You order a special meal on China Southern online at csair.com, under Online Service, then Book Meals. Book at least 24 hours before departure from mainland China, or 48 hours from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and abroad. Special meals are free, there are 22 to choose from, and you can book one per passenger per flight, on dinner, light meal and snack services only. To see what’s included on China Southern flights, read our China Southern meals guide.
| Departing from | Book at least | How to book |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | 24 hours before departure | Online at csair.com, or call the 95539 customer service hotline |
| Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and abroad | 48 hours before departure | Online at csair.com, or contact your local China Southern office |
| Kosher meals, anywhere | 48 hours before departure | Only on some flights, so check the booking system |
HOW TO ORDER
- 1
Access the China Southern Website
Go to www.csair.com
Navigate to the main menu and click “Online Service”
Select “Book Meals” from the dropdown options
- 2
Enter Your Details
On the meal reservation page, enter your ticket number or reservation code
Input your surname and given name exactly as they appear on your ticket
Click “Confirm” to proceed to flight selection
- 3
Select Your Flight
On the “Meals Information” page, you’ll see all your booked flights
Locate the flight you want to add a special meal to
Click “Select” under the “Operate” section for that specific flight
- 4
Choose Your Special Meal
Browse available special meal options for your flight
Select your preferred meal by clicking the red “Select” button
Review the meal description and dietary information
- 5
Confirm and Submit
Notice that the “Status” changes to display your selected special meal
If needed, you can change your selection by clicking “Change”
Continue to select meals for all your flights in the itinerary
Review and agree to the terms and conditions
Submit your special meal request
Each flight allows only one of a paid meal, a special meal or Green Flight, so a special meal can’t be combined with the others.
Special Meal Codes
China Southern lists 22 special meals, from halal, kosher and vegan to gluten intolerant, diabetic, low-salt and liquid diet meals.
| Code | Meal | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| BBML | Baby meal | For infants under 2 |
| CHML | Child meal | For children aged 2 to 12 |
| HNML | Hindu meal (non-vegetarian) | Non-vegetarian, Indian-style meal prepared to Hindu customs |
| KSML | Kosher meal | From qualified, certified kosher meal makers, prepared and served to Jewish religious law and dietary customs. Only on some flights, and order 48 hours ahead |
| MOML | Muslim meal | From a supplier with Muslim food production certification, prepared to halal religious laws and dietary customs |
| VJML | Vegetarian Jain meal | Vegetarian, Indian-style meal prepared to Jain customs |
| NBML | No beef meal | No beef, veal or related products |
| BLML | Bland meal | Soft texture, low fat and low fibre, with nothing irritating to the stomach |
| DBML | Diabetic meal | For diabetics, with no sugar of any kind |
| LCML | Low-calorie meal | Limits fat, MSG, gravy, fried food and sugar-rich items |
| LFML | Low-fat meal | Low-cholesterol, high-fibre ingredients, with no red meat, fried food or fatty foods |
| LSML | Low-salt meal | Limits ingredients with natural salt and sodium, with no salt added |
| NLML | Low-lactose meal | Limits milk and related products |
| GFML | Gluten intolerant meal | A gluten-free diet that avoids any form of gluten |
| FPML | Fruit platter meal | Fresh fruit, depending on availability and season |
| RVML | Vegetarian raw meal | Fresh fruit and/or vegetables, depending on availability and season |
| SFML | Seafood meal | One or more kinds of seafood, with no other meat products |
| LQML | Liquid diet meal | Mainly small fluid foods such as milk, porridge or soup |
| AVML | Vegetarian Hindu meal | Indian-style vegetarian, usually spicy. No meat, seafood or egg products, with limited dairy |
| VGML | Vegetarian vegan meal | Western-style vegetarian, with no meat, seafood, egg or dairy |
| VOML | Vegetarian oriental meal | Chinese-style vegetarian, with no meat, seafood, egg or dairy |
| VLML | Vegetarian lacto-ovo meal | Vegetarian, and eggs and dairy may be included |
Not every meal is available on every flight. Meals depend on what the caterer in your departure city can make, so check availability before you book. If you need something not on the list, give China Southern accurate, detailed information, and its staff will respond to your request.
Troubleshooting
If your ticket number isn’t recognised, check that your surname and given name match your ticket exactly, or try the reservation code instead. If no special meal options appear, check your flight serves dinner, a light meal or a snack, since special meals can only be booked for those services, and check the deadline for your departure region. If the Select button doesn’t work, refresh the page, try another browser or device, or book by phone. Delays, cancellations and flight changes can affect a booked meal, so if your dietary needs are critical, consider bringing food of your own.
FAQs
How far in advance do I need to order special meals on China Southern?
It depends on your departure region: 24 hours for departures from mainland China, and 48 hours for departures from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and abroad. Kosher meals require 48 hours’ notice, regardless of the departure point.
Can I order multiple special meals per flight?
No, each passenger is limited to one special meal per flight. The exception is that a second serving can be a baby meal if needed.
Are kosher meals available on all China Southern flights?
No, kosher meals are only available on select flights. Check the booking system for specific availability, and book at least 48 hours in advance.
Can I change my special meal selection after booking?
Yes. Change or cancel it in the online system by clicking Change next to your current meal, no later than 24 hours before departure from mainland China, or 48 hours before departure from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and abroad.
Does China Southern have halal meals?
Yes. Order the Muslim meal (MOML), which comes from a supplier with Muslim food production certification and is prepared to halal religious laws and dietary customs. Availability depends on the caterer in your departure city.