How to order a special meal on British Airways

Know exactly how to secure your special dietary meal on British Airways flights – with timing requirements, route restrictions, and cabin limitations to ensure proper accommodation.

FLIGHT TYPE	CABIN	SPECIAL MEALS AVAILABLE	ALTERNATIVE
Long-haul	All cabins	Yes – full range available	N/A
Short-haul	Club Europe (Business)	Yes – full range available	N/A
Short-haul	Euro Traveller (Economy)	Not available	Purchase from High Life Café

Before You Start – Check Eligibility

Timing requirements: 24 hours minimum (48 hours for kosher meals, except London Heathrow)

Cabin restrictions: Not available on Euro Traveller (short-haul economy) – purchase from High Life Café instead

Route limitations: Kosher meals are not available from numerous destinations

Baby meals: Cannot be ordered – warming facilities provided onboard

How to order

Critical Route Restrictions

Kosher Meals NOT Available From:

• Bahrain, Bangalore, Beijing, Cancun
• All Caribbean destinations
• Hyderabad, Islamabad, Kuwait, Kuala Lumpur
• Nairobi, Mauritius, Shanghai, Riyadh, Jeddah
• San José (Costa Rica), Santiago, Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago), Tbilisi

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Can’t find the “Request a Special Meal” option?

• Verify your flight qualifies (not Euro Traveller short-haul economy)
• Ensure booking is confirmed and ticketed
• Check you’re within the ordering window (not too late)
• Try refreshing the browser or using a different device

Is a special meal not appearing as an option?

• Confirm your departure airport allows kosher meals (if applicable)
• Verify timing requirements (24 vs 48 hours for kosher)
• Check cabin class eligibility
• Contact BA customer service if restrictions apply

Kosher meal showing as unavailable?

• Check if your departure airport is on the restricted list
• Ensure you’re ordering 48 hours ahead (24 hours for Heathrow only)
• Contact BA directly to confirm route availability

Euro Traveller passenger wanting special meals?

• Special meals are not available on short-haul economy
• Pre-order from High Life Café instead for dietary options
• Consider upgrading to Club Europe if a special meal is essential

Baby meal not showing as an option?

• Baby meals cannot be pre-ordered on any BA flights
• Bring your baby food in hand luggage
• Use onboard warming facilities and limited baby food stock
• BA cannot sterilise bottles or provide sterilised water

Important Limitations

• No guarantee: BA cannot guarantee the availability of special meals
• No variations: Cannot customise meals or request special items like lobster or caviar
• Allergen warning: Special meals may contain allergens, including tree nuts or sesame
• Severe allergies: May not be suitable for customers with multiple food allergies
• Cabin restrictions: Euro Traveller passengers must purchase food from the High Life Café

Bottom Line

British Airways’ special meal ordering through “Manage My Booking” is straightforward, but cabin and route restrictions are significant. Euro Traveller (short-haul economy) passengers cannot order special meals and must purchase from High Life Café instead. Kosher meal timing varies by airport (24 hours for Heathrow, 48 hours elsewhere) with extensive route restrictions. Baby meals cannot be ordered, but warming facilities are provided. Keep in mind that special meals may still contain allergens and aren’t suitable for individuals with severe allergies.

FAQs