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

If it's life threatening you can quickly get off a bus and train to get to a hospital. You can't do that with a plane!

Perhaps YOU shouldn't be that person who causes a child to die!!!!!

Wtf???? Do you think someone just uses their epipen and they’re fine? A person in anaphylaxis needs immediate hospital treatment. An ambulance can be called to a train or a bus but you can’t call an ambulance to the sky! The person would be dead before the plane could make an emergency landing. I really cannot fathom that people would rather risk a child’s death than forego nuts for a few hours.

It was supposed to say do NOT provide nuts!

I got ahead of myself!

Are you for real? You are not 38,000 feet in the air with recycled air when travelling on a boat or a bus! What a stupid comment!

I cant believe what people are saying about not being able to eat nuts for a few hours. There was a ridiculous story many years back where a customer almost died because someone refused to stop eating nuts on a plane. That really is taking 'being selfish' to another level.

I've had different experiences on different airlines. Usually they make an announcement, people groan. Some people don't hear. It can be quite stressful.

We've also been let on early and given wet wipes to clean the tray.

When dd was younger I used to take all of her food.

'There is no evidence to support peanut vapor as a cause of reactions or that peanut dust itself circulates and causes reactions. There is evidence that common surfaces on an airplane may have residual peanut contamination, but there is also evidence that this can be readily cleaned with commercial agents that passengers can bring aboard themselves.'

The idea that there are peanut vapours causing anaphylaxis is outdated now as I understand it. There's a much bigger risk from people eating peanuts before they go on the plane and then touching all the seats as the walk down the aisle for example and then the allergic person touching the seat afterwards. Obviously out of respect I would never eat peanuts on a flight when asked not to, but I don't think it's considered a risk - unless maybe you were sat right next to someone actually shelling peanuts.

OP ask the airline to do an announcement and take wipes to wipe down the area where you are sat. Avoid ds touching any surfaces as he walks up and down the aisle.

https://www.aaaai.org/allergist-resources/ask-the-expert/answers/old-ask-the-experts/peanut-air-travel

You can see from some of the posts on this thread why some airlines won't make an announcement asking people not to eat nuts.

Some people resent being asked to put others first in small things. They make a logical error - I am being asked to make a small sacrifice. It must be for a small, trivial reason. I shouldn't be asked to inconvenience myself for a small thing.

They will eat the peanuts anyway.

Some of them would willingly let your child off a burning plane first. They understand that scenario better. But they'll eat the peanuts.

These airlines state upfront that they can't guarantee a nut free environment and that if this endangers you, you shouldn't fly.

I don't know how possible it would be to ban nuts on planes - can they be detected? Even all foods including nuts, made in different countries?

You should contact the airline because some will announce, some won't, and you may want to hear about their other measures. But they can't guarantee nobody will eat nuts on board.

There's a bit of a difference. I've had to get off buses when people have opened a packet of peanuts. Trains are easier as you can go through to the next carriage. There's no option to get off the plane.

Adrenaline injections only pause the reaction to give you time to get to a hospital. Sometimes the injections don't work at all.

So I'll say to you, don't be THAT person.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kkzzy8eqjo

Here is a news story about an airline (SunExpress) that won't make announcements. I can see why they wouldn't.

Depends on what airline you fly. I have never seen peanuts on European flights.

However, I flew to the Far East often and barely anyone has nut allergies. Airline serves peanuts, and I check https://flights.cathaypacific.com/en_GB/flying-with-us/inflight-dining/special-meals-allergies.html they basically says

Meal served to or brought onboard by other passengers may contain peanuts and tree nut products, and our aircraft and airport lounges are not guaranteed peanut or tree nut-free environments. Furthermore, Cathay Pacific Airways cannot provide peanut and tree nut-free meals.
If you require peanut and tree nut-free meals, we recommend you to bring your own food items that do not require chilling or reheating inflight. We offer peanuts and other tree nut snacks, which passengers in all classes are free to take during the flight.
Cathay Pacific passengers with a peanut and tree nut allergy can request snacks free of peanut or tree nuts by submitting the Physician’s Statement: Peanut and Tree nut allergies form , where you can also read more about our peanut and tree nuts policy. These replacement snacks are subject to availability.

They are basically saying they will serve nuts and if you want nut free food, you need to ask for it.

What I'm saying is you can't just assume all airlines, and destinations are nut free. Some places it's actually impossible to be nut free.

Do people understand that a nut allergy isn’t limited to the little bags of peanuts served on aeroplanes? The allergic reaction is not of the ‘bit of hay fever’ kind with some sneezing. It also means you or your parent, have to check everything it can be in, such as a bread or salad dressing, for example. So sometimes your life will literally depend on others behaviour, their understanding of a food allergy and the kindness of strangers to support you.

It's a 14 hour flight, and I think it's pretty grim to only survive on snacks and no meals.

Also reminded me of nutgate on Korean Air. It's 10 years ago but nut policy hasn't changed
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-46624293

OP, often at online check in you can mention the nut allergy. Then mention it in person as you board to the steward.

I find the biggest dangers are the seat and tray table. Take good alcohol wipes to clean any potential nut residue off the hard surfaces and the seatbelt.

Regarding the airborne thing it's not so much nut vapours hanging around in the air but that if the person next to you opens a packet of peanuts that at the point the packet opens, if it's with force, then nut dust can end up on your face. Wearing sunglasses, hat and a face mask (or scarf) will help to stop ingesting it.

Roasted chickpeas / corn snacks / oat cakes (gluten free) / rice cakes etc?

Nuts are not the only food

Oh yes, it's TOTALLY the same, isn't it?!

You can't get off a plane at the next stop like you can with the others.

It certainly is a small inconvenience in the scheme of things. I'm a Coeliac, I get bugger all to eat on a plane and certainly nothing of any nutritional value so I always take my own food with me. It's what I have to do and I wouldn't dream of taking nuts on board that could seriously harm another traveller (or worse) when other options are available.

This is not particularly aimed at you @CreateUserNames, but it amazes me how many people in life think their minor preferences trump another person's need to breathe.

“A pen to deal with any incident” are you deliberately being an utter arsehole?

You do realise it’s not just whack an epi pen in and all is fine.

You can hope that happens but it can also not. Then you need to urgently seek further medical help which in a bus or train you can get off and do. Where do you propose stopping off on an aeroplane?

Makes ense if it just nuts but where do you stop. I work with someone who cannot be in the same room as anyone with an orange. Other people have allergic reactions to all manner of different food products.

It’s a little bit easier to get medical assistance on a train or bus than it is at 30,000ft.

Don’t be that person that thinks not being able to eat nuts on a plane is more important than someone’s life!

OP, tell them at every stage, and again getting on the flight and then sitting down.

When Travelling with a toddler with an airborne nut allergy we’ve been very pleased with how airlines (and other passengers) have handled it.

I am astounded at how many people think their fancy of a peanut butter sandwich trumps someone else’s medical needs. People die of allergies. As far as I know, there’s no recorded case of some death because someone had to eat a twix instead of a snickers bar.

Chocolate.
Boiled sweets.
Dried fruit.
Kendal Mint Cake.
Keto bars.
Energy bars / tablets.

If you don't need high sugar snacks for a hypo, and just want to have a normal snack, there's almost every variety of crisps known to man, cereal bars (plenty of gluten free options), fruit bars, fresh fruit, dried chickpea snacks... The world is wide open on options.

You are telling me @VeryGoodVeryNiceChickenNugget tgst nuts are literally the only snack you can eat? Sorry, I don’t believe you (and yes I have lived with a T1 diabetic). You should be better prepared for A flight and not Risk someone else’s health for the sake of not bringing the right shacks. So yes, you ruddy well should. The idea that you can only bring nuts because they are “uncrushable” ie slightly more convenient to you, is laughable.

You clearly know nothing about allergies. People can still die even if a epipen is administered promptly. Taking proportionate steps to keep your child alive is not being “that person”.

The person that bangs on about their “right” to eat nuts on a plane, knowing that could cause someone nearby to suffer a fatal reaction, is that person.