Direct flights cross country severe food allergy?

[lanejudy]

A direct flight can have a plane change (no flight number change).

Thanks, that's what I wasn't 100% sure about and suggested checking with the airline.

 

[gladdiola]

Hi OP, my DS7 has life-threatening food allergies to peanuts, treenuts, etc. We've travelled multiple airlines around the country and find if you plan ahead most will work with you to minimize your child's exposure to allergens. When I make flight reservations I do contact the airline directly to ensure my special needs are noted. I also speak to the agents at the gate who are typically already informed of our special/dietary needs. Personally I find Southwest, Delta and United very accommodating of food allergies, all have made announcements and do not serve peanuts on the flight. While the staff will do their best, not all passengers are as sympathetic, so just be prepared-- have 2 Epi-pens and plenty of Benadryl handy.

 

[mistysue]

What always puzzles me about this conversation, is that I totally get how easy it is to pack nuts as a snack. My family is crazy about peanut butter, it's in and on everything... I'm not sure my grandfather ate a meal in his life without it, but once my son had an allergy they all said "ok" and stopped putting it right by him.
So I get how easy it is to pack PBJ for your kids if you have never even had to think about it.

What is crazy, is how anybody can read somebody saying how it threatens their life and respond by shrugging and saying "too bad, I like it so you can deal with possibly dying for me not to change a habit." A situation where there is a health issue that specifically calls for peanut or nut consumption is an exception- but that is generally only with some sort of sensory issue and it is NOT common.

It would never occur to me that if somebody said "hey, you might kill me if you eat this one specific thing during this one specific 3 hour window" that I could respond with "no, screw you." It's really depressing to me that anybody would think acting that way is acceptable ever.

 

[KPeveler]

Just to play devils advocate (I am not siding with any particular side, ut I enjoy friendly debate).

My friend has very complex medical problems. As part of that, she cannot eat meat. She also has a latex allergy which is life threatening, and she cannot eat soy (I think also due to allergies) She does, however, need to eat protein. What kind of snack can she easily bring on the plane if not peanuts or tree nuts.

I really am not making up this scenario... I understand needing to avoid bringing tree nuts or peanuts, but if you cannot eat meat (for medical or religious reasons, or whatever), then what is a person to eat?

And no, she cannot go without eating.

 

[tinker-belle]

Just to play devils advocate (I am not siding with any particular side, ut I enjoy friendly debate).

My friend has very complex medical problems. As part of that, she cannot eat meat. She also has a latex allergy which is life threatening, and she cannot eat soy (I think also due to allergies) She does, however, need to eat protein. What kind of snack can she easily bring on the plane if not peanuts or tree nuts.

I really am not making up this scenario... I understand needing to avoid bringing tree nuts or peanuts, but if you cannot eat meat (for medical or religious reasons, or whatever), then what is a person to eat?

And no, she cannot go without eating.

I'm actually a vegetarian too (not for medical reasons) and until my son was diagnosed, peanut butter was my source of protein. Since he was diagnosed 2 years ago I haven't had any nuts either nor meat. I don't have the best diet- I do have veggie burgers & cheese now. It can be difficult--- we did a 32 hour trip to get to disneyworld (driving to the auto train & then delayed 5 hours on the train) & we had to pack enough food to sustain us for an entire day, but managed. A flight of just a few hours will be easy for us compared to the trip to get to the world!

 

[Kellykins1218]

"no, screw you."

Where did anyone else say that besides you?

 

[SteveMouse]

Falls into the same place as people not giving up their seat on a bus to someone who is obviously frail and could be easily injured. People are often far more into themselves and their wants rather than their fellow person's needs.

 

[Casemily]

Where did anyone else say that besides you?

You didn't actually say it, but I saw the implied tough luck for you/ too bad for you/screw you in your post too. obviously a more inflaming choice of words, but same meaning.

From your post:
My child will be eating peanut butter on our flight in 2 weeks because, yes, it is all I can bring for him. We would move to another part of the plane if needed but I'm not letting my child go hungry.

 

[Kellykins1218]

You didn't actually say it, but I saw the implied tough luck for you/ too bad for you/screw you in your post too. obviously a more inflaming choice of words, but same meaning.

From your post:
My child will be eating peanut butter on our flight in 2 weeks because, yes, it is all I can bring for him. We would move to another part of the plane if needed but I'm not letting my child go hungry.

I implied no such thing. My child isn't eating pb because it's all he wants, it's all he can eat. That isn't a "screw you", it's a fact. We would move as far away as possible but he also has a disability and has to eat. By your assuming standards, then the person with an allergy would be implying "screw you" to his needs. Neither of those are true. I posted about my son's needs so that the OP would understand that they might not be the only person with a medical condition on the plane and that even though peanut snacks aren't served they could very well still be on the plane. I have no idea why you took it any other way.

 

[Casemily]

I implied no such thing. My child isn't eating pb because it's all he wants, it's all he can eat. That isn't a "screw you", it's a fact. We would move as far away as possible but he also has a disability and has to eat. By your assuming standards, then the person with an allergy would be implying "screw you" to his needs. Neither of those are true. I posted about my son's needs so that the OP would understand that they might not be the only person with a medical condition on the plane and that even though peanut snacks aren't served they could very well still be on the plane. I have no idea why you took it any other way.

I took it that way because mainly I've never heard of a diet consisting of only pb and j and nothing else. I did not know it was healthy enough to only ever eat pb and j. Plus, if I was allergic to peanuts like the op, I'd like the option to be rebooked on another flight if I knew someone else had to eat peanuts on the flight I was on. I didn't originally read where the person with the peanut allergy would be forewarned prior to take off and given the option not to fly with you. That's why I took it "any other way". No offense meant, just explaining how I interpreted your words, which I'm sure others may have as well.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I took it that way because mainly I've never heard of a diet consisting of only pb and j and nothing else. I did not know it was healthy enough to only ever eat pb and j. Plus, if I was allergic to peanuts like the op, I'd like the option to be rebooked on another flight if I knew someone else had to eat peanuts on the flight I was on. I didn't originally read where the person with the peanut allergy would be forewarned prior to take off and given the option not to fly with you. That's why I took it "any other way". No offense meant, just explaining how I interpreted your words, which I'm sure others may have as well.

That's the problem. As I said, we've never been on a peanut free flight, but there's no way we would know ahead of time either if they don't announce it until everyone is on the plane. My son does not "just" eat pb&j sandwiches but Peanut Butter IS the only protein he can eat. BTW Peanut Butter is a perfectly healthy option. He would not be able to make a long flight without eating and he can't just have cookies or pretzels. He does have to have the protein with every meal. It's no fun living with a disability and we are constantly making concessions. I'm sorry but feeding my child can't be one of them.

 

[KPeveler]

I took it that way because mainly I've never heard of a diet consisting of only pb and j and nothing else. I did not know it was healthy enough to only ever eat pb and j. Plus, if I was allergic to peanuts like the op, I'd like the option to be rebooked on another flight if I knew someone else had to eat peanuts on the flight I was on. I didn't originally read where the person with the peanut allergy would be forewarned prior to take off and given the option not to fly with you. That's why I took it "any other way". No offense meant, just explaining how I interpreted your words, which I'm sure others may have as well.

There are conditions which severely limit the food a person is able to consume that can be carried in a carry on with no refrigeration for several hours. When you have to feed an autistic child who is suddenly in a new situation where he has little control and no room to move and all the sensory stimuli of the plane, there is very little chance he will suddenly allow you to change his routine even further and hand him turkey instead of PB&J. So, yes, there are some disabilities which result in a never-changing diet.

I think the point of the other poster was to alert the OP that there may be others with disabilities on board who require a meal, and if they were not told until they are on the plane they cannot eat the only meal they brought, they may not have a lot of options.

There is no way of gauging who has a "worse" disability. The best everyone can do it be polite and work out the situation as it arises. The person with the peanut allergy must be protected, but you cannot have the solution simply be "Let the child go hungry" if that person has a disability or medical need as well.

The best anyone can do is plan ahead as much as possible. Request a peanut free flight, ask the desk attendant to make an announcement BEFORE boarding, so people in the terminal have a chance to acquire other snacks if they wish, bring food that is tree nut and pea nut free (most common airborne allergies) if possible, etc.

There is no way to plan for every exception possible and every airline does things differently. Just be sure to make your needs, whatever they may be, known to the airline as early as possible.

 

[DCDisney]

I like Jet Blue, Air Tran, and Frontier because they don't serve peanuts. Delta is usually OK and I won't do Southwest at all personally. The problem with the announcement is that it's usually made after take off and it seems like most eat as soon as they sit down. I rarely have had a flight without someone eating nuts. When on a plane esp airlines that routinely serve nuts I assume pretty much any surface is unsafe and I avoid eating during the flight because there is no way to be sure my hands are clean. Besides not caring a lot of people just are ignorant and don't realize most granola bars are chock full of nuts, etc. It's tougher on a plane because you can't avoid it. Everywhere else I just go on the assumption that I need to take care of myself in terms of cleaning things off, washing hands, etc. The whole nut free school thing is often a false sense of security unless it's explained and enforced. People just don't realize.

 

[Kellykins1218]

There are conditions which severely limit the food a person is able to consume that can be carried in a carry on with no refrigeration for several hours. When you have to feed an autistic child who is suddenly in a new situation where he has little control and no room to move and all the sensory stimuli of the plane, there is very little chance he will suddenly allow you to change his routine even further and hand him turkey instead of PB&J. So, yes, there are some disabilities which result in a never-changing diet.

I think the point of the other poster was to alert the OP that there may be others with disabilities on board who require a meal, and if they were not told until they are on the plane they cannot eat the only meal they brought, they may not have a lot of options.

There is no way of gauging who has a "worse" disability. The best everyone can do it be polite and work out the situation as it arises. The person with the peanut allergy must be protected, but you cannot have the solution simply be "Let the child go hungry" if that person has a disability or medical need as well.

The best anyone can do is plan ahead as much as possible. Request a peanut free flight, ask the desk attendant to make an announcement BEFORE boarding, so people in the terminal have a chance to acquire other snacks if they wish, bring food that is tree nut and pea nut free (most common airborne allergies) if possible, etc.

There is no way to plan for every exception possible and every airline does things differently. Just be sure to make your needs, whatever they may be, known to the airline as early as possible.

 

[mistysue]

I implied no such thing. My child isn't eating pb because it's all he wants, it's all he can eat. That isn't a "screw you", it's a fact. We would move as far away as possible but he also has a disability and has to eat. By your assuming standards, then the person with an allergy would be implying "screw you" to his needs. Neither of those are true. I posted about my son's needs so that the OP would understand that they might not be the only person with a medical condition on the plane and that even though peanut snacks aren't served they could very well still be on the plane. I have no idea why you took it any other way.

Your reaction is really one of the rare cases where it's not just a complete disregard for others. This is a topic that comes up a lot, here and on elsewhere online. This thread has been very tame, but the "screw you" sort of attitude comes up a lot. I'm sure you get it enough to understand the feeling.
I bet you get your fair share of people who want to demand a situation is peanut free for their needs, then act like you have no right to ask for respect for your needs. The situation is complicated and requires compromise but most people who insist on nuts just want them because they feel like it, it's a free country, I can eat what I want, etc. THAT is when it is sad. They are the same people who would probably try to sneak your son a chicken wing because "he's being too picky."

 

[stitchlovestink]

There are conditions which severely limit the food a person is able to consume that can be carried in a carry on with no refrigeration for several hours. When you have to feed an autistic child who is suddenly in a new situation where he has little control and no room to move and all the sensory stimuli of the plane, there is very little chance he will suddenly allow you to change his routine even further and hand him turkey instead of PB&J. So, yes, there are some disabilities which result in a never-changing diet.

I think the point of the other poster was to alert the OP that there may be others with disabilities on board who require a meal, and if they were not told until they are on the plane they cannot eat the only meal they brought, they may not have a lot of options.

There is no way of gauging who has a "worse" disability. The best everyone can do it be polite and work out the situation as it arises. The person with the peanut allergy must be protected, but you cannot have the solution simply be "Let the child go hungry" if that person has a disability or medical need as well.

The best anyone can do is plan ahead as much as possible. Request a peanut free flight, ask the desk attendant to make an announcement BEFORE boarding, so people in the terminal have a chance to acquire other snacks if they wish, bring food that is tree nut and pea nut free (most common airborne allergies) if possible, etc.

There is no way to plan for every exception possible and every airline does things differently. Just be sure to make your needs, whatever they may be, known to the airline as early as possible.

You raise some excellent points here!!
But if you read South West's own website they cannot/will not guarantee a completely 100% peanut free environment. So if you cannot accept those terms, they probably are not the right carrier for you (general you with the peanut allergy) to fly. You can only be responsible for your own actions & reactions to others. You cannot dictate how others act or behave. Whether you disagree or not, think it's right or wrong, SW says the other guests have the right to bring on and consume peanut products.
And also, not to be rude here but airport food is NOT cheap. Some people don't budget extra to have to buy more food at the airport when they have packed it. I know that sounds heartless and cruel and isn't meant to...but why should should someone else incur extra expenses? That isn't really fair to other travellers. JMHO... again...you can only take responsibility for your own actions/choices so if it is that much of a problem, I would think twice about my travel arrangements.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

You raise some excellent points here!!
But if you read South West's own website they cannot/will not guarantee a completely 100% peanut free environment. So if you cannot accept those terms, they probably are not the right carrier for you (general you with the peanut allergy) to fly. You can only be responsible for your own actions & reactions to others. You cannot dictate how others act or behave. Whether you disagree or not, think it's right or wrong, SW says the other guests have the right to bring on and consume peanut products.
And also, not to be rude here but airport food is NOT cheap. Some people don't budget extra to have to buy more food at the airport when they have packed it. I know that sounds heartless and cruel and isn't meant to...but why should should someone else incur extra expenses? That isn't really fair to other travellers. JMHO... again...you can only take responsibility for your own actions/choices so if it is that much of a problem, I would think twice about my travel arrangements.

I was very much hesitating to jump into this one because last time this came up I got flamed for my opinion. But what I highlighted in red in this PP post was the point I was trying to make in that other thread (from who knows when). Regardless or whether or not it's right or wrong or who's sicker than who or whatever, if the issue is that severe its probably time to reconsider the arrangements. It's just unrealistic to expect every person on a flight to avoid fill in whatever allergen here. It will never be realistic unless they were to make it a law and practically strip search everyone who walks on the plane for any traces of the allergen, and that won't happen because there's always going to be other transportation options. They may be less convenient but they still exist.

 

[Talking Hands]

The flight did serve snacks. And I'm sorry if they had only brought pb&j along for their child, but if so they shouldn't have fed it to them. Better their child go hungry than risk a passenger have a mid air emergency, and the plane be forced to land. They are fortunate it didn't come to that.

How do you know the child didn't have a medical condition requiring the child to eat. Could be it wasn't a matter of hunger but low blood sugar or another such problem. Why are people always critical of others when they do not know there issues? Someone with a peanut allergy shouldn't trump others with medical issues that need to be addressed.
Just thought I would add I have allergies to cashews, mango, dairy products and shellfish as well as having diabetes. Peanut butter and cracker is frequently my go to when I have low blood sugar because I need both carbs and protein. Carbs bring it up and protein to keep it up. Meat and fish are risky when travelling and crackers and cheese or carbs and milk are not an option.

 

[maxiesmom]

How do you know the child didn't have a medical condition requiring the child to eat. Could be it wasn't a matter of hunger but low blood sugar or another such problem. Why are people always critical of others when they do not know there issues? Someone with a peanut allergy shouldn't trump others with medical issues that need to be addressed.

I don't know and that is a good point. I am just going by that post, and no mention was made of the person who ingested the PB having some sort of allergy, or medical need of it. I would think that if I had a child that needed to eat PB, and it unintentionally caused another person to have a medical emergency, I would come forward and explain why I had fed my child the PB, even after being told not to.

 

[Sparkly]

Sorry, but it's inconsiderate to expect a child not to eat on a flight just because of one with allergies. I know, I know, I don't understand what's it's like. I only have lactose intolerence.

I think anyone who has that extreme a view should announce the allergy well in advance so other passengers can find other food before boarding. I would be very peeved to take a sandwich onboard as my lunch and then find I couldn't have it and there's no other food on board.