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Vegan Travel

Does Lufthansa Have a Vegan Meal?

Updated January 22, 2024

When it comes to traveling, lifestyle and dietary preferences are crucial considerations, as it can be stressful wondering if your chosen airline will serve something you can eat.

Fortunately, with the changing times and consumers becoming more environmentally conscious, airlines like Lufthansa cater to a diverse range of passenger needs, including offering vegan meal options!

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What special meals are offered on Lufthansa flights?

Passengers requiring specific meals for dietary, religious, nutritional or lifestyle reasons can choose from 11 options on Lufthansa flights longer than 185 minutes. The meal options include:

  • Gluten-free meal
  • Low-cholesterol diet
  • Low-sodium diet
  • Lactose-free meal
  • Vegan meal
  • Vegetarian meal
  • Vegetarian Asian (Indian) meal
  • Vegetarian Jain meal
  • Kosher meal
  • Muslim meal
  • Hindu meal (non-vegetarian)

What are the usual vegan meal options on a Lufthansa flight?

Lufthansa recognizes the growing demand for plant-based dining options and has incorporated a variety of vegan choices into its in-flight menu. Typically, passengers can expect a range of delicious vegan choices, including:

  • Pastas
  • Salads
  • Rice
  • Vegetables
  • Stews
  • Fresh fruit
  • Bread rolls

While the vegan meal options may not be as diverse as the standard options, it’s certainly a step up from 30 years ago, when in-flight vegan options were a rare a thing.

However, a downside to these offerings is fruit often takes the place of decadent desserts like cakes, custards, ice cream and crumbles. If you’re a sucker for ending a meal on a sweet note, consider packing yourself a treat like cookies, chocolates, brownies or even a homemade pudding so you don’t feel like you’re missing out.

luftansa airline vegan meal
Lufthansa vegan meal from Flickr user lambyloo

Is there a certain vegan code that Lufthansa uses for vegan and vegetarian meals?

Lufthansa uses specific meal codes to cater to passengers with dietary restrictions. The VGML code is used for strictly vegan meals, ensuring the airline staff understands and respects your nutritional choices. These meals are completely free of all animal products and by-products.

Lacto-vegetarian or ovo-vegetarian meals (VLML) are also clearly marked. VLML meals may contain milk products, eggs or honey.

Does Lufthansa offer vegan snacks?

On flights longer than 60 minutes, passengers have the option to purchase snacks onboard. From cashews and crackers to veggie-packed salads and a fruity oat bar, vegan Lufthansa travelers won’t have to go hungry during their flight.

Do I have to pre-order the vegan meal?

To ensure you receive your food and don’t spend the flight with a grumbling tummy, you must order your vegan meal when booking your flight. You can request it or other special eats up to 24 hours before your flight departs.

Can I bring my own vegan meal on a Lufthansa Flight?

Yes — like most other airlines, you can bring your own food onboard a Lufthansa flight. If you’re worried about the airline forgetting your meal or experiencing a shortage of vegan snacks onboard, it’s best to pack some just in case. You don’t want to be left with nothing to eat, especially on long-haul flights.

While there are many vegan meal and snack options for you to pack, it’s best to prioritize non-perishables. If your meal arrives but you’ve packed your own that could spoil, you may have to decide between the two, meaning one will go to waste.

Consider packing some of the following:

  • Dried fruit
  • Energy balls or bars
  • Pretzels or chips
  • Protein bars
  • Crunchy chickpeas or edamame
  • Vegan jerky
  • Crackers or rice cakes
  • Trail mix
  • Meal replacement powder or protein powder

Additionally, you can pack more substantial meals like oatmeal cups or instant noodles — which the United States government permits — in your carry-on. If your requested meal doesn’t arrive for any reason, you can ask a flight attendant for some hot water and you’re all set.

Travel Prepared

Pre-ordering your vegan meal ensures a seamless and enjoyable travel experience. However, you can never be too prepared, so make sure you have some tasty and satisfying snacks on hand.

If you’re wondering if your dream destinations are vegan-friendly, you’re in luck! Check out these guides for the best plant-based spots across the globe:

Bali Vegan Adventures: Where to Eat, Stay, & Explore
12 Best Spots for Vegan Brunch & Breakfast in Berlin
7 Must-Book Vegan-Friendly Resorts in Mexico
Complete Toronto Vegan Guide
The Complete Vegan Guide to Geneva, Switzerland

About Author

Beth Rush is the travel and food editor at Body+Mind. She has 5+ years of writing about how to travel and eat well with celiac disease, nutritional deficiencies, and/or hormonal disorders. You can find Beth on Twitter @bodymindmag. Subscribe to Body+Mind for more posts by Beth Rush!