Special meals and food allergies
If you have dietary requirements, food allergies or need a special meal, find out what options are available before you fly.
Before you fly
- Special meals can be requested on any long haul flight, and on other Air New Zealand flights where you’ve paid for a meal.
- We offer a range of special meal options on long haul flights, and selected options on shorter flights to Australia and the Pacific Islands. What’s available depends on your flight.
- If you’re connecting with another airline, please contact the airline directly to arrange a special meal.
How to request or change a special meal
Please request, view or change your special meal at least 24 hours before you travel.
If you have a food allergy
We’ll do what we can to support you, but we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment on board.
If you or your child has a severe allergy, please bring food and drink you know is safe. You should also travel with any prescribed medication you may need, and, if needed, someone who can help you take it in an emergency.
Our cabin crew are trained in first aid and can administer limited medications with provisions. On international services, we also carry a comprehensive medical kit for use by a medical doctor on board.
For more information, check our medical conditions page and make sure your condition does not affect your clearance to fly.
You can also read Air New Zealand’s position on food allergies.
Special meal options
| Gluten intolerant meal GFML | Suitable for gluten intolerance, but not suitable for gluten allergy or dairy intolerance. May contain one or more of: salad, fruit, fish, lean meats, vegetables, dairy products and rice. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegan meal VGML | Suitable for vegan customers or customers following a strict vegetarian diet. May contain one or more of: fresh fruit and vegetables. Will not contain: fish, meat, dairy, egg products, animal products or animal by-products. | |||
| Vegetarian meal VLML | Suitable for vegetarian customers who eat egg or dairy products. May contain one or more of: vegetables, fruit, dairy products and eggs. Will not contain: meat or fish. | |||
| Oriental meal VOML | Suitable for vegetarian customers and prepared in an Oriental or Chinese style. May contain one or more of: fresh fruit and vegetables. Will not contain: fish, meat, dairy, egg products, animal products or animal by-products. | |||
| Jain meal VJML | Prepared Indian style according to Jain customs. May contain one or more of: fruit and stem vegetables that grow above the ground. Will not contain: animal products or by-products, or root vegetables such as ginger, garlic, potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, radishes or beets. | |||
| Diabetic meal DBML | Suitable for customers with diabetes and prepared as a low or no added sugar meal. May contain one or more of: lean meats, vegetables, fresh fruit, butter, low-fat milk and plain yoghurt. Will not contain: sugar, although some sugar substitutes may be used. | Available to/from Perth and Papeete | ||
| Baby meal BBML | Available for customers travelling with an infant. A range of pureed packaged infant food is available on our flights. We recommend parents carry preferred food for their babies. | |||
| Child meal CHML | Suitable for children, not infants, who can eat solid food and are travelling on fares that include a meal option. May contain one or more of: milk and dairy products, fish, chicken, pasta, crackers, fruit and fruit juices. | |||
| Low-fat meal LFML | Suitable for customers following a fat-restricted diet. May contain one or more of: rice, potatoes, fish, lean meats, egg whites, cottage cheese, margarine, cereals, wholegrain bread and fruit. Will not contain: egg yolks, fatty meats, milk, cream or hard cheeses. | |||
| Fruit platter meal FPML | Suitable for customers following a fruit-only diet. Contains fruit only. | |||
| Asian vegetarian meal AVML | Suitable for vegetarian customers and usually prepared in a spicy Indian style with limited use of dairy products. May contain one or more of: vegetables, fruit and milk products. Will not contain: fish, meat or eggs. | |||
| Hindu meal HNML | Prepared according to Hindu customs and dietary practices, and suitable for non-vegetarian customers. May contain one or more of: chicken, fish, lamb, eggs, milk and dairy products. Will not contain: beef. | |||
| Kosher meal KSML | Prepared and served according to Jewish dietary laws and customs. This meal cannot be guaranteed if requested within four days of travel or on flights from Rarotonga. | |||
| Muslim meal MOML | Prepared and served according to Muslim dietary laws and customs. May contain one or more of: fish, chicken, lamb, vegetables, eggs, fruit and dairy products. Will not contain: pork or pork products, gelatine, alcohol, non-Halal prepared meats, shellfish or other animal by-products. No Haram products will be used. | Except Auckland-Honolulu and Honolulu-Auckland flight |
| Meal description | Long haul flights | Australia & Islands: Business Premier™ | Australia & Islands: Premium Economy & Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
Gluten intolerant meal GFML | |||
| Suitable for gluten intolerance, but not suitable for gluten allergy or dairy intolerance. May contain one or more of: salad, fruit, fish, lean meats, vegetables, dairy products and rice. | |||
Vegan meal VGML | |||
| Suitable for vegan customers or customers following a strict vegetarian diet. May contain one or more of: fresh fruit and vegetables. Will not contain: fish, meat, dairy, egg products, animal products or animal by-products. | |||
Vegetarian meal VLML | |||
| Suitable for vegetarian customers who eat egg or dairy products. May contain one or more of: vegetables, fruit, dairy products and eggs. Will not contain: meat or fish. | |||
Oriental meal VOML | |||
| Suitable for vegetarian customers and prepared in an Oriental or Chinese style. May contain one or more of: fresh fruit and vegetables. Will not contain: fish, meat, dairy, egg products, animal products or animal by-products. | |||
Jain meal VJML | |||
| Prepared Indian style according to Jain customs. May contain one or more of: fruit and stem vegetables that grow above the ground. Will not contain: animal products or by-products, or root vegetables such as ginger, garlic, potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, radishes or beets. | |||
Diabetic meal DBML | |||
| Suitable for customers with diabetes and prepared as a low or no added sugar meal. May contain one or more of: lean meats, vegetables, fresh fruit, butter, low-fat milk and plain yoghurt. Will not contain: sugar, although some sugar substitutes may be used. | Available to/from Perth and Papeete | ||
Baby meal BBML | |||
| Available for customers travelling with an infant. A range of pureed packaged infant food is available on our flights. We recommend parents carry preferred food for their babies. | |||
Child meal CHML | |||
| Suitable for children, not infants, who can eat solid food and are travelling on fares that include a meal option. May contain one or more of: milk and dairy products, fish, chicken, pasta, crackers, fruit and fruit juices. | |||
Low-fat meal LFML | |||
| Suitable for customers following a fat-restricted diet. May contain one or more of: rice, potatoes, fish, lean meats, egg whites, cottage cheese, margarine, cereals, wholegrain bread and fruit. Will not contain: egg yolks, fatty meats, milk, cream or hard cheeses. | |||
Fruit platter meal FPML | |||
| Suitable for customers following a fruit-only diet. Contains fruit only. | |||
Asian vegetarian meal AVML | |||
| Suitable for vegetarian customers and usually prepared in a spicy Indian style with limited use of dairy products. May contain one or more of: vegetables, fruit and milk products. Will not contain: fish, meat or eggs. | |||
Hindu meal HNML | |||
| Prepared according to Hindu customs and dietary practices, and suitable for non-vegetarian customers. May contain one or more of: chicken, fish, lamb, eggs, milk and dairy products. Will not contain: beef. | |||
Kosher meal KSML | |||
| Prepared and served according to Jewish dietary laws and customs. This meal cannot be guaranteed if requested within four days of travel or on flights from Rarotonga. | |||
Muslim meal MOML | |||
| Prepared and served according to Muslim dietary laws and customs. May contain one or more of: fish, chicken, lamb, vegetables, eggs, fruit and dairy products. Will not contain: pork or pork products, gelatine, alcohol, non-Halal prepared meats, shellfish or other animal by-products. No Haram products will be used. | Except Auckland-Honolulu and Honolulu-Auckland flight | ||
Meal options for children and infants
Infant meals
If your infant is eating solids or formula, you can bring your own food, formula and feeding equipment on board.
We do not have facilities to sterilise water, bottles or feeding equipment during the flight.
Infant meals are available on long haul international flights with a meal service, but we recommend parents carry preferred food for their babies.
Children’s meals
Children’s meals are available on selected flights and need to be requested before you travel.
We try to serve children before adults, and children’s meals may include a mild hot meal, breakfast options, snacks, fruit juice and a sweet treat.
If our special meals do not meet your needs
If our special meal options do not meet your needs, you’re welcome to bring your own food on board.
Before you travel, please remember:
- We can’t heat or refrigerate your food
- Airport security restrictions apply to liquids, pastes and gels
- You may not be able to take food past border control when you arrive, so any leftovers may need to be left with us for safe disposal
Other dietary needs
Some dietary needs do not have an exact special meal option. The information below may help you choose the closest available option or decide whether to bring your own food.
What to expect on domestic flights
On New Zealand domestic flights, we offer mineral water, tea and coffee, and a light snack instead of full meals. Your snack has a gluten-free option — just ask your cabin crew.
Some domestic flights are Koru Hour flights, with additional snack and drink choices. These flights are clearly labelled when booking online.
Koru Hour is available on eligible flights:
- between Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown
- that are longer than 50 minutes
- departing Monday to Friday between 4:35pm and 7:05pm, except public holidays