Boarding Southwest Early with Food Allergies?

[kkandaj]

I was curious if anyone knows if Southwest will let me board early to wipe down seats for DS. He has life threatening food allergies to eggs, soy, dairy and nuts. I just want to be able to wipe the seats down that he and I will be sitting in, making sure there is no food residue.

He will wait with DH to board and I will not save seats for all of us, just the two of us. There are 6 of us traveling. I just want it to be the safest possible for DS. Anyone have any experience with this?

And btw--I will not be asking the flight attendant to make an announcement. He will not react if someone around him is eating his allergens. He is contact reactive to raw egg, but I don't think many people will be eating raw egg (or baking cakes) on our flights.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I haven't done it myself (my kids' allergies aren't contact severity) but I have read many reports of people who are able to do so. Especially since it'll just be you preboarding to do the cleaning while your DH and son wait in their boarding positions, I can't imagine having any difficulty at all.

 

[jmartinez1895]

One our flight from Birmingham to Orlando this past November there was a person who did just that. THey took our family ( 5) and a man and his wife who was in a wheel chair first and then they let her come on after the wheelchair users, but just before the A group. I suppose it will always depend on who you get. I always call ahead of tiem and have them put a note on my reservation that we will be using a special needs stroller and that my son has panic attacks if separated. I'm sure that if you call they can put a note one your reservation as well. That way they will already have a heads up taht you are coming and they will not think you are just to get on to save seats.

 

[candacewi5]

We have flown Southwest several times with our son who is highly contact sensitive to milk and is also anaphylactic to nuts and soy. I would highly recomend calling the customer service number and alerting them they have an allergy customer on your flight and that you need to preboard for the same reason. I also pounce on the gate attendant as soon as she gets to the desk and talk with her also! They are usually really understanding once I explain the contact sensitivity. I have always been allowed to board first and wipe down every conceivable surface he could possibly com into contact with on the plane(including the walls, windows, window shades, arm rest handles, etc). You never realize how many surfaces one child can touch in such a small space. We also cover his seat with a light weight fleece blanket to further protect him from the fabric, crevices I may have missed, etc. I also have a towel with us to put on the floor to set his belongings on so they aren't covered with peanut oils or fragments. He has never had the slightest reaction on any flight and I take the same precautions every time. I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions I may be able to answer.
Candace

 

[SDSorority]

This is so great-Southwest is awesome.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

just use unscented wipes as another passenger can react to the smell after you use. the scent of the wipe can have same affect, not just a haedache, as peanuts for you child on me. i can con breath around scents that most people have no problems with. please be aware of others,and that you do not cause a problem for someone else.

 

[disfan07]

I do it all the time. Not just southwest but also jetblue and virgin america.

Southwest is awesome about it. I am anaphylactic to peanuts. On there website, you can actually check a box that says peanut dust allergy. They print out a separate card at check-in that says peanut dust allergy on it to give to the flight attendants. AT the gate, I always get a blue disabilities boarding pass for priority boarding. It allows me to wipe down the seat, and tray table (it also assures me that I will be able to place my bags right above my seat....i always sit in the aisle and I have my nebulizer right above me plus my other medications).

In regards to peanuts, they have always made an announcement at the gate prior to boarding about a peanut allergy on board. I've never aske dthem to do it...they just do it. And they do not serve peanuts on that flight....they serve something else.

I am contact reactive to peanuts...not severe but I do get a rash. The peanut dust issue for me is a cumulative issue. So as my allergist said, its not a problem if say 10 people throughout the plane are eating peanuts/peanut butter. The issue would be if, everyone in the rows directly around me all opened up bags of peanuts at the same time. She doesn't think its necessarily a full allergic reaction, but it does seem to aggravate my asthma.

 

[SDSorority]

This is going WAYYYY off topic.

What products do you use at home to clean with, brush with, shower with, wash dishes and clothes with, etc. that are allergy free?

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We are so pleased with the service of SWA and they go out of the way to make sure your needs are met. If you contact the gate agent and explain early on your needs they will do what they can.

Good luck.

 

[candacewi5]

This is going WAYYYY off topic.

What products do you use at home to clean with, brush with, shower with, wash dishes and clothes with, etc. that are allergy free?

We use vinegar, baking soda, and fresh lemon for a good portion of our cleaning. When those products won't cut it (ie: shower, toilet, etc) I use Melaleuca products. They are the only product that doesn't seem to aggravate my son's asthma. Their products seem costly at first glance, but the products are concentrated and meant to be diluted at home prior to use. Their ordering system is different and requires a "membership" fee. If you can find a rep, just ask them to let you know when they offer their 1 cent membership promo and join then and order the products you would like. I was a member for 8 months and ended up with so much stuff. I haven't been a member for over 3 years and still have atleast a years worth of cleaners left! So just be warned.
Candace