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

This.

I can't believe that anyone would take the risk of just mentioning it a check-in. There was a news story just last week about a family who were de-boarded because the captain would not refuse to serve nuts on the flight.

(I also find it bonkers that airlines then only mention it to othe passengers once boarded. Too late by this point).

I just wish these requests were sent to other passengers 24 hours ahead of flying. I would then make sure any food I brought aboard was nut or whatever free but if you have the food already for a 6 hour flight you can't expect people to all comply. Eg I had a please don't eat seafood announcement - I had a prawn sandwich to eat!

@Turisti

Healthy snack and delicious in snickers bars!

EasyJet ask for it in their nut allergy guidance but then never actually ask for it in practice, so it will probably never be needed. I think I am single-handedly propping up the NHS with payments for my unnecessary EpiPen letters 😂

Nuts have great nutrition value and let’s not forget people have other allergies, which could mean that nuts provide most part of their protein and nutrition intake. Therefore, it is not just a small inconvenience.

@CreateUserNames I disagree with you about not being able to eat nuts being a small inconvenience. I don't know anyone who eats nuts at every meal. Even if they were on a long haul flight they can manage without nuts for 24 hours.

Honestly, the ignorance on this thread from a small minority of posters is astounding.

I have seen my niece react to peanuts. It happened so frighteningly quickly. The parents on here with DC who are very allergic to peanuts are absolutely not being melodramatic.

I've seen someone react to milk alarmingly quickly yet it's only nuts people rush to ban. And no, they're not more likely to get airborne.

The point is whether one has a reaction to the air, not if one has issue with accidentally taking nuts. Even touching reaction is not that common.

it benefits everyone to know better one’s own tolerance level. Of course if there is severe reaction to airborne nuts particles, ask, but it is very rare.

I do think it's time some research in making planes nut free zones would be preferable. You could then have a little more peace of mind. I can't remember which airline I was on and their snacks was flavoured roast chickpeas.

and yet you’re perfectly happy to be that person.

you know the air on trains and buses Isn’t recirculating like it is on a plane don’t you?

you also know that not all reactions can be controlled with an epipen and that, unlike on buses and trains, it’s not possible to get off and access medical care while you’re on a plane.

Or perhaps you’d like the plane to be diverted when someone dies or is taken seriously ill because you can’t survive 7 hours without a packet of dry roasted peanuts.

honestly, what is wrong with people?!

What's a diabetic going to do if that's all they can eat from the snack section? What if they get low blood sugar? Who trumps who?

I'd be opening the nuts if I needed to.

@VeryGoodVeryNiceChickenNugget is expect everybody with medical requirements, just like those with severe allergies, to prepare in advance for the flight. Including diabetic people. If your blood sugar is likely to spike / plummet that much I’d expect you to be prepared for it and bring your own ruddy snacks.

I agree with this^ they can send an email 24 hours prior to all passengers who were booked on that flight.
Good point about seafood. Prawn sandwich is usually the choice for our family. I would add it to my “not on the flight” list.

There are diversions world wide every day due to medical conditions such as suspected heart attacks, strokes, other illnesses various.

For the sake of getting some perspective on this subject it would be interesting to see what percentage of those diversions is down to allergies.

@RampantIvy I did say "would" not "could". The closest thing available was a tub of pringles which DH wouldn't touch with a bargepole. I did also say it wasn't a problem. Amyone (apart from diabetics) can survive 90 minutes without a snack. But given that nuts are regularly on the menu sold on planes and trains it would never have occured to me (before this incident) to avoid such a sensible healthy and unprocessed snack just in case there was someone with a rare severe allergy happened to be nearby. Next flight DH will bring something else but he only flies about once a decade so he'll probably forget, or may decide the chances of it happening again are too slim to worry about.

I was on a flight ready to take off, munching away on my peanut butter snacks when the steward announced it was a nut free flight and they wouldn't serve any and could passengers refrain from eating any etc. I had a total panic. I had visions of someone having a fit or of the plane being evacuated and delayed etc. I rang the bell and told the steward what I'd done. I don't know if she told the person with the allergy but she went to check on them, thankfully they were a long way and away and then she told me all was OK.

Its a cautionary tale, make sure the announcement is made early not after 20 mins sitting there, lots of people bring snacks especially on an early morning flight. I'd also say it to those immediately beside you or in front and behind just to be safe.

No because if you go into anaphylactic shock on a bus or a train it's much easier to get medical attention. You can't just land a plane.

Don't be that person

Why won't anyone think of the nut eaters

If you are told once seated?

My 'ruddy snacks' are usually nuts are they are not perishable, crushable, fine to eat as they are anx can be eaten quickly.

I am gluten intolerant and diabetic.

What do you suggest I carry around with me then?

You get oils on your fingers which can easily transfer to other surfaces. Next time you are on a plane watch how many people touch seat tops when they walk down the aisle, it's almost instinct

Oh dear. Not another one. Clueless.

Other foods are available. Nuts aren't the only option to eat to increase blood sugar levels.
Why be that person?

Have you ever seen a severely nut allergic person react to nuts? I have. It happens in the blink of an eye.

Haven't read the whole thread so apologies if I'm repeating stuff OP but I recommend you read the guidance on Allergy UK on this topic.
If you inform the airline they will ask people on your flight not to eat nuts but it doesn't mean the plane is nut free as previous passengers may have consumed nuts recently.
It is now thought that the risk of airborne allergy/ recirculation of air is much less than previously believed and that the far higher risk is actually from residue on seats and tray tables from a previous occupant eating nuts.
The advice is for allergy sufferers to fly early in the day if possible as the planes are usually cleaned overnight, though obviously you have already booked so that might not be possible this time. Take some wipes to clean the seat and table and don't use airline blankets or pillows as these are not routinely washed between users just rewrapped.

Crisps?

You don’t wash or clean hands after touching so many surfaces before you eat? I don’t see many people touching that many seat top either, actually barely any touching.

I haven't seen this done for years now!

I was on a plane recently where they gave an announcement asking people not to open anything with nuts in due to a serious nut allergy.