Bringing sandwiches onto plane a no-no?

[ducklite]

Well I for one, would just wish that all airlines would announce the peanut allergy thing before starting the boarding process. (I see some airlines did.) On our flight to Orlando last year, they did not announce the peanut allergy thing until we were all boarded and taxi-ing out to the runway. I had two extremely whiny, grumpy, starving little boys when we arrived in Orlando. Of course, being little kids they live on PBJ as does their father, and that is what I brought. As a treat, they were each allowed to pick a candy bar from the store before we left and of course, their favorites are peanut M&M's and Snickers. All they could have was the water I brought on board to go with their lunch. Boy was it a hard, long flight with them! I was pulling out my hair by the time we arrived! Of course, this year, I'm trying to plan on no peanuts just in case the same thing happens, and now I'm constricted by all these regulations! I suppose I could just bring them plain bread, but no water - I'll probably end up with starving, grumpy kids again!

And this is EXACTLY the scenario I've been trying to say to people all along. I'm sorry but in your case you should have been allowed to let your kids eat--even if it meant moving both you and the peanut allergy to seats as far away from each other on the plane as possible. I have yet to hear of a single child with a peanut allergy so serious that he was rendered into anaphylaxis on an airplane by someone eating a PB&J 30 rows away (not whole peanuts, but PB&J).

It is entirely the responsibility of the PA kids family to ask the gate agent to make the announcement in the gate area prior to boarding the plane so alternate arrangements can be made as needed. it should not be the responsibility of the traveling public to think about things like this in advance or make their children go hungry.

I say this as a nut allergic individual.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Well I for one, would just wish that all airlines would announce the peanut allergy thing before starting the boarding process. (I see some airlines did.) On our flight to Orlando last year, they did not announce the peanut allergy thing until we were all boarded and taxi-ing out to the runway. I had two extremely whiny, grumpy, starving little boys when we arrived in Orlando. Of course, being little kids they live on PBJ as does their father, and that is what I brought. As a treat, they were each allowed to pick a candy bar from the store before we left and of course, their favorites are peanut M&M's and Snickers. All they could have was the water I brought on board to go with their lunch. Boy was it a hard, long flight with them! I was pulling out my hair by the time we arrived! Of course, this year, I'm trying to plan on no peanuts just in case the same thing happens, and now I'm constricted by all these regulations! I suppose I could just bring them plain bread, but no water - I'll probably end up with starving, grumpy kids again!

And this is EXACTLY the scenario I've been trying to say to people all along. I'm sorry but in your case you should have been allowed to let your kids eat--even if it meant moving both you and the peanut allergy to seats as far away from each other on the plane as possible. I have yet to hear of a single child with a peanut allergy so serious that he was rendered into anaphylaxis on an airplane by someone eating a PB&J 30 rows away (not whole peanuts, but PB&J).

It is entirely the responsibility of the PA kids family to ask the gate agent to make the announcement in the gate area prior to boarding the plane so alternate arrangements can be made as needed. it should not be the responsibility of the traveling public to think about things like this in advance or make their children go hungry.

I say this as a nut allergic individual.

Anne

 

[seashoreCM]

Children won't starve by not having anything to eat on the plane. They might be a little more noisy and someone else can certainly offer a treat to quiet them down.

However booting them out of first class merits compensation non-trivially greater than the difference between what their parents paid and the lowest priced coach seat..

 

[frijole]

I would worry if you were wanting to bring any food products that are of a paste or gel form since these seem to be the things they have banned. I wonder if you could get a pack of cream cheese, a cup of yogurt, jar of peanut butter, thing of jelly, etc etc etc on the plane. I bet not. Everything I see references "solid" food which can be pretty restrictive.

 

[ducklite]

Children won't starve by not having anything to eat on the plane. They might be a little more noisy and someone else can certainly offer a treat to quiet them down.

And most parents would not accept food from a strnger for their kids. I know I wouldn't. Like I said, it could all be easily resolved if parents of PA kids would simply ahve the gate agent make the announcement in the baording area before boarding began. It's the only LOGICAL and equitable solution that could keep everyone comfortable, safe, and happy.

However booting them out of first class merits compensation non-trivially greater than the difference between what their parents paid and the lowest priced coach seat..

I have no idea what relevence this has.

Anne

 

[bavaria]

Children won't starve by not having anything to eat on the plane. They might be a little more noisy and someone else can certainly offer a treat to quiet them down.

Sorry, but I disagree. there are so many variables. What if it's a transcon or overseas flight ie over 6 hours? What about people who need food for medication, or someone who is diabetic? I frankly would not think twice about buying a Milka bar with peanuts for a flight; why should I now not be able to take that on board and enjoy it? What if all I had contained nuts? I planned ahead; why should I be responsible for someone else who did not plan ahead?

I'm not trying to be harsh, but too often we see people here who think that their situation trumps all others and everyone else should suffer to meet their needs, because they did not consider others.

 

[bavaria]

And in case anyone is wondering, I am a vegetarian, mostly due to a chronic illness. I eat nuts to compensate for not eating other items, so I do often carry nut products with me in order to accommodate my needs.

While I will certainly try and respect someone on board if the announcement is made....

 

[gigi1313]

What if all I had contained nuts? I planned ahead; why should I be responsible for someone else who did not plan ahead?

I'm not trying to be harsh, but too often we see people here who think that their situation trumps all others and everyone else should suffer to meet their needs, because they did not consider others.

we do plan ahead... far ahead... when we make our airline reservations we check the box that says PEANUT ALLERGY... the day before we fly we call the airline to say PEANUT ALLERGY... when we get to the gate we go to the airline rep and say PEANUT ALLERGY... when we board the plane we tell the FA PEANUT ALLERGY... when an airline opts to inform the rest of the passengers is not up to us... the onus is then on them... no matter how much pre-planning i do, i cannot force the gate attendant to make the announcement prior to boarding, although i'd like to... trust me!

also, when an airline agrees to fly a peanut allergic passenger w/a policy of no peanuts served on the plane and the offer of an announcement to the other passengers, they also offer a snack that is not peanuts... so for the "starving children" there are typically crackers, fruit/grain bars, pretzels, etc handed out (or available for purchase) in lieu of the traditional peanuts...

 

[bavaria]

Gigi, that sounds like you do plan ahead - but we have seen in past where there was a different expectation level.

And re 'alternate snacks' - believe it or not, I recently flew 14 hours in first class; I checked when I boarded that my veggie meals had been loaded. The steward confirmed that they had; yet I was not served a veggie meal and had to go begging from the FA in economy to see if they had bread or any other options. The only thing that they could find for me was crackers - no jam, Nutella, fruit, etc to even eat with them. (rationale was that it was a midday to night time flight; therefore no 'breakfast' items on board) The reality was that this international airline had no option to offer me; all the plated meals had been served and they only had buns with meat as a snack.

I had no options in my carry on that flight as my first flight had been severely delayed and I had no time to purchase something; yes, my fault, but I was surprised to find a complete lack of options on board.

 

[Hannathy]

I would have given my kids the sandwiches! I seriously doubt even a serious peanut allergy child sitting in the last row would be sent into anaph. shock from another child eating a peanut butter sandwich in the first few rows. I would like an explanation of why our kids shouldn't eat peanut butter sandwiches because there is no peanut dust being realeased into the air.

The class with the 4 is an anomally. my child attends a school with 700 kids-no peanut allergies, just had VBS with 150 kids and only allergy was 1 to strawberries. Have been a director of VBS for 5 yrs and never a peanut allergy.

With the new restrictions in place I'm bringing as close to nothing as I can but if I needed to bring a PB&J for my child I would.

 

[gigi1313]

bavaria, thank you for your acknowledgement that i do try to plan ahead and attempt to be considerate of others because i truly do not believe that my situation trumps all others and everyone else should suffer to meet my needs...

i'm sorry that you were unable to be accomodated even after you had planned ahead... unfortunately all we can control are our own actions, not those of others...

our future plan given the current restrictions, and just to be on the safe side, is probably to eat mcdonald's in the airport prior to departure... i know the kids will be THRILLED! (LOL)

 

[Devil_Dog99]

Not flaming here, but this doesn't add up - for I just flew Delta home today from the Disney Vero Beach Resort, and they were offering peanuts as a snack during the whole flight -- and never asked passengers in advance if anyone had a "allergy."

I flew Delta about a month and a half ago and we had to get our own snacks because someone on the flight out had peanut allergies so they removed the airline snacks from the plane. (I was flying out of Omaha and they do not re-cater the planes there)