flying with severe allergies?

[tinker-belle]

Hi. DS has very bad peanut allergy. Went into anaphylaxis a few months ago when he ingested 2 peanuts (before we knew of his allergy). And had 3 airborne reactions to shell dust too (didn't go into anaphylaxis- I got him out of the store asap).

Anyone have any experience flying with severe allergies? Which airlines to avoid like the plague, and which are great with it?

Last month we had a private bedroom in the auto train and kept him in the bedroom so he wasn't exposed to any food, but we don't have the liberty of spending an extra 2 days traveling next time

We live in NJ.

TIA!

 

[jmartinez1895]

Southwest is a good one if they fly in your area. The best bet would be to get the first flights out for the day because the planes get cleaned over night. Southwest will not serve any peanuts or even pretzels if you are alergic to dust because they are made at the same plant. They will also allow you to pre board and wipe the seats down ( you will have to bring wipes and you may want to bring a bed sheet to cover the seat).

 

[disfan07]

I am anaphylactic to peanuts as well. I am going to be honest with you...no airline is going to be 100% safe.

The reason for this is that they don't restrict other people from bringing peanut products on teh plane. And there could be peanut residue from past flights.

We only fly SW, Jetblue and Virgina America. They are the only ones who have really been accomodating.

SW has a peanut dust allergy process you go through. You can note on your reservation that someone has a penaut dust allergy. You can still check in online but we have always also had to go to the check in desk because they reprint your boarding passes and give you a peanut dust slip to give teh flight attendants. When you get to the gate, you tell the gate attendant and you can get a blue pre boarding slip to preboard. They are supposed to call the crew ahead of time to tell them not to load peanuts onto the plane. When we get on board, we give the flight attendant the slip and wipe down my seat, tray table adn the seat next to me. So far, we have only had one problem with someone else eating peanuts near me but no major reaction....a benedryl and inhaler treated it.

Jetblue does NOT serve peanuts. BUT they also don't restrict others from brigining peanut products on board. They have also let me preboard before.

Avoid Delta like the plague. They are terrible. We also avoid United for other reasons (we just hate the airline---I don't knwo what their policy is)

But again, unfortunately, there is no way to avoid peanuts 100% on flights. People are free to bring on what they want to eat. I just bring between 8 and10 epipens with me on my allegrists recommendation (will last about 2 to 2 1/2 hours) and fly. I personally choose to take the risk because I refuse to llimit myself becasue something "might" happen.

Good luck. Its not easy to travel with a peanut allegry.

 

[tinker-belle]

Thank you!

 

[jmartinez1895]

Avoid Delta like the plague. They are terrible.

I just wanted to add an AMEN to that. We flew Delta once and hated it. They would not let us pre board ( I asked because we were using a special needs stroller and we tend to take longer getting into the plane and we also needed to wipe things down and because of my sons immune system issues). They told us that because all seats are assigned there is no reason to pre board. Once it was our turn to board they told us we could not take the stroller all the way to the door of the plane because it would disrupt the flow of traffic. We told them it was a wheel chair and we asked to pre board for that very reason. They let us take it but they rushed us and made us feel like we where a huge burden to them. Once on the plane I wiped things and then put a toddler size bed sheet on the seat to help protect my son and the flight attendant told me I would have to remove it. I asked her why and she said that it might bother other passengers...... It was only touching his seat. I asked the people around us if it bothered them and told her why he had to have it and she told me she would have to ask the captain if we could keep it. She never came back so I assume he said yes.
All in all it was a bad flight. We will never fly Delta again. EVER

 

[disfan07]

I just wanted to add an AMEN to that. We flew Delta once and hated it. They would not let us pre board ( I asked because we were using a special needs stroller and we tend to take longer getting into the plane and we also needed to wipe things down and because of my sons immune system issues). They told us that because all seats are assigned there is no reason to pre board. Once it was our turn to board they told us we could not take the stroller all the way to the door of the plane because it would disrupt the flow of traffic. We told them it was a wheel chair and we asked to pre board for that very reason. They let us take it but they rushed us and made us feel like we where a huge burden to them. Once on the plane I wiped things and then put a toddler size bed sheet on the seat to help protect my son and the flight attendant told me I would have to remove it. I asked her why and she said that it might bother other passengers...... It was only touching his seat. I asked the people around us if it bothered them and told her why he had to have it and she told me she would have to ask the captain if we could keep it. She never came back so I assume he said yes.
All in all it was a bad flight. We will never fly Delta again. EVER

And to add to that, for peanut allergies, the way they deal accomodate peanut allergies is to create a "buffer zone" in just the surrounding rows (like the 1 or 2 in front and behind your row). So everyone else on the plane still gets peanuts. They might as well just serve everyone peanuts. The "buffer zone" makes no difference IMO.

 

[dclfun]

Just wanted to say that I wish everyone who flies could be considerate. No one in my family has food allergies but I would never bring peanuts or peanut butter on a flight. It's such a closed space with a closed air system that someone with an allergy could easily be compromised. I think we could do without peanuts for a few hours as there are plenty of other options for snacks.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

we traveled this past Dec on Southwest, was supposed to be peanut free, not us, but a family traveling had P&J sandwiches for their young toddler twins which they were allowed to feed their children. we were told over pa about no peanuts but they were like our toddlers need their meal so they do not cry and that bis all we have to feed them. so be prepared as no one said anything to them.

 

[Selket]

We've flown Jet Blue several times and I did not note his allergy to peanuts with them because they don't serve peanuts. He also is not allergic to airborne peanut exposure so I am not worried so much if someone around us is eating peanut M&M's or something (as they were on our last flight).

I think if you absolutely need a peanut free environment because of the airborne issue then it will be stressful to fly. You won't even know if someone a few rows ahead is eating peanuts.

I've always been afraid of Southwest. Seems like if their flights all day have served peanuts and then you get on - there is going to be peanut residue all over the place (and some stray peanuts) - even if no one on the plane actually is eating them during your flight. I'd rather be on a peanut-free airline that may have someone eating their pbj sandwich.

I also bring a ridiculous number of epi-pens.

 

[wlfans]

We have flown Jetblue. They do not serve peanuts. I would stay away from SW. They will not serve peanut products as long as you check in with them at the ticket counter. We found SW to be the worst due to a lack of protocol. We were told three different things pertaining on who to check with. My wife actually had an argument at MCO over a nasty front desk person.

Our daughter has a peanut allergy. You may want to give your child benadryl before the flight. That way there is some in the system if...if something were to happen. We also by Plane sheets, these seat covers are great and use baby wipes to clean the armrests, seat buckle and tray.

If you do fly SW take the first flight out in the morning. The planes are usually cleaned before they are set up for operation.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

This will probably come across jerky but I personally wouldn't refrain from eating a potential allergen before a flight on the chance that someone around me might be allergic to it. I don't think it's fair (and I'm not saying anyone here is doing it) to ask a plane/bus/train full of people not to eat something before travel for the same reason. I agree that the service can absolutely refrain from serving whatever item on the trip, but that doesn't stop me from eating it before hand or bringing it on board. My point is if it's that huge of an issue, and it well may be, you might need to consider that a certain travel option may not be the best way to go. You can prepare as much as you can, but you just can't prepare for everything you know?

 

[disfan07]

This will probably come across jerky but I personally wouldn't refrain from eating a potential allergen before a flight on the chance that someone around me might be allergic to it. I don't think it's fair (and I'm not saying anyone here is doing it) to ask a plane/bus/train full of people not to eat something before travel for the same reason. I agree that the service can absolutely refrain from serving whatever item on the trip, but that doesn't stop me from eating it before hand or bringing it on board. My point is if it's that huge of an issue, and it well may be, you might need to consider that a certain travel option may not be the best way to go. You can prepare as much as you can, but you just can't prepare for everything you know?

Yes it does come across jerky and selfish. Did you really find it necessary to reposnd to this post or did you just feel like adding a selfish response?

We've already warned the OP that airplanes are NOT completely peanut free and NO ONE on here said that they EXPECT it to be completely peanut free. We just stated that we wish everyone had the COMPASSION and THOUGHFULNESS to not eat peanuts on a plane.

But its people like you that make me wonder what has happened to compassion and understanding. You can survive a few hours without a dang peanut butter sandwich. Get over it.

 

[canwegosoon]

I have had a child fly with allergies-not peanut-other.
1) I would have a conversation with his allergist
2) come prepared for the worst/and expect the best.

I have not seen anyone on a flight in the past +5yrs shelling peanuts, but people do bring peanut snacks/sandwiches. OP I would check with your allergist, and I am sure he/she will make recommendations.

For sure I would limit my risk by booking a NS/direct flight as early as possible on SWA.

 

[dclfun]

I think part of the problem is that the general population who has never experienced a peanut allergy in their family has NO idea that the dust or residue can affect someone else. I'm thinking of the toddlers who were fed the pb&j. Their little hands likely smeared some on the seats, seat backs, etc or dropped some on the floor. They might get some on their clothes and later brush up against an allergic person. Those who open a bag of peanuts may ask those seated next to them if they mind, but what about the family 7 seats up that they don't see who has a child with anaphylaxis?

 

[Mrs K]

This will probably come across jerky but I personally wouldn't refrain from eating a potential allergen before a flight on the chance that someone around me might be allergic to it. I don't think it's fair (and I'm not saying anyone here is doing it) to ask a plane/bus/train full of people not to eat something before travel for the same reason. I agree that the service can absolutely refrain from serving whatever item on the trip, but that doesn't stop me from eating it before hand or bringing it on board. My point is if it's that huge of an issue, and it well may be, you might need to consider that a certain travel option may not be the best way to go. You can prepare as much as you can, but you just can't prepare for everything you know?

Unbelievable! Would you die if you couldn't eat one food for a couple of hours? My DD has a severe peanut allergy and if she came in contact on a flight, she could be dead before the plane could land. Personally we drive to WDW from MA because I'm afraid to fly with her. The world is full of limitations for individuals with allergies, no one is asking anyone to live without their favorite foods, just not eat them in an enclosed area or to use some common courtesy. I would think that would be easier to live with than causing someone to lose their life.

 

[canwegosoon]

I second the suggestion about epi pens

 

[LockShockBarrel]

It's so easy to call me a monster isn't it?

If you would actually READ what I posted, I never said I'd eat it ON THE PLANE. My point was it's unfair to expect me and every other person on that plane to refrain from eating an allergen or being around one because someone MIGHT be allergic to it on our flight. What if I worked in a bakery around peanut butter and had to leave right from work to make my flight? Would you expect me to take a hazmat shower before I got on the plane? What if I were a mother and I was leaving a small child behind and maybe he'd eaten some peanuts and gave me a big hug goodbye before I got on the plane? Where do you draw the line?

Maybe if airlines informed passengers of a certain flight that there'd be a severely allergic passenger onboard people would think twice and maybe not. There is no law saying that I can't eat a friggin peanut before I get on a plane. I think it's ludacrous to expect everyone to cater to a POSSIBILITY that someone on their flight might be allergic. What about when you actually get to Disney, if I want to eat a peanut there I can, and then maybe you end up sitting next to me on Ellen's Energy ride and you have no idea that's I've eaten that. Would you freak out on me the same way you are now?

My original point to the original poster was that if someone's allergy is THAT severe, air travel, or any travel where you are going to be in that close quarters with people you don't know might not be safe.

And to those who say I'm not experienced with allergies, I may not have them myself but I deal with them all day at work. I have to tell people that none of our product is allergen safe because of shared workspace. Even though I don't have a certain allergen in my area, I can't guarentee that someone might have touched my table and transfered residue onto it. I'm very aware of how it works and I go out of my way to inform people that if there's any allergen, that I cannot guarentee their safety. It goes back to my point of you just can't expect complete safety.

Compassion? We're really going to go there? To those posters who called me out on that, you're showing your compassion so well by jumping down my throat

OP, I only tried to give you a realistic viewpoint.

 

[SueM in MN]

The next full moon is not until March 8, so what is it with all the cranky, grouchy, argumentative stuff on this board lately?

I usually don’t have to give more than one warning a month, but have had several threads in the past week, with several posts on each thread that made me wonder WHAT IS GOING ON?
AND, WHY ARE PEOPLE ARGUING AND FIGHTING SO MUCH?

SO, all I have to add is STOP IT and PLAY NICE!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

OP, are you in the Philly area? If so, I have some information about a food allergy walk that may be helpful if you aren't aware of it.


Also, regardless of the weather, dress your child in long pants and a long sleeved shirt. Our last flight, the person in front of us was shifting around a lot and a peanut fell out of the cranks in the seat in front of us (peanuts weren't served on our flight) and it missed my son's leg by an inch. I almost had a heart attack because he had on shorts. I never thought about it being an issue until then.

 

[tinker-belle]

Thanks for the advice.
We are in Northern Jersey. We did the FAAN walk in Ridgewood back in October.