Nuts on planes

[Bookmonster123]

Hi

I am due to fly with DS soon, first time he’s been on a plane. DS has a peanut allergy, has epi pens prescribed. What’s the protocol about nuts during the flight.

Do I tell the airline at booking, check in or on the day? Do they always accommodate requests not to eat nuts during the flight?

Thanks

Many airlines to do provide nuts as part of their on-board service. However, having read previous threads here, many don't stop passengers bringing them on board. And it's very difficult to ask a determined person not to eat them
Why not contact the airline and ask?

My daughter has a nut allergy. Anytime we've flown we've mentioned it at check in and to the air steward when entering the plane. They then make an announcement to ask all passengers to refrain from eating nuts on the flight due to a passenger on board with a life threatening allergy and they won't sell them either.

My DD has a nut allergy. Exactly the same experience as @Readmorebooks40

I'd contact airline before flying, in the hope they're able to reduce the risk, whether it's taking nuts off the menu or an announcement on plane so at least other passengers are aware. If you're not sure anything has been done, you could ask the passengers around you if they intend to eat nuts, if they do, ask if there's another area of the plane you can be moved to.

I have been on a flight where they announced that they wouldn't be selling nuts and requested passengers not to eat any.

Just mention it at check in and when entering the plane.

You don't ask in trains and buses. You have a pen to deal with any incident. Don't be that person

Tell them as soon as possible. Ask them to confirm it has registered at each subsequent contact opportunity including at check in and at boarding.

We were on a short haul flight recently where they announced that the snack service would not be serving nuts today due to there being someone with an allergy on the flight. This meant that the only item on the menu that DH would eat (a vegan grazing box) wasn't available - not a huge problem as we were only in thr air for 90 minutes but if they had warned us we would have bought something on the ground. They also said in the announcement "if you have brought any nuts onto the plane with you please don't open them" which I thought was really inadequate - it would be entirely possible for someone to already have an open packet of nuts by that point if opened during the wait in the boarding lounge. It's also putting massive trust in the compliance and good nature of a large number of strangers.

You can get off a train or bus if you're in danger or have a reaction. Don't be an asshole. .

Also when with EpiPen use you need medicine attention

You can eat nuts at any other time. Simply not eating nuts for a few hours on a flight will make absolutely no difference to your life. Don't be that person 🙄

I think the aviation industry should clamp down on this and just have a ban on nuts in planes. All it would take is to not sell them at airports and confiscate them at security.

I agree. Why does anybody need nuts anyway?

You need to inform the airline at least 48 hours before departure, ideally long before that. An announcement should be made but if people have bought food to eat at the airport they may still eat it

Exactly. There is no one on the planet who can't simply wait until they get to their destination to eat nuts.

@Bookmonster123

Policy depends on the airline and can be normally found on the web…if not I’d ring them up.

For example this is BA’s current info:

“Guidance for Peanut, Tree Nut or Sesame allergy sufferers
Our in-flight meals do not contain peanuts or peanut products. However, they may be produced at a facility that handles peanuts. We are unable to offer a peanut-free alternative meal.
We do not provide an alternative meal option for customers with tree nut or sesame allergies.
We cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment while travelling with us.
Upon request, Cabin Crew will make an announcement so that other passengers are aware of your allergy. Cabin Crew will also suspend the serving of loose nut snacks in your cabin of travel.”

My emphasis - no guarantees and it’s basically just a polite ask to other passengers, not a ban on them eating anything they have brought on board.

It’s rather easier to stop and get off trains and busses though, isn’t it!

You’d have to be a special kind of arsehole to think there’s anything wrong with being asked to not eat nuts for the duration of a flight because you might literally kill someone if you do 😮

You do realise flying is completely different , partly because air is recycled and it isn’t that easy to get to A&E thousands of feet up in the air over the ocean

I don’t understand why the need for others also not to eat nuts on the plane. Does smell of nuts triggers allergic reaction?

In my experience, it depends on the airline. Easyjet (and I think Ryanair) were happy to ask all passengers not to eat nuts and did not serve nuts. I inform them at booking and tell an air steward when we get on the plane.

I did go on a hair-raising flight with South African Airways 10 years where every passenger was given a bag of nuts somewhere over the Kalahari desert and the staff just shrugged at my frantic protests. Although, as it turned out, DD was completely fine, which was very reassuring. She clearly doesn't respond to airborne particles. We kept her in her seat and we had baby wipes to wipe down all hard surfaces that she might touch. It was a relief when we landed.

But epi pens aren’t always successful and even if they are you need to go straight to hospital for check up after using - which is much easier to do on train/bus rather than airplane. Also - you can move on train to different carriage. Please education yourself and don’t be that person.

The latest research indicates the biggest danger is contact with nut residue, on seats, trays, doors etc rather than another passenger eating nuts. So its a good idea to take cleaning wipes to clean your little area.

Some people react to their allergens if they are airborne. My kids don’t thankfully so I don’t need to ask but it must be such a huge concern having to rely on others to ensure your safety

The major difference being that on trains and buses, you can get off. Believe me, you do not want to witness anaphylaxis on a plane. It is horrible for all involved.

Airlines, even the cheap ones, will not serve nuts on request. EasyJet for example you can request ‘special assistance’ which includes nut allergies. They can prevent sale, but they can’t prevent people opening what they have brought themselves if they choose to do so. I usually take an antihistamine tablet before flying, and wipe down the tray table

Allergens can be airborne, and yes therefore someone eating them in a space with recycled air can still lead to an allergic person breathing them in and having an anaphylactic reaction.

Tell the airline as far in advance as possible, don't wait until check in, they may refuse / be unable to help so late.

I'm genuinely surprised by all these people here reporting they travel with someone with a life threatening allergy, yet actually wait until boarding to declare it. What a dick move.

This is why I think there needs to be an industry wide rule about this. If they can stop you from bringing a bottle of water through security, they can stop you from bringing a bag of peanuts.