Nut Allergy suffers can NOT board early (draft policy leaked but not in place)
Sep 5, 2018, 4:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 307
Nut Allergy suffers can NOT board early (draft policy leaked but not in place)
https://thepointsguy.com/news/passen...on-aa-flights/
This is a nice gesture, but what would be great is if FA's knew what was in the meals and offer alternatives on the spot. Example on our April flight from DFW-NRT seated in PE, My girlfriend was asked, Chicken or pasta... She chose chicken. She was served chicken w pesto. She told the FA she had a nut allergy, handed back the meal and would need an alternative meal, the FA said "what am I supposed to do with this now, I can't serve it. And you'll have to wait until i'm done serving everyone else." Well, she never returned and my gf asked another FA for another meal we were told the flight was full and there was no alternative meals. Would she like the snack pack? My gf is very very non-confrontational and declined. (NOTE: we were flying D3 and did not make a fuss as we know we were guests and lucky to be on board and on our way to Tokyo - on time)
My point is this, while the early boarding is nice, it really doesn't solve the main problem of nuts and nut products being served on board. And if they are on board, please know which seats have the allergy. Delta does this without issue. We simply note the allergy on our reservation and the FA hands us a separate food item.
Flying to LHR for Christmas in PE (paying customer this time) and am glad we get to pre-order our meals to avoid a similar issue.
Why not be able to alert FA's of a nut allergy? 1) they can avoid giving you foods with nuts and 2) they know who might have an issue and have a conversation as to where they keep their Epi pen.
This is a nice gesture, but what would be great is if FA's knew what was in the meals and offer alternatives on the spot. Example on our April flight from DFW-NRT seated in PE, My girlfriend was asked, Chicken or pasta... She chose chicken. She was served chicken w pesto. She told the FA she had a nut allergy, handed back the meal and would need an alternative meal, the FA said "what am I supposed to do with this now, I can't serve it. And you'll have to wait until i'm done serving everyone else." Well, she never returned and my gf asked another FA for another meal we were told the flight was full and there was no alternative meals. Would she like the snack pack? My gf is very very non-confrontational and declined. (NOTE: we were flying D3 and did not make a fuss as we know we were guests and lucky to be on board and on our way to Tokyo - on time)
My point is this, while the early boarding is nice, it really doesn't solve the main problem of nuts and nut products being served on board. And if they are on board, please know which seats have the allergy. Delta does this without issue. We simply note the allergy on our reservation and the FA hands us a separate food item.
Flying to LHR for Christmas in PE (paying customer this time) and am glad we get to pre-order our meals to avoid a similar issue.
Why not be able to alert FA's of a nut allergy? 1) they can avoid giving you foods with nuts and 2) they know who might have an issue and have a conversation as to where they keep their Epi pen.
Sep 5, 2018, 4:26 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Live: IWI; Work: DCA/Everywhere; Play: LAS/SJU/MLE
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Ambassador/LTP, Nat'l Exec Elite, LEYE Gold
Posts: 6,670
https://thepointsguy.com/news/passen...on-aa-flights/
This is a nice gesture, but what would be great is if FA's knew what was in the meals and offer alternatives on the spot. Example on our April flight from DFW-NRT seated in PE, My girlfriend was asked, Chicken or pasta... She chose chicken. She was served chicken w pesto. She told the FA she had a nut allergy, handed back the meal and would need an alternative meal, the FA said "what am I supposed to do with this now, I can't serve it. And you'll have to wait until i'm done serving everyone else."
...
Why not be able to alert FA's of a nut allergy? 1) they can avoid giving you foods with nuts and 2) they know who might have an issue and have a conversation as to where they keep their Epi pen.
This is a nice gesture, but what would be great is if FA's knew what was in the meals and offer alternatives on the spot. Example on our April flight from DFW-NRT seated in PE, My girlfriend was asked, Chicken or pasta... She chose chicken. She was served chicken w pesto. She told the FA she had a nut allergy, handed back the meal and would need an alternative meal, the FA said "what am I supposed to do with this now, I can't serve it. And you'll have to wait until i'm done serving everyone else."
...
Why not be able to alert FA's of a nut allergy? 1) they can avoid giving you foods with nuts and 2) they know who might have an issue and have a conversation as to where they keep their Epi pen.
Things I will never understand.
Sep 5, 2018, 4:34 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 307
2 reasons, 1) its usually not a big deal even if something does have nuts. She didn't make a deal out of it and would have happily accepted the alternative. 2) she's not at fault. Simply returning it and asking for the other option should have been an easy fix.
Sep 5, 2018, 4:42 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,632
No it is not an easy fix. You cannot return food once it has been served to you---it has to be thrown away, as you were told.
Sep 5, 2018, 6:04 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA ExP, Marriott Amb, National EAE, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat (RIP), US CP (RIP)
Posts: 2,379
2) if someone has an allergy or other dietary restrictions, then they should ask for details when offered “chicken or pasta” explaining their concern. Yes, it’s a big deal to ask for replacement meal after service has begun. As you learned on a full flight there are not sufficient meals catered for everyone to have both meals and unfortunately on your flight the non- chicken meal was “sold out” by the time your GF raised a concern. If noted earlier the crew would have a chance to swap out choices even if she was the last person to order. This would have provided her with options beyond a snack box.
Those with severe allergies need to take personal responsibility and not presume the plane can pull over mid flight to re-stock meals when they decide to return what they ordered. If she had asked, been advised of the nuts, ordered the alternative and still been served the chicken pesto, then yes at that point I would agree she was not at fault.
Sep 5, 2018, 6:08 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,551
It could have done a lap through the galley. That always seems to take care of any food contamination concerns when it's the FA at fault for handing over an incorrect meal.
Sep 5, 2018, 6:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
Note the update:
UPDATE: An American Airlines spokesperson reached out to TPG at 5:30 pm ET regarding the leaked policy referenced below, saying, “A proposed draft policy, which would permit customers with nut allergies to pre-board flights to wipe down surfaces, was shared prematurely with American’s flight attendant workgroup earlier this week. There are no changes to our policy at this time and the draft policy was not shared with customers. As is always the case, before we make policy decisions, we consult with various workgroups throughout the company. That process is still ongoing.”
Last edited by JDiver; Sep 5, 2018 at 6:32 pm Reason: Add building for emphasis
Sep 5, 2018, 6:28 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,315
I sympathize with those who have this very serious allergy. I’m cincerned this policy would be ripe for abuse.
Sep 5, 2018, 6:29 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kansas City, USA
Programs: AA Gold, Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, AVIS Preferred, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,066
When flying Non-Rev (D3) she is lucky she even got a choice. Not trying to be snarky, that's just how it is unfortunately. I fly Non-Rev and have had only one meal choice left often times. (it's better than nothing). If you would have been on revenue tickets, the scenario may have been different.
Sep 5, 2018, 6:35 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
When flying Non-Rev (D3) she is lucky she even got a choice. Not trying to be snarky, that's just how it is unfortunately. I fly Non-Rev and have had only one meal choice left often times. (it's better than nothing). If you would have been on revenue tickets, the scenario may have been different.
Sep 5, 2018, 7:22 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 910
Just curious if the OP's friend with nut allergy is more diligent when ordering at a restaurant....such carelessness on the traveler's part begs me to ask if the "nut allergy' was more a dietary preference. A prudent person with food allergies would ask the right questions and not potentially subject the entire flight to a medical diversion.
Sep 5, 2018, 7:34 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 252
Just curious if the OP's friend with nut allergy is more diligent when ordering at a restaurant....such carelessness on the traveler's part begs me to ask if the "nut allergy' was more a dietary preference. A prudent person with food allergies would ask the right questions and not potentially subject the entire flight to a medical diversion.
Sep 5, 2018, 7:37 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PNS
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA
Posts: 700
It's more noticeable in the food industry as people try and play a fad. IE gluten, allergen etc. I've seen it all to often, say they are allergic to something and moments later, catch them eating something off of another plate that contains the very same allergen they just had just requested to be removed from their plate.
Sep 5, 2018, 8:12 pm
#15
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
Why wouldn't your girlfriend ask whether the offered choices had nuts? Why wouldn't anyone with an allergy offer that information before choosing an item? Why wouldn't someone with such a severe allergy as to require the epi pen, etc., not take the precautions?
Things I will never understand.
Things I will never understand.