Wwyd?

[tlinus]

As a family of five and a daughter with a severe peanut dust allergy, I have a few questions for you all who are experienced fly guys and gals!

1) We have already notified SW that bean #2 has a severe peanut dust allergy and will get to the gate for a preboard sleeve so I can clean her seat. (Rather have a reaction at the gate than at takeoff KWIM?!) My question is what to say to whomever sits next to her (as SW is 3X3 seating) The airline is already telling me they will not serve peanuts on the flight, but if someone sits next to her and whips out PB crackers, what do I say? I know the chances are slim but I don't want her allergy to become the thing that makes someone else's flight miserable. Do they announce on the plane that there is someone on the flight with a peanut allergy? I will predose her with Benadryl and we have her epi pens just in case.

2) As a family of 5 would it be best to do 3 then 2 behind or 3 on one side of the plane and 2 on the other??

Thanks for your input! I am a nervous flyer to begin with, but now with the kids first flight I am getting REALLY anxious!! (Is 11am the day of the flight too early to have a stiff drink before we board??)

 

[karliebug]

I would make sure that you are sitting by her so that you don't have to worry about someone next to her eating peanut stuff. If you sit 3 on one side (her on that side ) and then 2 on the other side hopefully you wouldn't have a problem

 

[lovethattink]

You are very brave. I hope all goes uneventful. We can no longer fly due to my son's allergies. Most people will understand if you explain in a nonthreatening manner.

Just beware at Disney as well. We were on Small World when man in front row took a bag of peanuts out of his pocket and began to eat.

 

[bavaria]

the challenge is when this announcement is only made after takeoff, as occured to me two weeks ago. Due to my security preclearance I can take NO food through customs/immigration, which means that I have to buy something at the airside shop early in the morning. Often my flights are 10 hours or more, with very tight connections.

I was on a 5 hour flight recently, with the only 'food' I could find in the shop that was veggie - granola bars with peanuts, and a bag of nuts.

Well, they announced well after takeoff that they had someone with a severe allergy on board, and nobody was to eat anythign with nuts, nor would they offer their normal buy on board as it contained nuts.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you have an allergy, ask the gate agent to announce this in the boarding area. IF you don't hear them announce it, ask again.

 

[tlinus]

the challenge is when this announcement is only made after takeoff, as occured to me two weeks ago. Due to my security preclearance I can take NO food through customs/immigration, which means that I have to buy something at the airside shop early in the morning. Often my flights are 10 hours or more, with very tight connections.

I was on a 5 hour flight recently, with the only 'food' I could find in the shop that was veggie - granola bars with peanuts, and a bag of nuts.

Well, they announced well after takeoff that they had someone with a severe allergy on board, and nobody was to eat anythign with nuts, nor would they offer their normal buy on board as it contained nuts.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE if you have an allergy, ask the gate agent to announce this in the boarding area. IF you don't hear them announce it, ask again.

Thanks for the info - I will be sure to ask them (and remind them!)

 

[bavaria]

Thanks for the info - I will be sure to ask them (and remind them!)

thanks for that! I truly empathize, but sometimes people do forget about the other 100+ travellers on the plane, and their challenges.

Note that pretty much every airline in the US seems to have changed over from peanuts to a snack mix which is usually pretzels or a Chex type mix. That will hopefully make it easier for you to avoid the airline snacks, but the challenge comes from other travellers.

If the announcment is made in advance, it allows people to make alternative arrangements. In my case, my home airport shop which opens early in the morning only offers things like granola bars (with nuts), bagged nuts, chocolate bars (many with nuts) and cookies. The cookies that they carry contain lard, so I don't eat them. That can make it difficult for travellers to buy something which is peanut free at that time of day.