Waiting to board our plane and....

[Topper]

haven't you seen the protein packs at Starbucks? They sell those at the airport for a reasonable price. And I believe they include an egg. And I'm not sure a hard boiled egg wouldn't work, but that might get tossed by TSA. I don't know.

The Starbucks protein packs contain peanut butter:

Ingredients
apples (apples, calcium ascorbate), hard-cooked eggs, mini pita (unbleached wheat flour [wheat flour, ascorbic acid, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid], filtered water, raisins [raisins, vegetable oil], organic evaporated cane syrup, flax seeds, multigrain mix [cracked wheat, cracked rye, crushed flax seeds, millet meal, cracked triticale, barley grits, sunflower seeds, rolled oats, durum semolina], sunflower seeds, wheat bran, rolled oats, natural apples, yeast, sunflower oil, sea salt, cultured wheat starch, citric acid, enzymes), mild white cheddar cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), honey peanut butter spread (dry-roasted peanuts, honey powder [sugar, honey], organic palm fruit oil, sea salt), iodized salt, pepper.

A hard‐boiled cage free egg, sliced tart apples, grapes, and white Cheddar cheese served with multigrain muesli bread and honeyed peanut butter.

 

[sunshinehighway]

People seem to be losing sight of the fact that the "please don't eat your peanut snacks" announcement is simply a request, NOT a requirement. Also, it is not the person with the allergy making the request, it is the airline personnel. As previously stated, my child has a peanut allergy and we have flown numerous times, and not once did we ask the airline to request that people not eat their own personal peanut/peanut butter snacks. My son hates that announcement and wishes they would not make it. We do not care if someone two rows ahead eats a peanut butter sandwich. No one is requiring a plane full of people to accommodate one person with an allergy; it is a request (made by the airline, not the person with the allergy). Comply if you can, don't if you can't. It really is being made into a much bigger deal than it needs to be. If it will make you feel better about eating your snack, ask the flight attendant to ask the person with the allergy if it is ok for you to eat it. Most likely the answer will be "yes". (this happened to us one time, and I was extremely grateful for the person's concern, but also regretted that the airline had made the announcement, thereby forcing these very nice people into the uncomfortable position of having to ask us if it was ok to eat their snack).

Now there may be cases where someone eating a single peanut butter sandwich on board could possibly have a detrimental affect on an extremely peanut-sensitive individual, but I think that situation is rare.

I don't think people are losing sight of it being a request. From reading here (not just this thread), it does seem like many people with peanut allergies or parents of children with such allergies see it as more than a request.
I appreciate your opinion. It isn't one I read here often. Often people commenting always say they have these severe, life threatening allergies (or their child does). It's hard to believe that and understand how someone with such an extreme allergy makes it through life in general.
I can better understand your side, saying it's not so extreme that you need the plane to be completely peanut free but the airline makes the choice to announce it.

To be clear, I'm not saying there aren't people with severe allergies.

 

[sam_gordon]

People seem to be losing sight of the fact that the "please don't eat your peanut snacks" announcement is simply a request, NOT a requirement. Also, it is not the person with the allergy making the request, it is the airline personnel. As previously stated, my child has a peanut allergy and we have flown numerous times, and not once did we ask the airline to request that people not eat their own personal peanut/peanut butter snacks. My son hates that announcement and wishes they would not make it. We do not care if someone two rows ahead eats a peanut butter sandwich. No one is requiring a plane full of people to accommodate one person with an allergy; it is a request (made by the airline, not the person with the allergy). Comply if you can, don't if you can't. It really is being made into a much bigger deal than it needs to be. If it will make you feel better about eating your snack, ask the flight attendant to ask the person with the allergy if it is ok for you to eat it. Most likely the answer will be "yes". (this happened to us one time, and I was extremely grateful for the person's concern, but also regretted that the airline had made the announcement, thereby forcing these very nice people into the uncomfortable position of having to ask us if it was ok to eat their snack).

Now there may be cases where someone eating a single peanut butter sandwich on board could possibly have a detrimental affect on an extremely peanut-sensitive individual, but I think that situation is rare.

Unfortunately, I think there probably HAVE been passengers who have requested a "peanut free" flight. I know it's long, but if you read through the thread, you'll see a couple of them have even posted here. One person said they can't wait until ALL flights are peanut free (as in banned, not just not served).

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

My first post and it's on such a controversial subject!

A few questions for you (whoever wants to answer)
My wife has a severe allergy to latex, bees, and a sensitivity to perfumes and aftershaves. Can we ban Axe bodyspray and women who douse themselves in perfume from flying? What about the person who said they would have their kid wear latex gloves...does that kid's need trump hers?

Also, due to a transplant, I am unable to eat soft cheeses (like string cheese), deli meats (like salami), eggs (unless they are Davidson's---I think that's the brand---they are cleaned and pasteurized). I cannot have fresh fruit or vegetables unless they are cleaned under running warm water for three minutes. I have to take one of my medications with protein. I tend to use peanut butter as my go-to. Does the need for a peanut free flight trump my need for my medication that prevents me from rejecting my transplant?

 

[TipsyTraveler]

People seem to be losing sight of the fact that the "please don't eat your peanut snacks" announcement is simply a request, NOT a requirement. Also, it is not the person with the allergy making the request, it is the airline personnel. As previously stated, my child has a peanut allergy and we have flown numerous times, and not once did we ask the airline to request that people not eat their own personal peanut/peanut butter snacks. My son hates that announcement and wishes they would not make it. We do not care if someone two rows ahead eats a peanut butter sandwich. No one is requiring a plane full of people to accommodate one person with an allergy; it is a request (made by the airline, not the person with the allergy). Comply if you can, don't if you can't. It really is being made into a much bigger deal than it needs to be. If it will make you feel better about eating your snack, ask the flight attendant to ask the person with the allergy if it is ok for you to eat it. Most likely the answer will be "yes". (this happened to us one time, and I was extremely grateful for the person's concern, but also regretted that the airline had made the announcement, thereby forcing these very nice people into the uncomfortable position of having to ask us if it was ok to eat their snack).

Now there may be cases where someone eating a single peanut butter sandwich on board could possibly have a detrimental affect on an extremely peanut-sensitive individual, but I think that situation is rare.

Maybe if the airlines made it clear that compliance with the request was optional and not mandatory fewer people would feel so put out by it. Prior to reading this thread, "Please refrain from consuming peanut products" would've sounded about as optional to me as Disney's requests to "Please keep hands inside the ride vehicle."

 

[JoeA]

Unfortunately, I think there probably HAVE been passengers who have requested a "peanut free" flight. I know it's long, but if you read through the thread, you'll see a couple of them have even posted here. One person said they can't wait until ALL flights are peanut free (as in banned, not just not served).

I was checking into a flight a few years ago and a dad was going off on the lady at the counter because she couldn't make the plane a peanut free zone.

He was saying he called in advance and the lady on the phone assured him no peanuts would be in the plane and he wanted her guarantee as well.

Uh, how would a lady on the phone and a lady at the counter accomplish this mighty no peanut feat?

 

[lsyorke]

I bolded. Yes, it comes down to being prepared- however I am prepared to fly with my snacks/food that I packed that is okayed by the airline. Is the allergic person also prepared in that maybe they won't be able to fly because of their allergy or they have sealed snacks to pass out or are willing to pay for meals for everyone? OF course we we would refrain but I cannot imagine asking 100+ people to accommodate me. I would handle my own business. JMHO.

I completely agree...my comment was to point out that the general public can't be prepared for one persons specific needs since they would never be prepared ahead of time for this situation...that's the person with the allergies responsibility.

 

[mousehockey37]

From following along, this topic has struck some nerves...

As science advances and more things get packed into the things we consume on a daily basis, there are going to be more and more reactions occurring. It's not just limited to peanut butter. All of these medications people are on for different personal problems, experimental treatments and such, they ALL have side effects. Some cause you to maybe gain weight, others may give you an allergy you didn't have before. Our bodies also change as we age, again, leading us to be allergic to things we weren't before.

Should the airlines ban peanuts? That'll most likely be for a court to decide. There will probably be scientific studies brought in as to what the top food allergies and such are and it'll get messy and take a long time with appeals and such. The airlines are doing what they can and want to right now, but that could all change. It would be nice that if the person with the allergy makes it known early enough to the airline and the airline can spread the word of a peanut free flight to fellow passengers, then maybe that kid who needs that PB sandwich can eat it BEFORE HE GETS ON THE PLANE (and then subsequently clean up and wash his hands). Giving the kid his PB fix for his issue and then the allergy flyer also has their end taken care of.

When it all comes down to it, the person with the peanut allergy is asking for help and trying to inform. If you are traveling with someone that has other issues, reach out to the airline. Of course not everything will covered, but hey, it never hurts to ask, right?

The phrase "what's the worst that could happen?" comes to mind with all this. Well, if that's you who says that and you see first hand the problems it could cause, maybe your outlook will change. Could you live with yourself if an announcement was made to refrain from simply eating anything with peanuts, you didn't honor that request and you were delayed or missed a connector or saw a person die or nearly die because of your ignorance? Probably because you'd (generalization, not singling anyone out here) be too absorbed in being upset that your vacation was ruined because of someone else's problem, yet you didn't realize you were the cause of it.

To those that feel they don't need to heed the simple requests like this, I hope that somewhere down the line, you don't need to rely on others with a similar request and see/feel/experience what these people go through.

 

[Kellykins1218]

It would be nice that if the person with the allergy makes it known early enough to the airline and the airline can spread the word of a peanut free flight to fellow passengers, then maybe that kid who needs that PB sandwich can eat it BEFORE HE GETS ON THE PLANE. Giving the kid his PB fix for his issue

.

It's not a "peanut butter fix." He would eat the peanut butter before the flight IF HE WAS HAVING THE MEDICAL ISSUE BEFORE THE FLIGHT. If it happens during the flight, he would need to eat it during the flight. It's not that hard of a concept to understand.

 

[mousehockey37]

.

It's not a "peanut butter fix." He would eat the peanut butter before the flight IF HE WAS HAVING THE MEDICAL ISSUE BEFORE THE FLIGHT. If it happens during the flight, he would need to eat it during the flight. It's not that hard of a concept to understand.

Well, if the request for the refrain for peanuts was made, and you did not voice your potential issue to the airline regarding needing to eat peanut butter for whatever medical reason, I see the request to honor the peanut free as priority. There are substitutes for peanut butter, which have been discussed, that would resolve any issue. If ignorance again sets in and before traveling there isn't a realization to this potential conflict, the person with the peanut allergy has taken the proper steps. Find a sub for the peanut butter. Surely, knowing that peanuts and peanut butter may be excluded from a flight, potentially yours, you'd want to take the proper precautions to make sure that the medicine could be administered with a substance that mimics peanut butter or something else.

Don't be shrewd to think that you're the only one on the plane with someone that has problems. There are many products that can be used for children with diabetes to help them, not just peanut butter. If your kid won't eat anything but peanut butter, be a parent, make them eat something else and tell them why. Basically, you have the power to prevent an issue from becoming bigger, but if you choose to push the envelope, other passengers and crew members aren't going to necessarily be on your side should something happen.

 

[mousehockey37]

It's not that hard of a concept to understand.

Neither is the request to not eat anything with peanuts or tree nuts at the request of the crew. Seems pretty simple to me.

 

[Kellykins1218]

No, a no peanut request does not trump anyone else's medical need. There is no need to inform the airline that we may need to have peanut butter because it's not a restricted substance.

 

[TwizzleMouse]

No, a no peanut request does not trump anyone else's medical need. There is no need to inform the airline that we may need to have peanut butter because it's not a restricted substance.

You understand that your childs refusing to eat something other than peanut butter as you have stated previously does not trump a person that could DIE from peanuts/pb on the flight right?! Obviously not. Your child refusing to eat anything BUT peanut butter is not going to kill him unlike someone with a peanut/pb allergy being exposed to the allergen. You child has MANY choices, not just peanut butter. But he REFUSES to eat something else. He needs to get over that. Sorry but it's true. I know of many special needs kids that have the same deal going on, but their parents deal with it if they have to fly. The kid doesn't run the show here, sorry to tell you. He has choices, he just doesn't want to take them. The person with the allergies is taking many precautions (trust me, I know first hand), and don't say that they shouldn't fly because they have allergies. That's like someone telling you not to fly because your kid has diabetes and won't eat anything but PB. If this should come down to the airline having to deal with a person having a reaction because your kid DID eat something against crew requests because of someone with allergies on the flight (esp if it's an airline like SW which will take their own precautions when warned ahead of time that someone has a peanut allergy), and you and your child end up killing someone or causing them to almost die, I guarantee they will be taking the person with the allergies side and not yours.

 

[aaarcher86]

Really? Being someone that does it myself and takes care of many special needs that takes a lot of nerve on your part. Also, it seems like yourself and others that don't have allergies that have the probability of being fatal don't have a problem with telling those who do how to deal with them when you have no clue whatsoever so pot kettle black?!

Well, being someone WITH a special needs child of my own I don't see much telling anyone what to do aside from every possibility known to man from the allergy camp for everyone else.

I'm in the camp of taking some personal responsibility. If that means not flying that's what it means. We didn't fly for a very long time vs flying and inconveniencing others. Pretty simple.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I'm so glad you are such an expert on my child's medical condition and all of the intense therapies that he's gone through. Guess what? He doesn't have to eat anything other than what he likes now. He gets all of his his daily requirements and doesn't have to adapt to anyone else's idea of what he needs to do since his doctors and nutritionist are quite happy with where he is now. You can rant all you want but it doesn't change the fact that his disability is just as valid as an allergy.

ETA forgot to add the quote from TwizzleMouse

 

[sunshinehighway]

I think a lot of people overstate their allergies. Whether it's because they are nervous or just don't like peanuts, I don't know. If you are so highly allergic to peanuts that someone ten rows away eating a granola bar with peanut can kill you, how exactly do you manage in Disney World where they sell all kinds of peanut stuff and people can bring in whatever food they want?
It reminds me of the boy who cried wolf.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think a lot of people overstate their allergies. Whether it's because they are nervous or just don't like peanuts, I don't know. If you are so highly allergic to peanuts that someone ten rows away eating a granola bar with peanut can kill you, how exactly do you manage in Disney World where they sell all kinds of peanut stuff and people can bring in whatever food they want?
It reminds me of the boy who cried wolf.

I have asked the same thing and none of the anti-nut people have answered. I mean, if I was deathly allergic to nuts the last place I would go is a crowded theme park. That just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I have asked the same thing and none of the anti-nut people have answered. I mean, if I was deathly allergic to nuts the last place I would go is a crowded theme park. That just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Instead of answering, they usually just respond with insults about how insensitive you are.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Instead of answering, they usually just respond with insults about how insensitive you are.

Yes I noticed that too. Not insensitive. Just realistic.

 

[anniemae]

I think a lot of people overstate their allergies. Whether it's because they are nervous or just don't like peanuts, I don't know. If you are so highly allergic to peanuts that someone ten rows away eating a granola bar with peanut can kill you, how exactly do you manage in Disney World where they sell all kinds of peanut stuff and people can bring in whatever food they want?
It reminds me of the boy who cried wolf.

I think, and I am by no means an expert, it has something to do with the re-circulated air. The air gets blown all over the cabin spreading the peanut dust, which in turn can be inhaled.