Almost kicked off FLIGHT! Please help

[disneyelaine]

I agree the worker was way out of line.
But if I had a child with a deadly PA, and I knew in advance Delta was the
only airline that served Peanuts (as the OP did), I sure as heck would not
be flying that airline, frequent flier miles or NOT!!

 

[sunnyday123]

I agree the worker was way out of line.
But if I had a child with a deadly PA, and I knew in advance Delta was the
only airline that served Peanuts (as the OP did), I sure as heck would not
be flying that airline, frequent flier miles or NOT!!

Right. It comes down to what's best for your kid, period.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

I didn't read all the responses but wanted to say you should never have been treated so rudely. I don't think, however, that it was their responsibility to pick up all the peanuts. If I was allergic to peanuts I would just not eat them. Everyone around me is more than welcome and I wouldn't expect the airline to make everyone else go without peanuts only because I couldn't eat them, that seems ludicrous. I would be annoyed if I had to go without because one person has an allergy. Just don't eat them and let me eat mine. I have an allergy to certain items but I don't walk into places and expect no one to have them, that is way too self centered.

I am surprised that you have an allergy but are unaware that the peanuts just being out there on the floor could cause a problem.
I also really do not think it is that terrible of a thing for 100 people or so to refrain from eating peanuts for a couple hours in order to keep a child safe. If you can't manage that, that is that I think is too self-centered. But that is honestly, just my opinion.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

I agree the worker was way out of line.
But if I had a child with a deadly PA, and I knew in advance Delta was the
only airline that served Peanuts (as the OP did), I sure as heck would not
be flying that airline, frequent flier miles or NOT!!

I have read this whole thread, and I might have missed it, but where does it say that?

 

[disneyelaine]

I know from speaking with flight attendants on previous flights that your airline chooses to continue to serve peanuts despite knowing the dangers it presents. That is their right however END OF QUOTE


See above quote. It was in her first post.

 

[kaytieeldr]

OP says she called ahead, and also talked to both agent at the baggage counter and front gate agent. I'm not sure who else she should have talked to before boarding the plane!

On the other hand, none of those people should be reasonably expected to know that a recently-deplaned passenger dropped peanuts on the floor. SHOULD they know the planes should be cleaned better? Okay - but as has been pointed out several times, most flights have a very short turnaround time, and most planes aren't thoroughly cleaned except overnight.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am surprised that you have an allergy

You misread. She said:

...to pick up all the peanuts. If I was allergic to peanuts I would just not eat them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

OP I am sorry you had to go through this. Delta IMO is one of the worst airlines. The last time we flew them there was someone else's stuff shoved into the side of my luggage and some kind of condensed milk all over my luggage.

The "stuff" could be attributed to either Delta or the TSA - most likely Delta - but the condensed milk? THAT was the fault of an inconsiderate fellow passenger.

You mentioned that you waited 'on the ramp' while they cleaned the aircraft. This tells me that you were traveling on a smaller plane, such as a regional jet.

Not necessarily. I'm thinking where she said "ramp" she means "jetway". Many people aren't aware there's a difference.

 

[brittsmum1998]

I agree the worker was way out of line.
But if I had a child with a deadly PA, and I knew in advance Delta was the
only airline that served Peanuts (as the OP did), I sure as heck would not
be flying that airline, frequent flier miles or NOT!!

 

[mom of 3G's]

You misread. She said:

I have an allergy to certain items but I don't walk into places and expect no one to have them, that is way too self centered.

She actually does have an allergy.

 

[jenrose66]

Wow...I'm really sorry that this happened. What a terrible ordeal. From reading your letter it seems like Delta was the airline?? I'll never fly with them! As far as the letter goes, I think it's pretty good, but I would just stick with the facts. I'd keep the parts about everyone you informed about the allergy as well as the exact rude words the employee gave you in the tunnel. I would also confirm at the end that you expect to be contacted from somebody in customer relations to discuss this in person. This isn't a matter of them refunding your flight or giving you anything (though that may be something they should do)...it's a matter of the company doing the right thing and talking to you about this matter and apologizing voice to voice.

As an aside, I'm surprised that peanuts are still served on flights. I have a tree nut allergy and even the smell of them closes my throat. I was pregnant and at a movie theater with my mom. The movie was just starting and I felt my throat swelling, I mentioned to my mom it felt like I was having a reaction to nuts...sure enough i looked at the row in front of me and people were eating cashews (who brings cashews to the movies)...anyway I got up and moved to the clear other side of the theater and was fine.

Anyway, I just flew Southwest in March and they handed out peanuts as a snack on the flight. I was a little nervous because I didn't know if my son had a peanut allergy because he had never been exposed to them, he was only 2 and a half at the time and with my history of allergies, I try to keep him away from anything that could be highly allergic.

So in your case I guess I would find out if there is an entirely peanut free airline and that would be the only airline I would fly with my family. Even if the tickets were more expensive the peace of mind and stress it would save me by knowing that peanuts won't be on the flight would be worth it to me. However, I guess you would have to worry that someone brings their own nuts on the plane.

It's hard with allergies, because you can't tell someone how to live their lives or what they can eat...you just always make sure you have the epi pen...

 

[Caropooh]

I agree with the others that your letter needs to be fine tuned a bit, sticking to the facts and condensed for easier reading. Breaking up the text seems to help people get through it, since people seem to start to skim after a big chunk of uninterrupted text, so bullet points of the comments made to you will help make them stand out. It needs to fit on a single side of a single page, and yours runs into the third page. (Uh, yeah, I copied and pasted it to a Word doc to check!)

You also need to ask for a resolution. What would make you feel like justice was done in your case? Do you want to be reimbursed? Here are my edits:

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to inform you of the unprofessional, verbally abusive behavior I encountered with flight manager John Doe on flight _______ on (date, time) in (city.)

I was traveling alone with my two young children, ages 2 and 5. My youngest son has a peanut allergy. As per Delta’s policy on peanut allergies, I gave advance notification of the allergy so a peanut-free “buffer zone of three rows in front of and three rows behind your seat” would be available before boarding. I called before my vacation began and also told the agent at the baggage counter and front gate agent. I was assured that the attendants would be informed.

After boarding the plane, I noticed whole peanuts(WHERE? On the seat, on the floor?) I understand that Delta cannot make a flight completely peanut-free, but finding whole peanuts on the floor in what should have been a peanut-free zone is unacceptable.

I quickly made an attendant (NAME?) aware of the situation and asked that the peanuts be removed. The attendant was not polite, but did comply. I felt as though I was causing an inconvenience, but the alternative was risking a serious reaction mid-air, causing even more delay. I was asked to disembark the plane while they cleaned, and was assured that the situation would be resolved. My children and I left the plane and waited on the ramp.

I then encountered John Doe, the flight supervisor. I was already upset and embarrassed at the delay that was caused, and told him that I would prefer to wait quietly while the plane was cleaned. Mr. Doe proceeded to berate me in front of my children, saying that if I did not talk to him, I would not be allowed on the flight. While I waited quietly with my children, John Doe made comments such as:

• “Why can’t you talk to me like a normal human being?”
• “What is wrong with your generation? You expect everything to be handed to you? None of you know how to carry on a conversation.”
• “Look at you over there against the wall with your hands behind your back acting like a child.”
• “Learn to talk like a grown up.”
• “Look at you and you’re a mom. What a horrible mother!”
• “I feel sorry for these kids, they have no hope.”

I made no responses throughout this verbal abuse, but did ask to be left alone several times. In the years I have flown Delta I have never been treated to a customer service level this poor. I was stunned by his comments when I was trying to prevent a severe reaction that could have not only endangered my son, but also delayed the flight further.

(State what you want for compensation.)

Very good letter!

 

[kaytieeldr]

She actually does have an allergy.

My mistake. She doesn't have a peanut allergy, and it's not clear that whatever triggers her allergies would be an issue on an airplane.

 

[dancin'girl]

I am so sorry about your horrible experience. I am shocked about the way you were treated! No one should be treated the way you were. Your post was enough to steer me away from choosing Delta in the future.

If Southwest is in your area, maybe you could look into a future flight with them. My DD also has a PA and we were very pleased with Southwest on our most recent trip. They are not a peanut free airline, but were great in accomodating us. I called a week before our flight and was told that the plane would not be cleaned between flights, so I was told that I should clean the seats before letting DD sit. On the day of our flight, we were able to pre-board and I cleaned our seats with Clorox wipes. I noticed a few peanuts on the floor, so I chose a different row, and then cleaned those seats! Luckily I had DH to watch the kids and take care of stowing the bags, then I was free to worry about the cleaning. The flight attendants were all very nice about it, coming over to carry away the wipes to the trash. They also served pretzels on the flight (which I did not serve to DD because of cross contanimation that was stated on the package, but I was informed of this over the phone ahead of time, and was asked to bring my own snacks to serve DD, which I had no issue with.) I don't have experience with other airlines, so others may be better, but we thought SW was great with how they handle allergies. They have a system in place, and everyone knows just what procedure to follow.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

I know from speaking with flight attendants on previous flights that your airline chooses to continue to serve peanuts despite knowing the dangers it presents. That is their right however END OF QUOTE


See above quote. It was in her first post.

I agree the worker was way out of line.
But if I had a child with a deadly PA, and I knew in advance Delta was the
only airline that served Peanuts (as the OP did), I sure as heck would not
be flying that airline, frequent flier miles or NOT!!

If that is in response to my question, my question was actually where did she say that "I knew in advance that Delta was the ONLY AIRLINE that served peanuts". I ask where she said that because I did not remember reading it and I do not think that is true. I know she knew they served them ahead of time, because she told them about the allergy several times. To say that Delta is the ONLY AIRLINE that serves them, but she still chose them, makes it sound like she made no effort to avoid this.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

It's hard with allergies, because you can't tell someone how to live their lives or what they can eat...you just always make sure you have the epi pen...

Don't forget that the epipen doesn't always work, if it does calm the reaction, you sometimes need another does before you get to the hospital (especially if you are flying!), and having other conditions such as asthma make the reaction worse. I just don't want anyone to think that if someone should have a reaction, you can just jab them with the pen and go on all honky dory! lol

 

[disneyelaine]

You are right Nicoleclaw, the OP never said about Delta being the only airline that serves peanuts, just that she knew they did. I stand corrected. She said she uses Delta because she has their skymiles card. I'd find another airline, which I suspect she will.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am surprised that you have an allergy but are unaware that the peanuts just being out there on the floor could cause a problem.
I also really do not think it is that terrible of a thing for 100 people or so to refrain from eating peanuts for a couple hours in order to keep a child safe. If you can't manage that, that is that I think is too self-centered. But that is honestly, just my opinion.

FWIW, I have had two instances where I had encounered a peanut allergic person who was allergic based on consumption only.

One was in a class that I tought and she said it was okay to feed the other kids PB and she would provide her child's Almond butter. We were not asked nor required to do any exceptional sanitation procedures (but I was open to whatever she needed--it just wasn't needed and he was definitely a PA. I even offered to serve everyone almond butter as I did have that as well to use for the activity. She said it wasn't necessary and he sat right next to a kid using the PB--he just didn't eat it and she wasn't militant about him not touching it or anything b/c it was unnecessary in his case.)

My friend who was just in my house this weekend said she is PA. This is after we served food and ate dinner. But again--she is consumption only. So after my brief "Holy Moses" moment--all was good and she said "for her" it is not a big issue. (Nothing we prepared had actual peanuts but we didn't verify any cross contaminations on the box either.)


I think it isn't nice to criticize folks who just don't know. Offer your knowledge--but the two people I know can't be the only two that are consumption-only when it comes to PA in the world. In fact, I will ask people (when it comes up that I need to know if they are PA) if they are exposure or consumption only. That lets me know if I have to modify for everyone--or just have substitutons available for the PA person.

Clearly there is a bell curve on PA's. The OP had her children dressed normally, another poster makes sure her son wears pants on all flights and someone just posted the Airtrain flght where the girl was head to toe in special clothing and a mask due to her severe PA.


So why can't the discussion be educational and not mean spirited to the folks who may not be as aware as you are?

I too will admit that I don't understand why a parent would risk exposure for a life threatening allergy in any business or activity that cannot guarantee peanut free if there is a suitable alternative even if that alternative costs more.

I do believe that we must be careful that an expecatation of reasonable accomodations doesn't become an entitlement to perfect accomodations.

And "sometimes"--not in the OP's case--but there are limitations in how someone can be accomodated. Be it an allergy or a physically or mentally limiting disability. This is why ADA mentions 'REASONABLE'.

Airtran and southwest seems like they are more accomodating and thus probably should have her business in the future.

 

[Christine]

Good post and I just want to add a few things within it for educational purposes. Not trying to argue or prove any points, just get some general information out:

FWIW, I have had two instances where I had encounered a peanut allergic person who was allergic based on consumption only.

One was in a class that I tought and she said it was okay to feed the other kids PB and she would provide her child's Almond butter. We were not asked nor required to do any exceptional sanitation procedures (but I was open to whatever she needed--it just wasn't needed and he was definitely a PA. I even offered to serve everyone almond butter as I did have that as well to use for the activity. She said it wasn't necessary and he sat right next to a kid using the PB--he just didn't eat it and she wasn't militant about him not touching it or anything b/c it was unnecessary in his case.)

My friend who was just in my house this weekend said she is PA. This is after we served food and ate dinner. But again--she is consumption only. So after my brief "Holy Moses" moment--all was good and she said "for her" it is not a big issue. (Nothing we prepared had actual peanuts but we didn't verify any cross contaminations on the box either.)

When it comes to peanut allergies, your two experiences have been very lucky people, but I will tell you (based on every bit of information given to me from the medical community), BOTH of these people are taking risks. A peanut allergic person will never, ever, ever know for sure if they are only at risk for consumption, contact, and/or airborne. They are guessing and they are solely guessing on maybe past experience and statistics. At anytime, just like any allergy, this could change. For instance, my son was told that while he was allergic to peanuts he was not allergic to tree nut but that he should never eat tree nuts because peanuts and tree nuts are most often processed together at the main plant. He was never allowed to eat almond butter because the risk of cross-contamination was so high on nuts in general that we would be asking for trouble. He had eaten Honey Nut Cheerios when he was younger with no problems but he wasn't allergic then either. Then last year, at the age of 13, he had a new set of allergy tests done and now, viola, he is also allergic to tree nuts. The person you know that uses almond butter is being risky and it may come back to bite her. As for your adult friend who has the consumption-only allergy, really, that could change but I do hope she realizes that you can NEVER really know that for sure. My experience with my son is that he is consumption and contact but there's always a part of me that knows that one day that could change so I do avoid most of the risks associated with airborne allergies but not all--obviously I fly with him.

I too will admit that I don't understand why a parent would risk exposure for a life threatening allergy in any business or activity that cannot guarantee peanut free if there is a suitable alternative even if that alternative costs more.

As with your friend above, you weigh the risks. Some people don't live in areas where access to many airlines (peanut free) is available. I'm sure there are many PA people who actually are so bad off that they make that choice not to fly at all. We don't hear about them because their issue is resolved with that decision. Other people feel that, based on an airline's policy and seemingly willingness to accommodate the allergy that the risk of flying is minimal. It's when they actually get on the plane and the airline doesn't do what it promises to do that there are problems.

I do believe that we must be careful that an expecatation of reasonable accomodations doesn't become an entitlement to perfect accomodations

I agree with that too and, personally, if an airline said "We serve peanuts, we want to serve peanuts, and we won't adjust anything" then I would not ask for accommodations. When an airline states that they will accommodate me then I do ask and I do expect them to do what they say.

And "sometimes"--not in the OP's case--but there are limitations in how someone can be accomodated. Be it an allergy or a physically or mentally limiting disability. This is why ADA mentions 'REASONABLE'.

Airtran and southwest seems like they are more accomodating and thus probably should have her business in the future.

Yep, and I think limiting peanuts is reasonable. Southwest is definitely accommodating and we fly with them.

As for business in the future, I often wonder why all airlines just don't go peanut free to avoid these. For them to even make some type of published accommodations tells me that there has been enough need to do so. If you've got people wanting to go to peanut free airlines then you would lose business. While I enjoy peanuts myself, they don't make me want to fly with someone who serves them. You would think in this day of airlines losing so much money that they would just stop the whole mess of peanuts being on the plane. Cutting them will not cost them to lose any passengers, it would probably help them gain that small population of allergic people, and it would probably prevent many headaches with flight attendants.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

FWIW, I have had two instances where I had encounered a peanut allergic person who was allergic based on consumption only.

One was in a class that I tought and she said it was okay to feed the other kids PB and she would provide her child's Almond butter. We were not asked nor required to do any exceptional sanitation procedures (but I was open to whatever she needed--it just wasn't needed and he was definitely a PA. I even offered to serve everyone almond butter as I did have that as well to use for the activity. She said it wasn't necessary and he sat right next to a kid using the PB--he just didn't eat it and she wasn't militant about him not touching it or anything b/c it was unnecessary in his case.)

My friend who was just in my house this weekend said she is PA. This is after we served food and ate dinner. But again--she is consumption only. So after my brief "Holy Moses" moment--all was good and she said "for her" it is not a big issue. (Nothing we prepared had actual peanuts but we didn't verify any cross contaminations on the box either.)


I think it isn't nice to criticize folks who just don't know. Offer your knowledge--but the two people I know can't be the only two that are consumption-only when it comes to PA in the world. In fact, I will ask people (when it comes up that I need to know if they are PA) if they are exposure or consumption only. That lets me know if I have to modify for everyone--or just have substitutons available for the PA person.

Clearly there is a bell curve on PA's. The OP had her children dressed normally, another poster makes sure her son wears pants on all flights and someone just posted the Airtrain flght where the girl was head to toe in special clothing and a mask due to her severe PA.


So why can't the discussion be educational and not mean spirited to the folks who may not be as aware as you are?

I too will admit that I don't understand why a parent would risk exposure for a life threatening allergy in any business or activity that cannot guarantee peanut free if there is a suitable alternative even if that alternative costs more.

I do believe that we must be careful that an expecatation of reasonable accomodations doesn't become an entitlement to perfect accomodations.

And "sometimes"--not in the OP's case--but there are limitations in how someone can be accomodated. Be it an allergy or a physically or mentally limiting disability. This is why ADA mentions 'REASONABLE'.

Airtran and southwest seems like they are more accomodating and thus probably should have her business in the future.

As other posters have mentioned after your post, the severity of allergies can change over time. If your friend is not checking for cross-contamination, her allergy is not that severe.

As for criticizing people who "just don't know", I said to the other poster that I had quoted, "I am surprised that you have an allergy but are unaware that the peanuts just being out there on the floor could cause a problem." I do not feel that was a statement that was meant to criticize them. I was expressing that I thought that would be something someone with allergies would be aware of. If my intent had been mean spirited it would have gone along the lines of, "anyone with an allergy knows....or how do could you not know...." I simply said I was surprised that they were unaware it COULD cause a problem. Of course it does not for everyone. Right now, my son seems to be ok with it in the room. But that certainly could change. I really stand by the fact that I was not trying to be mean spirited and would have worded in sentence differently if I wanted to do so.

It is nice of you to defend that poster, but they did call the OP actions and expectations were were ludicrous and self-centered. That is a little mean-spirited in my book. JMHO

When people talk about a parent risking exposure and avoiding it, they really need to consider the alternatives. I still do not know where this poster was going, but you may be talking about someone having to drive from NY to California to avoid planes, that is a bit unreasonable. It all depends on the situation and the alternatives.

If we are talking about having reasonable accommodations, not having whole peanuts on the floor I think constitutes a reasonable accommodation. Especially in light of what is stated on their website for the accommodations they will provide.

Due to their reaction, I think many of us at this point might be avoiding Delta! lol They certainly won't be my first choice the next time we fly.

In anycase, it is hard to read someone's tone on email. I really wasn't trying to be mean spirited when I said I was surprised. I really was just surprised they were not aware of it because they had allergies. I do not think your comments about me being mean-spirited were necessary or called for. I do not think you have stated that you yourself have an allergy, which maybe explains why you do not understand that I was surprised a person WITH allergies was unaware of that fact. That is not necessarily something I would think the general public might be aware of. But someone with more than one allergy would probably know.

I do want to say it is very nice of you to be accommodating with guests with allergies. Not even all of our close relatives are that helpful. We always have a secret stash of food with us though for those unknown situations! lol