Hey travel foodies, booked a British Airways flight but realized you need to tweak your meal preference—maybe you’re craving a vegan dish or need a gluten-free option? I’ve been there, like when I forgot to request a vegetarian meal for a long-haul to New York and scrambled to fix it. BA makes it fairly easy to change meal preferences, but timing and fare type matter. Let’s break down how to do it in 2025, with tips to ensure you get the meal you want. If you’re unsure about your booking, call 844-928-0428—they’re super helpful for sorting out dietary needs.

British Airways offers a range of special meals—like vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal, or low-sodium—on most long-haul flights and some short-haul routes in higher cabins. You can request these when booking, but if you didn’t, you can change or add a preference up to 24 hours before departure. The easiest way is through “Manage My Booking” on ba.com or the BA app. Log in with your six-character booking reference (PNR) and last name, go to passenger details, and look for the meal preference section. I updated to a vegan meal for a flight to Cape Town this way, and it was a breeze—took less than a minute.

If you’re in Economy or Premium Economy, special meals are free, but you need to request them at least 24 hours before your flight, as BA prepares catering in advance. In Business (Club World) or First, you can also pre-order standard meals on select routes, like London to New York, up to 24 hours before departure. I missed the pre-order window once and ended up with a standard meal—not ideal. If the online system doesn’t show your preferred option, call 844-928-0428—they can often add it manually or confirm availability.

For codeshare flights or bookings through travel agents, meal changes can be trickier. If BA operates the flight, use “Manage My Booking” on ba.com, but if it’s a partner like American Airlines, you might need to contact the operating airline. I had a codeshare issue on a BA flight operated by Qatar Airways, and calling 844-928-0428 helped me coordinate a kosher meal request with both airlines. If you booked through an agent, they might need to handle the change, so check with them first.

Timing is critical—after the 24-hour cutoff, you’re usually stuck with the standard meal or whatever’s available onboard. If you have severe dietary restrictions, like allergies, notify BA as early as possible and confirm at check-in. For Avios reward flights, meal preferences follow the same process, but availability might depend on the cabin. If you’re traveling with kids or need medical meals, BA’s pretty accommodating, but you’ll need to request these early. Calling 844-928-0428 at least 48 hours before can ensure special requests are noted.

Pro tip: Double-check your meal preference in “Manage My Booking” a few days before flying, as system glitches can sometimes reset choices. I’ve heard stories of meal requests vanishing, so it’s worth confirming. Also, if you’re in a group booking, each traveler’s meal preference needs to be set individually. In 2025, BA’s app is super user-friendly for these updates, but phone support shines for complex cases or last-minute changes.

Changing your meal preference with BA keeps your flight enjoyable and stress-free, whether it’s for dietary needs or just a tastier option. Ready to update your meal choice? Call 844-928-0428 now to ensure your preference is set for a great in-flight dining experience!