Domestic Inflight Meal Timing:

  • Breakfast — 04:00 to 11:00 hours
  • Lunch — 11:01 to 14:30 hours 
  • Refreshment — 14:31 to 18:00 hours
  • Dinner — 18:01 to 22:30 hours
  • Supper — 18:01 to 22:30 hours. 

Air India Meals: Hindu, Oriental, vs. Vegetarian Jain Options

Hindu Meals: The menus for passengers who travel with Air India and belong to the Hindu community are designed in Indian cuisine. They will include items like chicken, fish, eggs, vegetables, and some dairy products. 

Oriental Meals: The oriental meals at Air India are typically prepared for non-vegetarian passengers, and they properly influence some essential items that include meat, fish, and various sorts of spices. 

Vegetarian Jain Meals: Air India's meals for passengers belonging to the Jain community will be cooked according to an Indian style and will not contain any rooted vegetables, such as onions, garlic, or animal products. 

How To Select Meal In Air India?

Collecting basic information regarding meal selection on an Air India ticket. Then, for such preferences, travelers are required to follow some easy steps as mentioned below.

  • Visit the official website of Air India 
  • Now, you need to select the Manage My Booking tab
  • After that, enter the booking reference number and last name of the passenger 
  • Next, click on the retrieve flight button, and you have to then tap over the menu button 
  • Further, you shall tap over the "Special Meal," or "Meal Selection" button 
  • After this, add your preferred or required meal according to your traveling preferences 
  • Select the seat number and passenger details for whom you want to add the meals 
  • Follow the next steps, and you shall then pay for the additional meals if required. 

How to Request Special Meals?

In terms, of requesting special meals on Air India flight tickets. Passengers should get along with various sets of perspectives such as pre-booking of the meal selection via the airline's official website instead of contacting the travel agent to get along with preferred assistance. Note that the request for special meals should be made with the airline 24 hours before the scheduled departure. Otherwise, passengers can make a direct call to an Air India customer care representative to receive appropriate assistance to make necessary arrangements. 

Frequently Asked Questions:-

Q.1:- How can I request a Hindu meal on Air India?

Ans:- Passengers are permitted to add Hindu meals to Air India's booked itinerary. The different aspects that are easy to use and help to add Hindu meals shall work like this: Add it at the time of booking the flight ticket, add it after booking the flight ticket, or else contact the Air India customer care representative to receive proper guidance.

Q.2:- Are Business Class meals different from Economy Class meals?

Ans:- Yes, the business class meals are different from economy class meals at Air India. The concept behind the difference between these two categories is that business class generally offers higher quality food, a wide variety of meal options, and a more gourmet dining experience for passengers. On the other hand, with economy class meals travelers do not have many offers to give with their meal options, and it typically tends to be more basic and limited in the selection. 

Q.3:- What is a Hindu meal in Air India?

Ans:- The Hindu Meal at Air India is a pre-booked meal that is prepared properly in an Indian cooking style. It may include products like chicken, fish, eggs, vegetables, starches, or dairy products. The Hindu meals do not consist of a few things such as veal, beef, beef by-products, or raw or smoked fish. Passengers, onboard, have been permitted to make necessary arrangements for their Hindu meals, and for that, you might need to pay extra charges accordingly. 

Q.4:- How do you change meals in Air India?

Ans:- When you book an Air India flight ticket online or from the support of a travel agent or else via an Air India customer care representative, then, furthermore, you might want to change the meals and might look for special meals and beverages. To do that conveniently, passengers can select the official website of Air India, and under Manage My Booking, you are going to learn easy steps to change meals. 

Q.5:- What is an Asian vegetarian meal in Air India?

Ans:- Rather than Air India Hindu meals, passengers might also want to gather information based on the Asian vegetarian meals that are also offered to the passengers to make the traveling relatively smooth. To collect basic information referring to it, you should note the meal typically includes vegetables, lentils, fragrant spices, rice, noodles, and fruit, but no meat, fish, or eggs. The menu may also include dairy products and passengers can easily be able to add and manage it, according to their traveling preferences. 

Q.6 Does Air India provide free meals?

Ans:- Yes, Air India does provide passengers with the option of accessing free meals onboard for traveling purposes, and it is generally going to be available for all flights. However, note that the cost of free meals will be included under Air India's flight ticket you purchase. Moreover, the free meals that are offered to the passengers are going to have some complimentary services and facilities that are beneficial for travelers to make the trip quite comfortable.

Q.7:- What is the Jain meal in Air India?

Ans:- As soon as you plan to travel with Air India, then you might look forward to having a complete set of assistance referring to the Jain meal in Air India, that is offered to the passengers. So, it is going to provide a proper vegan meal that is well-prepared in Indian style and note that it will exclude all animal products and root vegetables. Thus, to add/include such types of meals into your Air India meals, then you are supposed to contact the Air India customer service team for taking appropriate set of assistance.