Halal food and special meals on EgyptAir flights

Standard meals are halal: what the airline says

The airline's special-services page makes a direct statement: all of EgyptAir's standard meals are halal, prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary law. For a Muslim traveller this means there is no need to hunt for a Muslim meal code in the booking process. The ordinary meal on the tray is the one intended for you.

That statement covers standard meals. It is a different question from what happens with the special meals you may order for medical or lifestyle reasons, and it does not describe how each ingredient is sourced or which body certifies the catering. The page does not name a certifier, and this guide does not invent one.

• Standard meal: stated to be halal.
• Special meal: requested at the time of booking.
• Certifier or supplier names: not given on the page, so ask if you need them.

Everything below builds on that single, confirmed starting point and explains how to make the most of it.

The special meals the airline lists

Alongside the standard meal, the airline lists special meals that carry no extra charge. The ones described on the page are:

• Hot diabetic meal: healthy and sugar-free, with nutritional information provided.
• Hindu meal: free of beef and beef products, but it may contain chicken, fish or seafood.
• Seafood meal: fish and other seafood only.
• Low cholesterol or low fat meal: intended for passengers with cardiac or blood pressure problems.
• Infant meal: for children under two, including strained fruit, vegetables and meat; toddler meals are soft, easy-to-chew foods.
• Vegetarian meal: no meat of any kind.

A note on the Hindu meal

Because the Hindu meal is only free of beef, it may still contain items a Muslim traveller would not choose. If you are considering it as an alternative, ask the airline what it contains and whether it is prepared to halal standards. Do not select it simply because it sounds close to what you need.

When and how to ask

The airline tells passengers to request a special meal when making flight reservations. The page does not state a numeric cut-off, so no deadline can be quoted here. The sensible approach is to ask at the time of booking and to treat any later request as less certain.

Channels

The page names the booking stage as the place to request. It also mentions that the My Bookings area lets you view special meal and seat requests, although it does not say whether you can add or change a meal there. If you book through a travel agent, ask them to add the meal request to the ticket and to send you the confirmation.

1. Choose the meal during the reservation, if the booking screen offers the option.
2. If it does not, contact the airline or your agent straight after booking.
3. Open the booking again a few days before the flight and look for the meal in the passenger details.
4. Raise any gap with the airline well before departure, not at the gate.

Allergies and what cannot be guaranteed

The airline is open about a limit: it cannot guarantee that meals or snacks are completely free of traces of nuts or other allergens, because its production facilities may handle them. A halal meal is not an allergen-free meal, and the two questions should be kept separate.

Passengers whose needs cannot be met are advised to bring their own food, subject to security rules and local laws. Cabin crew cannot make announcements or alert other passengers about individual medical conditions, so if you have a serious allergy, plan on the basis that you must protect yourself.

• Carry any prescribed emergency medication in hand baggage.
• Ask your doctor about travel precautions; medical advice is outside the scope of this guide.
• Tell the crew quietly when you board, and check labels yourself.

Seats, cabins and how dining varies

Dining differs between cabins and aircraft, and the airline's published information does not describe the menu for each. What you can rely on is the statement about standard meals being halal; what you should not assume is a particular dish, service style or number of courses.

Economy and business

The airline operates economy and business cabins on its passenger aircraft. In either cabin, the presentation and the choice of dishes may differ, but the halal statement applies to standard meals rather than to a cabin. If your journey includes a short sector, expect that service may be lighter, and bring a snack if you are particular about timings.

Codeshare and partner flights

If your ticket carries an EgyptAir flight number but the aircraft is operated by another carrier, or the reverse, the meal policy of the operating airline may apply. Check which airline actually operates each segment and read that airline's policy.

Before you fly: verification routine

Because the page leaves several details unspecified, a short routine closes the gaps.

• Confirm the operating airline for every flight number on your ticket.
• Ask the airline whether the catering at your departure airport is covered by the same halal statement as the main hub.
• If you want the name of the certifying body, ask in writing and keep the reply.
• Request any special meal at the time of booking and check it appears in your booking later.
• Pack a sealed, familiar snack for delays and short sectors.

Where an airport's catering is run by a third party, the airline is the party responsible for answering your question, so direct it to the airline rather than to the airport.

Checklist: what to do if the meal is wrong

If something is wrong on the day, work through a few steps in order.

At the gate or on board

• Tell the crew as soon as you notice, before the meal is opened.
• Ask to read the tray card or label, and ask what alternative exists.
• Choose seafood or vegetarian items only if the label supports it.

If nothing suitable is available

• Eat the snack you packed.
• Note the flight number, date and seat, and what was offered.

After landing

• Write to the airline's customer care with the booking reference and details.
• Ask for a written answer about how the halal statement is applied on that route.

Individual questions about what is acceptable in a doubtful case should go to a qualified scholar, not to the cabin crew.

Frequently asked questions