DS had a reaction to peanuts during a flight last week. Things were under control, I'm relieved that things didn't get too bad and that there were 3 doctors on board, however, I'm devastated at finding out that DS react to peanuts by skin contact too.
There were many things that went wrong during the flights, airline failed to provide the food we have selected for DS (I just selected a plate of fruit available from the menu so it's not as if I were asking for some imposible dish) so he had to snack on corn bread for 9 hours as there was nothing suitable on board but water (as you are aware, peanut is not his only allergy).
And although we have told them about the peanut allergy, peanuts were served during the flight and some peanut dust made it to the carpet at our feet where DS placed his hands while picking up a toy that had fallen.
I have asked the company about the best way to avoid this happening again, and they told me the following:
- If you order something special from the menu when you do the booking, order it for you then swap with the kid as they tend to convert child bookings into child menus.
- If you buy the tickets from internet, indicate as much as you can on the internet form but always back it with a phone call and a letter.
-Check there is food available for every segment of the trip as more often than not special requests are ignored.
I feel stupid writing this post, DS's reactions to peanuts had always been because some peanut had made it into his mouth, so I didn't expect the allergy to have this turn for the worse. I have asked for the peanut allergy anouncement during other flights and I have even had fellow passengers actively joking and laughing about the "inexistance" of peanut allergies, which obviously was upsetting and did make me doubt about the real need for everything to be avoided . Well, now we know there is such need.
Any tips that may help us all to have safer trips?