No nuts please!
#61
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 204
Because it's enough sometimes to just come into contact with a nut, it doesn't have to be inhaled/ingested.
I'm an A&E doctor... Full blown anaphylaxis is terrifying. And for those with the most serious reactions it kills... Quickly. After all this: https://www.theguardian.com/society/...and-label-laws occurred on a BA flight.
Having said that, this is only risk reduction. It is easy to think of many situations both on and off an aircraft where potential contact could occur.
I had a nut ban on a KUL-LHR sector last year. Plenty of grumbles which was particularly saddening.
Out of interest, one for the cabin crew who frequent this forum, how many epipens are carried on an aircraft medical kit?
I'm an A&E doctor... Full blown anaphylaxis is terrifying. And for those with the most serious reactions it kills... Quickly. After all this: https://www.theguardian.com/society/...and-label-laws occurred on a BA flight.
Having said that, this is only risk reduction. It is easy to think of many situations both on and off an aircraft where potential contact could occur.
I had a nut ban on a KUL-LHR sector last year. Plenty of grumbles which was particularly saddening.
Out of interest, one for the cabin crew who frequent this forum, how many epipens are carried on an aircraft medical kit?
Possibly N95-rated masks would help some, as I read they are claimed to be effective against at least some airborne allergens. I have used N95 masks myself for other reasons and know they are not very comfortable to wear for longer period of times, so I think it would be quite difficult to get a child to wear them for a plane ride, though an adult could suffer through it
It was very interesting to read the references to needle length in the tragic article you linked. I was not aware of this possible problem.
#62
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 204
Yeah, yeah. Angel on my right shoulder, devil on my left shoulder. Even comedians know what's right, though they joke about it.
The question is why do airplanes bring out the guy who actually says "I want my peanuts. To hell with that kid. If they won't serve peanuts, I'm bringing my own." I've seen that posted right here on FT. What's up with that?
The question is why do airplanes bring out the guy who actually says "I want my peanuts. To hell with that kid. If they won't serve peanuts, I'm bringing my own." I've seen that posted right here on FT. What's up with that?
#63
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
And actually, for aeroplanes, for prevention of dry mouth and nose (that is in fact why JL amenity kit includes "moisture mask" - I thought they were like a moisturising mask for the face before I opened the pack!).
The effectiveness of commonly-used, average, cheap masks for sale over there against airborne contaminants is rather dubious though! Some on sale there are, let's say, rather porous.
#64
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
Yes, of course, BA can not serve nuts on that flight, as an example, and ask fellow passengers not to consume them, but they have no legal control over another passenger eating nuts onboard. They have no way of knowing if the passenger 2 or 3 flights before consumed copious amounts of nuts in the seat in which that passenger with the allergy is now sat in or next to... Same in a restaurant or shop, or hotel. If travel of allergens can cause that severe a reaction, be they through contact or airborne... Then where does the level or risk and accountability stop?
Also what happens if the announcement goes off, someone eats nuts, causes a reaction because somehow they were sat next to the allergic person, and now the flight is diverting? Or if the allergy sufferer sues the person who ate nuts? Accountability is easy. If you know you shouldn't eat nuts and you do, you are accountable.
#65
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci Chevalier de Actes Bénéfiques pour les Autres, BAEC Gold.
Posts: 1,477
Slightly OT here, but I was recently surprised to hear the train manager on a train about to depart from Euston announce that due to a person with a severe allergy, could passengers in coach B not eat products containing nuts. He went on to say that there was space in another coach if people did wish to eat nut products.
First time I have ever heard this on a train.
BM
First time I have ever heard this on a train.
BM
#66
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Mucci, BAEC Silver, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 1,037
Sorry but I find that attitude very 'Daily Mail' like. An arguement against banning nuts on flights with people who might die from it being the never-ending realm of possible things that could be banned (which, btw, I would imagine be rather low once nuts are taken off).
And frankly I don't know where it ends - certainly I would never grumble about giving any food up on a plane if it meant someone survived the flight to the other end.
And frankly I don't know where it ends - certainly I would never grumble about giving any food up on a plane if it meant someone survived the flight to the other end.
#68
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Programs: BA GGL - maybe only briefly!
Posts: 1,378
Had this on a LHR-OSL service and the CC asked if someone could make the announcement in Norwegian.
#69
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Chicago
Programs: QF P1,UA 1K,HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 143
I was recently on a flight where a fellow passenger was yelling at the flight attendant because there were not "enough" vegan snack options. Apparently he did not fancy fruit.
What is insanely interesting? You can request vegan meals, but there is no option for "allergen free" meals. I have a severe fish allergy and some airlines make it a big more challenging then others.
I can not see Japan Airlines not serving fish, because I am on board. If I get a bit a juice, my throat will close. I still fly JAL, because sometime they fit best with my schedule/budget. After my first mishap have not eating on a 9 hour flight, I've learned to take care of myself.
That being said, I have no issue with not eating nuts on a flight. BUT there is no way, I trust 150 other strangers to not eat nuts to protect me from getting sick. I wouldn't doubt some jerk doing it just to prove a point.
Allergies are no joke, but one should take their own precautions and not trust others to do it for them.
What is insanely interesting? You can request vegan meals, but there is no option for "allergen free" meals. I have a severe fish allergy and some airlines make it a big more challenging then others.
I can not see Japan Airlines not serving fish, because I am on board. If I get a bit a juice, my throat will close. I still fly JAL, because sometime they fit best with my schedule/budget. After my first mishap have not eating on a 9 hour flight, I've learned to take care of myself.
That being said, I have no issue with not eating nuts on a flight. BUT there is no way, I trust 150 other strangers to not eat nuts to protect me from getting sick. I wouldn't doubt some jerk doing it just to prove a point.
Allergies are no joke, but one should take their own precautions and not trust others to do it for them.
#70
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: HEL/TMP
Programs: BAEC Silver, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 24
It seems half my posts on flyertalk are about this issue, but there is so much garbage information going around even among doctors (as can be seen from this thread).
Please remember - peanut allergy CAN NOT cause severe reactions unless you get peanut in your mouth (or nose). In those cases even trace amounts are dangerous, but peanut particles do not float in the air, they are too heavy for that.
The smell of peanuts does not cause any allergic reaction at all, physical contact can cause slight localised reddening in some cases of severe peanut allergy, and could probably be prevented by taking antihistamine before the contact. There is absolutely no need to wipe the surfaces (unless you're going to lick them, in which case I would hope you also wipe them afterwards).
Only thing you have to do is to read the labels of what you put in the patient's mouth, and think about possible cross-contamination. And enjoy your flight!
Please remember - peanut allergy CAN NOT cause severe reactions unless you get peanut in your mouth (or nose). In those cases even trace amounts are dangerous, but peanut particles do not float in the air, they are too heavy for that.
The smell of peanuts does not cause any allergic reaction at all, physical contact can cause slight localised reddening in some cases of severe peanut allergy, and could probably be prevented by taking antihistamine before the contact. There is absolutely no need to wipe the surfaces (unless you're going to lick them, in which case I would hope you also wipe them afterwards).
Only thing you have to do is to read the labels of what you put in the patient's mouth, and think about possible cross-contamination. And enjoy your flight!
#71
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 69
I second this. My father was a physician in the Navy. His was on a Marine recruiting base one day and a group of Marines had just returned from a training run. They were eating "cheese" crackers. One Marine had peanut allergies and didn't realize that the crackers had peanut butter filling. He started showing signs of a reaction and by the time they could carry him to the Emergency Room (about five minutes) he was in cardiac arrest and died shortly afterward. True allergies can be serious stuff.
#72
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 386
As to her experience when travelling with BA, I must say they have been exemplary, including allowing her to pre-board in order to sanitize the tray table and making an announcement asking that peanuts not be eaten during the journey. This is in stark contrast to UA who having been advised by her that she had an allergy, suggested that not travel on her return leg.
#73
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
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Posts: 1,783
#74
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: East Anglia UK
Programs: BA-S UA LH-Sen KLM/AF-Plat.
Posts: 1,627
Am I the only one here at a loss to reconcile the facts/opinions here. They are either only dangerous if in physical contact as per aakaa or even the slightest whiff of them would affect you, as in many other posts. Do we have a definitive answer or is it the fact that the thought of having a reaction induces a panic reaction in some people? I can't see that both can be true and it would be good to know which was which.
#75
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold / OW Emerald
Posts: 753
Am I the only one here at a loss to reconcile the facts/opinions here. They are either only dangerous if in physical contact as per aakaa or even the slightest whiff of them would affect you, as in many other posts. Do we have a definitive answer or is it the fact that the thought of having a reaction induces a panic reaction in some people? I can't see that both can be true and it would be good to know which was which.