Airlines
Northwest Airlines' new policy regarding peanuts
Effective February 1, 2009, Northwest Airlines started serving peanuts onboard flights. Northwest was recently acquired by Delta Airlines, which has served peanuts for years, and Delta’s approach now applies to Northwest. Northwest may, upon advance request, implement a non-peanut “buffer zone”. The new Northwest policy is disappointing to families who have come to rely on the airline for their travel plans. If you’d like to voice your opinion to the CEO of Delta, you can do by e-mail, telephone (404-715-2600), or by mail:
Richard H. Anderson, CEO
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
P.O. Box
20706
Atlanta, GA 30320-6001
You can also express your opinion to the Airline Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Transportation.
Northwest’s new peanut allergy policy can be seen at http://www.nwa.com/travel/tips/allergy.html
Click here to see Continental Airlines' new policy regarding packaged peanut snacks.
Flying With a Food Allergy
A published study showed that severe, or anaphylactic, reactions caused by peanuts occurred on flights from ingestionof peanut-containing meals or snacks. Other reactions from exposure via skin contact or inhalation were generally less severe. These noningestion reactions generally occurred when at least 25 other passengers were served individual packages or bags of peanuts; products that had little peanut content did not cause such reactions.
Staying Safe While Flying
Individuals with food allergies fly safely every day without incident.
The following are recommended strategies for staying safe while flying:
- DO NOT EAT AIRLINE MEALS OR SNACKS! Instead, bring your own safe food to eat during the flight, and pack extra snacks in case you encounter delays.
- Wipe down the seat to help prevent contact reactions in individuals with sensitive skin.
- Keep medications handy. If a reaction should occur, you need immediate access to it, and the overhead bin may be inaccessible.
Other Accommodations for Passengers With Food Allergy
Some airlines may make the following accomodations:
- serve a nonpeanut snack if requested in advance (e.g., Southwest)
- provide a “peanut buffer zone” around the passenger with food allergy by not serving peanuts in the passenger’s row of seats and in nearby rows (e.g., Delta, Northwest)
- make an announcement (on board the plane and/or at the gate area before boarding) asking all passengers to voluntarily refrain from eating peanut products (e.g., JetBlue)
No matter what type of accommodation the airline offers you, it is crucial to confirm and reconfirm the accommodation before flying.
No airline will ever guarantee an allergen-free flight, and no airline can control what food other passengers bring on board the aircraft.
FAQS
Which airlines do not serve individual packages or bags of peanuts?
Many airlines post a written peanut allergy policy on their website. After reviewing these policies and corresponding with airline representatives, FAAN has concluded that the following domestic airlines do not serve individual packages of peanuts in coach class:
Air Canada, Air Tran, American, Continental, Frontier, Jet Blue, Midwest, United, US Airways
Please note! This list includes only airlines that do not serve packaged peanuts (i.e., PEANUTS ARE THE ONLY INGREDIENT) in coach class. Some airlines, such as American, may serve peanuts or nuts in first class or business class. Some airlines, such as Frontier, sell snack items (e.g., trail mix, candy bars) in coach class that contain peanuts as an ingredient and/or snack items that include a “may contain” advisory warning on the label.
As
long as a passenger with peanut allergy does not eat these products or come into very close contact with them, the risk of reaction from skin contact or inhalation will be minimized.
Again, the most important strategy for avoiding reactions while flying is: DO NOT EAT AIRLINE MEALS OR SNACKS!
For information about international airlines, please send an e-mail to advocacy@foodallergy.org, or call the FAAN office.
What about tree nuts?
Most airlines continue to offer, generally for sale, snack items that contain tree nuts.
We Want to Hear From You!
If you have recently flown on an airline and had a different experience than described here, please let us know by sending an email.
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