Flying with food allergies

[minnie1012]

Hi We are headed down in August but this is the first time flying with both my daughters (10 & 5). I had a few questions:

Should I let the airline know about the allergies? We are flying Jet Blue and their allergies are DD (10), peanuts & treenuts, DD (5), peanuts, treenuts, sesame, eggs, grapes.

Do I need a note to bring the epi pens and Benedryl? I thought I read on here that I didn't but my friend is telling me she needed a note. (Although her son is a heart transplant patient as well as has allergies so he has a lot of medication so I wasn't sure if that is why she needed one?)

I want to bring lunch for them on the plane, what do you recommend I bring to keep the food cold? I figure I can't bring ice packs or even ice. Can the lunch box be in a carry one or should I carry it separately? Is it ok to send food through the scanner?

I'd like to bring lunch for the way back but that won't be as easy. Does anyone know what type of fast food is in the Orlando airport that I might be able to get them something to eat before we board?

Sorry for all the questions, I myself haven't flown in over 10 years.
Thanks!!

 

[Kellykins1218]

Just know that even though they may not serve peanuts, and may request that people not eat them, they can't stop other passengers from consuming peanuts or peanut products that they've brought with them.

 

[Mrsjvb]

yes you need to inform the airline ahead of time. of course, as already been said, you cannot guarantee a totally safe environment.

and yes you will need a Dr note/Rx for any prescription meds liek the epi pens.

as for food.. depending on airport you may not necessarily be allowed to bring anything that is not factory sealed through the security gate at all. once past there will be options. if you don't do fast food there will almost certainly be a mini mart type place where you can get a sandwich. anything you bring on MUST meet the restrictions( one item to fit under the seat, the other in the overhead). you can always ask the flight attendants to store the items in the cooler if there is room.

 

[Gracie09]

yes you need to inform the airline ahead of time. of course, as already been said, you cannot guarantee a totally safe environment.

and yes you will need a Dr note/Rx for any prescription meds liek the epi pens.

as for food.. depending on airport you may not necessarily be allowed to bring anything that is not factory sealed through the security gate at all. once past there will be options. if you don't do fast food there will almost certainly be a mini mart type place where you can get a sandwich. anything you bring on MUST meet the restrictions( one item to fit under the seat, the other in the overhead). you can always ask the flight attendants to store the items in the cooler if there is room.

There is no limits on food brought through security, liquids yes, food no. I would suggest frozen peas as an ice pack others have used frozen grapes. It is safe for them to go through the X-ray scanner. I believe jetblue is still one personal item and on carry on, as long as the cooler or lunch box meets the requirements for size you can bring it on. There are no limits on medications as long as it's a reasonable amount. The TSa website has more information on this, but we just put them in a separate bag and tell them it's medications they may hand check it and swab it.

Let the airline know about the allergies. They may make an announcement and not serve peanuts but they may only do it for a fee rows around you. You may want to ask to be preboarded so you can wipe down the seats in case of peanut residue.

 

[laughinplace199]

yes you need to inform the airline ahead of time. of course, as already been said, you cannot guarantee a totally safe environment.

and yes you will need a Dr note/Rx for any prescription meds liek the epi pens.
as for food.. depending on airport you may not necessarily be allowed to bring anything that is not factory sealed through the security gate at all. once past there will be options. if you don't do fast food there will almost certainly be a mini mart type place where you can get a sandwich. anything you bring on MUST meet the restrictions( one item to fit under the seat, the other in the overhead). you can always ask the flight attendants to store the items in the cooler if there is room.

This is not true. You don't need a doctor's note to bring Epi Pens or any other meds (Rx or OTC). Just let TSA know you have them when going through security.

 

[ChasingPixieDust]

You don't need a drs note, I travel with benodryl and epi pens all the time (daughter has peanut allergy too) I do always bring the epi pens in their original boxes however, so her name is listed and can match her boarding pass just in case they ask. However, I have never been asked and have never had an issue. Regarding the plane, you can't really control others around you eating peanuts just be watchful, once when we flew last year and daughter was only 3, we found peanuts leftover from previous passenger in her seat! Eek!!!

 

[laughinplace199]

I freeze string cheese and then pack that with crackers and fruit for lunch on the plane. The cheese will thaw in a few hours, but still be cold enough.

My kids use their school lunchboxes to pack a lunch for the plane and they use their school backpacks as carry-ons. They can fit the lunch box, a few books, small toys, etc in their backpacks.

JetBlue will allow you to preboard in order to wipe down the seats, arm rests, trays, etc. Also, if you ask the FA, they will create a "buffer zone" a row or two in front of and behind you where those people will not be able to select nuts from the snack choices offered. We always bring plenty of our own snacks (cookies, chips, etc), but DH said on his last JB flight, they had special nut-free cookies (I don't know what the brand was).

 

[laughinplace199]

yes you need to inform the airline ahead of time. of course, as already been said, you cannot guarantee a totally safe environment.

and yes you will need a Dr note/Rx for any prescription meds liek the epi pens.

as for food.. depending on airport you may not necessarily be allowed to bring anything that is not factory sealed through the security gate at all. once past there will be options. if you don't do fast food there will almost certainly be a mini mart type place where you can get a sandwich. anything you bring on MUST meet the restrictions( one item to fit under the seat, the other in the overhead). you can always ask the flight attendants to store the items in the cooler if there is room.

This also is not true. I've always brought food from home, baggies of cookies, crackers, etc. It doesn't have to be factory sealed.

 

[laughinplace199]

As far as food for the flight home, there are a bunch of fast food places, but they may not be near your gate. We're comfortable with some but not others, and the ones we're ok with weren't always located near our gate.

What I do now is let the kids have a junky breakfast for whatever meal we'll eat during our flight. on checkout day, I go to the resort gift shop or food court and I buy those individual cereal bowls, Pop Tarts, and fruit. That's what my kids eat on the plane, as well as the usual bunch of snacks we bring.

 

[Mrsjvb]

I have personally witnessed TSA refuse to allow non factory sealed items through the security screening. and not just open bottles. fast food, and baggies from home as well. Major airports, not small town ones.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

You may always encounter some lone wolf TSA agent that makes up their own rules, but there is no rule against bringing food through. I fly fairly regularly and almost always pack some snacks and/or sandwich.

 

[Gracie09]

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/traveling-food-or-gifts
link to information about food

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/3-1-1-carry-ons

link to 311 info about liquids and medicines

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/prohibited-items
prohibited items

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

yes you need to inform the airline ahead of time. of course, as already been said, you cannot guarantee a totally safe environment.

and yes you will need a Dr note/Rx for any prescription meds liek the epi pens.

as for food.. depending on airport you may not necessarily be allowed to bring anything that is not factory sealed through the security gate at all. once past there will be options. if you don't do fast food there will almost certainly be a mini mart type place where you can get a sandwich. anything you bring on MUST meet the restrictions( one item to fit under the seat, the other in the overhead). you can always ask the flight attendants to store the items in the cooler if there is room.

Lots of misinformation here. As already posted, no note from a physician is required to bring meds through security.

All US airports follow the same rules for what may be brought through security. These rules are set by the TSA. Food brought through security only has to meet the liquids rules; they do not have to be "factory sealed," whatever that means.

I have no idea what you mean by a cooler on a plane. There aren't coolers on planes for passenger use.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have personally witnessed TSA refuse to allow non factory sealed items through the security screening. and not just open bottles. fast food, and baggies from home as well. Major airports, not small town ones.

I do not believe this. What airport was this? Perhaps you just misunderstood what you were seeing.

 

[bopper]

Just make sure the food you bring from home is not a "liquid"...
So if you brought a jar of soy butter, that is a "liquid" and is not allowed. But a sandwich would be fine.

 

[monorailsilver]

My son has FAA too-dairy, peanut, tree nut and egg whites.

Since my kids will eat pepperoni and salami, I buy a few bags presliced and sealed that don't red to be refrigerated and usually triscuits are the cracker of choice.

It doesn't need to be refrigerated until it he bag is opened.

 

[minnie1012]

Thank you everyone! Some great tips and advice : )

 

[Lisa71]

We bring our own food and the frozen peas work great. Nothing is sealed..no allergies just want healthy options.

 

[Unas]

I have personally witnessed TSA refuse to allow non factory sealed items through the security screening. and not just open bottles. fast food, and baggies from home as well. Major airports, not small town ones.

I do not believe this. What airport was this? Perhaps you just misunderstood what you were seeing.

Oh, I believe it. Every airport has TSA rogue employees that make up rules on the fly. Passengers either don't know the real rule, because the listen to misinformation like from this poster, or are too cowed, by the uniform and the "anything for security" crowd to complain.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Just stay away from products like applesauce or fruit cups since they usually contain alot of "juice". Those are the types of products you want to avoid....Saucy or liquid containing foods. TSA can confiscate them and rightly so.