Special Meal Requests (SPML)

Delta is able to accommodate a variety of special meal requests. These special meals are available in First Class, Delta One and all Main Cabin flights where complimentary meal service is offered.

A special meal request must be entered in a passenger PNR at least 24 hours before the scheduled flight departure through your GDS or by contacting Delta Sales Support or Delta Reservations for assistance.

Please advise the passenger that they should let the gate agent and a flight attendant know that they ordered a special meal.

Please note: Contact your GDS help desk if you need assistance with the GDS entry for a Special Meal (SPML).

Exceptions

When requesting a special meal, please note the following exceptions apply:

A special meal request for a Delta flight made with another carrier will not be applied to the Delta segment of a reservation. To ensure that the special meal request is applied to a Delta segment, please call Delta Sales Support or Delta Reservations to request a special meal.

The special meal must be re-requested when any voluntary changes are made to a reservation.
For an irregular operation event when the new flight is less than 24 hours from the previous flight; Delta cannot guarantee that the SPML will be on the new flight.
- If the new flight is more than 24 hours in advance of the original flight, then the special meal would need to be re-requested.
For a schedule change, re-requested the special meal at least 24 hours in advance of the new flight.
When requesting a special meal on a Delta flight, please be sure to select a meal from Delta’s special meal listing (see below). Delta does not fulfill meals that are not part of the special meal menu options.
Special meals are not available on flights originating from ELP, ABQ, or TUS. Special meal offerings may vary depending upon regional catering availabilities.

Special Meal

Special Meal Code

Description

Vegetarian Meals

Asian Vegetarian Meal - Transpacific

AVML

This is a non-strict vegetarian meal, typically prepared Indian style, with limited use of dairy products. This meal does not contain meat, seafood, or egg.

Vegetarian (Vegan) Meal

VGML

Typically cooked in Western style, this meal does not contain meat, seafood, eggs, or dairy products.

Vegetarian (Lacto-Ovo) Meal

VLML

A non-strict vegetarian meal typically prepared Western style. This meal can include eggs and dairy products but eliminates all meats and seafood.

Religious Meals

Hindu Meal

HNML

A vegetarian meal typically prepared Indian style with limited use of dairy products. This is a meat free meal. Preparation and cooking style may vary.

Muslim Meal

MOML

All Muslim meals are Halal certified and do not contain pork, by‐products of pork or alcohol. Preparation and cooking style may vary.

Kosher Meal

KSML

Kosher meals are prepared by kosher caterers under rabbinical supervision and may also incorporate fresh fruit or sealed items, such as individually packaged bagels that meet kosher laws. Special Kosher for Passover meals are supplied during Passover.

Dietary Meals

Bland Meal

BLML

Menu items that could potentially cause gastric irritation will not be used in the preparation of these meals. Examples of foods excluded hot mustard, hot spices, pickles, garlic, fried and fatty foods.

Diabetic Meal

DBML

Meals suitable or those who need to manage blood sugar levels. Foods excluded are high in sugars for example: syrups, jams, cakes and chocolate, unless specifically designed for diabetics.

Gluten Free Meal

GFML

Meals exclude wheat or wheat flour, barley, oats and rye, bread, cakes (unless wheat free), pastry, sausages or any flour based products. (Allergy related)

Low Fat/Low Cholesterol/Low Calorie Meal

LFML

This meal is prepared with a reduced amount of fat, sugar, low fat dairy products, and lean meat.

Low Sodium Meal

LSML

Use of salt, processed foods (MSG and baking soda/powder) are either eliminated or restricted in preparation of these meals. Herbs and spices are used to flavor the meal.

Baby, Toddler and Child Meals

Baby Meal

BBML

Suitable for infants less than one year old. Baby food is usually provisioned in jars. (Food may contain strained fruit, vegetables, meats, desserts, milk & juices.)

Toddler/Child Meal

TDML

Suitable for children from 2 to 12 years of age, and includes food offerings appealing to children. The meals planned follow Recommended Dietary Allowances for children.

Regional Meals

Chinese Meal

CNML

Components include soup, salad and entrée and feature regional flavors on flights departing China. Available only to Delta One customers flying between the USA and China.

Japanese Meal

JPML

Traditional Multi Course Kaiseki Style Japanese Meal accompanied by steamed rice, miso soup, Japanese pickles and green tea. Available only to Delta One customers flying on direct flights to/from the U.S. and Japan.

Korean Meal

KRML

Korean style Bibimbap with steamed rice, gochujang sauce and sesame oil accompanied by with soup, salad and banchan. Available only to Delta One customers flying between the USA and Korea.

Partner Airlines

For partner information, visit the respective partner airlines’ website:

Special Meal Request - Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What special meals does Delta offer?

A. Delta offers many special meal options to accommodate dietary, religious, and personal preference needs. A few of our most popular special meal requests include: the Kosher Meal (KSML), Asian-Vegetarian Meal (AVML), Vegetarian (Vegan) Meal (VGML), and the Child Meal (CHML). Please be sure to refer to our special meal listing (see above). Delta’s system does not recognize or process requests for meals that are not on the list.

Please note: special meals are not available on flights originating from ELP, ABQ, or TUS. Availability may vary depending up on region capability as well.

Q. How early does a special meal need to be requested?

A. Please request the special meal no later than 24 hours before the flight. Requests less than 24 hours before the flight will not be processed in time for the meal to be onboard.

Q. Does the special meal need to be re-requested if a voluntary change is made to a reservation?

A. Yes. The special meal must be re-requested when any changes are made to a reservation.

Q. What if an irregular operation event or schedule change occurs resulting in a flight segment change?

A. If there is an irregular operation event and the new flight is less than 24 hours from the previous flight; Delta cannot guarantee that the SPML will be on the new flight. If the new flight is more than 24 hours in advance of the original flight, then the special meal would need to be re-requested. For a schedule change, make sure the special meal is re-requested at least 24 hours in advance of the new flight.

Q. Will a special meal request for a Delta flight made with another carrier be applied to the Delta segment of a reservation?

A. To better ensure that the special meal request is applied to a Delta segment, please make sure the special meal request is applied to all segments in the reservation. You may also call Delta Sales Support or Delta Reservations to confirm the special meal was requested.

Q. What if I have multiple special meal requests?

A. Only one special meal can be requested per person. For a reservation that includes multiple people, create an individual request for each customer. Delta cannot process one special meal request for the entire group.

Q. What does it mean if a customer says that they already have their special meal preference “saved”?

A. The customer is referring to their Delta profile on delta.com, which is commonly utilized by frequent flyers. If a customer has established a special meal preference in their Delta profile, the special meal will automatically be requested for every reservation. Currently this functionality is disabled on delta.com and the special meal will not automatically be applied to the customer’s reservation made via delta.com. Delta is in the process of reinstating the special meal preference in the Delta profile. Please be sure to manually add the customer’s special meal request on all reservations and changes made via delta.com.

Q. What happens after the special meal is requested?

A. We recommend the customer advise the gate agent that they have ordered a special meal. Once onboard, the flight attendant will confirm the special meal request with the customer.