Not Nuts About Peanuts

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I recently spent over 24 hours on 5 different flights. We didn't even rate a free bag of peanuts; just beverages were served and the snacks that coud be purchased on flight did not meet my needs. I really was looking forward to requesting snacks to fit MY allergy profile but brought my own snacks along because there was no way the airlines could provide healthy and nutritious food or snacks free of dairy, gluten, nut, soy, mushroom, tomato, coconut, peas, alfalfa, etc. Soy, flour, milk proteins and sunflower oil seem to be in everything, even in potato chips. I managed with my own supply but my sister is highly allergic to perfumes - even shampoos, sunscreen, hand lotion and deodorants on other people set her allergies off! Should we hose down everyone as they get onboard an aircraft?

by japete on Sunday, June 06, 2010

Ever gone anaphylactic due to a whiff of certain smells (ie:peanuts). It is not a lot of fun; hence I have to carry an epipen where ever I go and my doctor has advised me to stay off planes and do road trips. But, I have flown to Toronto and Europe against his advice and not had any trouble...in other words, carry an epipen or 2 and enjoy your flight.

by kenconan on Saturday, June 05, 2010

If someone has an allergy or some other condition that could be at risk because they are in close proximity to someone else using whatever, it is their responsibility to protect themselves, not mine or the airlines. There are devices such as masks that they could wear that would filter out almost anything.

by responsibility on Saturday, June 05, 2010

Yikes! What a situation. I am allergic to flour & sugar. I got on a flight that I could not exit it at the stops & because of the delays in the check in line, did not get my breakfast. So, now I am on a plane for 8 hours with no food & very limited choices. So, being that I am not a child & don't need a snack, but do need something for breakfast & 8 hours on the plane with no time to grab anything, I am figuring I am good, peanuts for my protein & tomatoe juice (which I hate, but if I am hungry enough will do) for my veggies. Oooops, no peanuts on the flight, due to a person with a peanut allergy. OK, I can understand, my allergies are not dust born & this allergy is probably a bit more severe, but now I have nothing, because everything else offered either has flour and/or sugar. How about "sections" for those with airborne type allergies? I have learned just to make sure I am always carrying soy nuts (or my own peanuts, not to "make a point" but because of my allergies) and freeze dried veggies; just in case, something like that were to happen again.

by rpclmc on Friday, June 04, 2010

This reminds me of the lady who sat next to me in first class with her cat - YIKES!, I'm allergic to cats. I told her so and she had the flight attendant reseat her.

by cheaptraveler on Friday, June 04, 2010

I would be happy to give up peanuts if it's going to make someone sick. I care for others well being. Peanuts are served most likely because it is the cheapest thing the airline can provide. I'm sure they can offer something that would be safe and tasty for everyone that's on the plane. Think of others before you whine about Peanuts. You can have them before and after the plane trip if there that important to you. For heavens sake lets get along in this whole together. We have enough problems without whining about stupid peanuts! Take a moment and think of your fellow man!!!! Respect others that's what life is about..... or it used to be.

by Sky Blue on Friday, June 04, 2010

Eliminate snacks altogether and reduce airfare. How hard is it to eat something before getting on a plane? People, we are adults who know how to provide food for ourselves. We are not kids needing a snack or else our entire day will be thrown off. It's kind of a ridiculous offering anyway. What the heck is 15 peanuts suppossed to do for someone? Let's just save a little money and bring our own snacks. Beverages are fine since you can't get fluids through TSA.

by SDFlyer on Friday, June 04, 2010

Expecting the whole world to change because 3 or 4% of the people have a problem is just a little much! I happen to look forward to those peanuts as do many others. If one has such an allergy, maybe it should be so stated when the ticket is purchased and they can be in a special "no Peanuts" section of the plane in the back somewhere...and I doubt they could smell them if they weren't right next to someone eating them...cause lawdy, lawdy, what would this person do if the airlines stopped serving peanuts and the passengers brought their own?! Or will it come to banning peanuts and the metal detector will have to be remade to detect snacks, too?? Really, I think special requests in crowds have gone tooooo far! If I had a violent reaction, I wouldn't travel on airplaines or I would find a way to deal with it. I don't like the smell of cigarettes on someone who has just smoked one, I love to smell cologne and after shave, but not when someone dumps a pint on them and I have to smell it for several hours...but that's life...so live it....I have to agree with ndtjddowney....That's just the way it is.

by birdie on Friday, June 04, 2010

donaldsc: I like peanuts, too, but seriously you and everyone can easily eat something else. What is actually "totally unreasonable" (as you say), is that you think it's OK to subject others to your peanuts "to make a point." Yes, people are allergic to many things, but like I alluded to with the other person who posted similarly, if you had a severe peanut allergy that could attack you just by inhaling the dust, you would be singing a whole different tune. Why is it such a problem for you that you think you have to go to such an extreme point of view? Big deal, no peanuts. I guess the allergic people should just stop breathing so you can save yourself from having your "Right to Bear Peanuts" taken away. Please. Get over yourself.

by amyotravel on Friday, June 04, 2010

As an allergy sufferer, I sympathize with the peanut-allergenic, particularly as the peanut allergy is one, as others have noted, that can be transferred to unwitting hosts via dust in the air. Yikes!! But I want to thank Zebe for drawing gluten into the conversation. We live in such a wheat-centric culture, and now all of the snacks on airplanes (including those snack boxes) seem to contain wheat (crackers, pretzels, cookies). I agree that we need a solution (like potato chips or perhaps cashews or some less-allergenic nut?)...

by Gluten-Free By the Sea on Friday, June 04, 2010

Sorry that you have an allergy but almost everyone is allergic to something. It is totally unreasonable for you to expect that the whole world with cater to your problems. I like peanuts and if the planes stop serving them, I will bring my own peanuts on board just to make a point. If you do not like that, then organize peanut-free charter flights or set up a peanut-free airline.

by donaldsc on Friday, June 04, 2010

I am surprised by and have been wondering lately why airlines continue to give out peanuts at all with the abundance of peanut allergies out there. It makes no sense to me. Why risk someone getting really sick and forcing airline employees (flight attendants) to take care of them - or, perhaps if it's really bad, land a plane to get someone medical help? There are other snacks some people may be allergic to, but it seems peanuts have so many violent reactions from just the dust as well, whereas some other foods probably don't give that strong of a reaction to those who are allergic. And, to ndtjddowney - if you had a violent allergic reaction, believe me you would care. I am lucky enough not to react that way to someone eating peanuts near me, but I can surely be sympathetic. Wow.

by amyotravel on Friday, June 04, 2010

For people who have life-threatening allergies, having that allergen in their breathable air is not a matter of choice or being able to "adapt". In fact, repeated exposure can serverely intensify their reaction over time. When flying, it is simple to toss a snack into your carry-on or pack a small meal to tide you over...in fact, anything you pack/buy yourself is likely to be healthier, more satisfying and more substanial than a tiny bag of 20 peanuts.

by caiogirl on Friday, June 04, 2010

I really appreciate getting a snack on a plane. It makes the trip go faster and gives me something to look forward to, especially if I'm racing to make a connection and can't stop for food on the way. Unfortunately there is no perfect snack that will meet every person's dietary, health, and religious needs, but I think peanuts are problematic because the dust that comes out of one person's packet can create problems for his neighbor, particularly when they are both packed in the airtight cattle train that is a modern commercial airplane. (This is true of people allergic to perfume too, although that's a much harder topic to handle.) Maybe the best solution is to offer two choices of low-dust snack foods and leave the peanuts on the ground.

by pete on Friday, June 04, 2010

Now that peanuts are being phased out, they're getting replaced by pretzels or cookies. I'm allergic to gluten, so I can't have those. I think there should be some choices but it would be great if there were some allergy safe options (potato chips?). It's hard when food allergies are going up at such a shocking rate. There never will be one perfect snack, but I do like getting something when I know the price is embedded in my airfare.

by zebe on Friday, June 04, 2010

is ndtjddowney having a cranky morning? or do you work on wall st.? I think of smoking and 20 years ago when I had to put up with all those who were inconsiderate. I pray that cell phones will be limited to texts only when their use is allowed.Does eating on a plane complete the experience for you? There are lots of choices but an allergy is not an optional response. Growing up includes being aware or others.I'm glad ndtjddowney isn't sitting next to me.

by flyer23 on Friday, June 04, 2010

Boo Hoo. Drive your car or Charter a plane. Why put out all those around you and stop a whole industry because of a few? I am sorry I just get so angry that rules are changed for the few verses the masses. Schools don't have peanut butter sandwiches because of someone with an allergy. Homeschool is what I say. Life is not fair grow up and accept it, we are different for reasons, sorry it just isn't justified. You learn to adapt by other means instead of putting the rest of the public out it is your cross to bear. No sympathy here.

by ndtjddowney on Friday, June 04, 2010

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