This is so stupid. There are so many service improvements they could make, but they decide to do stuff like this. I give this 6 months max before it gets shut down. This is just screaming to be abused by BE pax with massive 50lb carryons claiming a nut allergy.
Nut allergies are very rare; by comparison, incidences of seafood allergies are four times more common. Where's the wipedown for seafood allergy sufferers? What about Jews and Muslims who follow Kosher and Halal dietary rules? Why can't they pre-board to swap out the tray tables with appropriate trays?
Nut allergies typically require ingestion for severe reactions to occur. What's wiping down the seat realistically going to do, provided one is wearing clothing? If wiping down a seat is pointless, does one really need to pre-board to wipe down a tray table? This is pure theater to placate certain vocal pax.
In those who are severely allergic, reactions to peanuts can occur from ingesting just a trace amount. This can cause anxiety, especially with the parents of peanut allergic children. But did you know that touching, smelling, or inhaling airborne particles from peanuts does not cause a severe reaction. ( Simonte SJ, et al. Relevance of casual contact with peanut butter in children with peanut allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol.. 2003 Jul:112 (1): 180-2.
In one controlled study that looked at this, 30 children with significant peanut allergy were exposed to peanut butter, which was either pressed on the skin for one minute, or the aroma was inhaled. Reddening or flaring of the skin occurred in about one third of the children, but none of the children in the study experienced a reaction either in their lungs or throughout their bodies!
It seems to me that AA is doing this because it costs them nothing (and will probably achieve nothing). Whereas putting a system into place to avoid serving nuts (similar to how DL operates) costs money.