(Peanut) Allergies and Preboarding
Jan 24, 2009, 8:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Nashua, NH USA
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(Peanut) Allergies and Preboarding
This was seen on another forum: "(Southwest) does their best.....they let us board first to wipe down the trays and seats but the past two flights ....there were peanuts on the floor in the seats from previous flights."
Does it make sense to quietly ask to preboard giving allergies as an excuse? Is it not unusual to find peanut shells on the floor? Actually the request would require so many words that a written note with all of the following information seems better:
"We are requesting early boarding so we can wipe down tray tables, put blankets over seats, etc. and not delay the flight as our son (daughter, etc.) is allergic to peanuts."
Now if the gate agent says "no" then you would quietly board normally and wipe down the tray tables etc. anyway if you felt there was a need.
Does it make sense to quietly ask to preboard giving allergies as an excuse? Is it not unusual to find peanut shells on the floor? Actually the request would require so many words that a written note with all of the following information seems better:
"We are requesting early boarding so we can wipe down tray tables, put blankets over seats, etc. and not delay the flight as our son (daughter, etc.) is allergic to peanuts."
Now if the gate agent says "no" then you would quietly board normally and wipe down the tray tables etc. anyway if you felt there was a need.
Jan 24, 2009, 10:13 am
#2
Join Date: May 2004
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Jan 31, 2009, 8:46 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: United 1K GS, USAIR, Delta
Posts: 175
That is amazing. I am allergic to all tree nuts. I always ask the attendants to help me avoid them in the meal service. Sometimes they still try to give me the hot nuts. ;-)
It is also surprising how many people do not know that cocoanut is a nut despite the name.
It is also surprising how many people do not know that cocoanut is a nut despite the name.
Jan 31, 2009, 9:00 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central Texas
Programs: Many, slipping beneath the horizon
Posts: 9,859
...But then, a "peanot" is nut (or a peanut is not, being a legume).
Feb 2, 2009, 1:27 am
#7
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SFO / SJC
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Posts: 391
Like many people of my generation (I am 26), I suffer from allergies to peanuts, all nuts except almonds (which if they are sliced are always so contaminated with other nuts by the processing that I react to them as well) and all shellfish. This is based on prick tests for these things, as wells as unfortunately known exposure to several of them in food accidentally.
One thing I think allergy suffers tend to find pretty annoying (at least I do) is this endless classification debates of is a peanut a nut or a legume, is a coconut (which I am not allergic to, although I know several people who are) a nut or a fruit etc. To someone who is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, every nut, coconuts ... etc... it is sure going to seem like a nut.
Obviously this kind of confusion makes it tough for people seriving food to avoid making/serving something that might be dangerous. I have discovered that when I tell Iranian friends I am allergic to nuts, they seem to either be so unable to grasp this appalling concept, or else they don't have that kind of lumped singular concept in their language. Because they keep trying to serve me new kinds of nuts as if I was only allergic to the other ones.
The rise of food allergies that can cause anaphylaxis is really a new thing, so older people who don't have kids in today's schools often tend to be way less disposed to be accomdating and frankly considerate.
I hate cats, sure, and my allergist says I am "allergic" to them. I know that if I pet one and rub my hands in my eyes it will itch. But if I grind up a nut in my mouth I might die. From my hold high school debating days, I would say, "Can you see the bright line standard that differentiates these two scenarios?"
At the end of the day, one of the most frustrating thing about allergies is that you have to be personally responsible. Even your closes family will slip up and try and poison you on occasion, and inevitably I have eaten things I shouldn't. No matter how much precaution you take, you can still feel pretty helpless. I am lucky my allergies are mild enough that although I carry an epi-pen (to stab myself with should I need to save my life) I have never had to use it, just benedryl. But I can't imagine what it might be like to have a child someday with these allergies (I know a few parents in this situation) and to get on a play and be trapped up in the friendly skies.
I once had a seat mate who witnessed me turn down the offering of nuts on a flight, then proceeded to chew them so vigorously he pieces were flying onto my tray table. I had my drink slid as far over as possible and covered with a napkin, and obviously he was a big outlier in behavior. But it did make me think about the how captive one is on a plane.
As far as preboarding goes ... maybe we normally associate it with people who need "more time" to move around b/c they are old or crippled ... but would you want to deny it to someone who felt it might save a life from being lost? I know I wouldn't.
One thing I think allergy suffers tend to find pretty annoying (at least I do) is this endless classification debates of is a peanut a nut or a legume, is a coconut (which I am not allergic to, although I know several people who are) a nut or a fruit etc. To someone who is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, every nut, coconuts ... etc... it is sure going to seem like a nut.
Obviously this kind of confusion makes it tough for people seriving food to avoid making/serving something that might be dangerous. I have discovered that when I tell Iranian friends I am allergic to nuts, they seem to either be so unable to grasp this appalling concept, or else they don't have that kind of lumped singular concept in their language. Because they keep trying to serve me new kinds of nuts as if I was only allergic to the other ones.
I hate cats, sure, and my allergist says I am "allergic" to them. I know that if I pet one and rub my hands in my eyes it will itch. But if I grind up a nut in my mouth I might die. From my hold high school debating days, I would say, "Can you see the bright line standard that differentiates these two scenarios?"
At the end of the day, one of the most frustrating thing about allergies is that you have to be personally responsible. Even your closes family will slip up and try and poison you on occasion, and inevitably I have eaten things I shouldn't. No matter how much precaution you take, you can still feel pretty helpless. I am lucky my allergies are mild enough that although I carry an epi-pen (to stab myself with should I need to save my life) I have never had to use it, just benedryl. But I can't imagine what it might be like to have a child someday with these allergies (I know a few parents in this situation) and to get on a play and be trapped up in the friendly skies.
I once had a seat mate who witnessed me turn down the offering of nuts on a flight, then proceeded to chew them so vigorously he pieces were flying onto my tray table. I had my drink slid as far over as possible and covered with a napkin, and obviously he was a big outlier in behavior. But it did make me think about the how captive one is on a plane.
As far as preboarding goes ... maybe we normally associate it with people who need "more time" to move around b/c they are old or crippled ... but would you want to deny it to someone who felt it might save a life from being lost? I know I wouldn't.
Feb 2, 2009, 1:21 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: BOS
Posts: 57
Like many people of my generation (I am 26), I suffer from allergies to peanuts, all nuts except almonds (which if they are sliced are always so contaminated with other nuts by the processing that I react to them as well) and all shellfish. This is based on prick tests for these things, as wells as unfortunately known exposure to several of them in food accidentally.
Feb 3, 2009, 5:25 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Programs: aa advantage
Posts: 10
Like many people of my generation (I am 26), I suffer from allergies to peanuts, all nuts except almonds (which if they are sliced are always so contaminated with other nuts by the processing that I react to them as well) and all shellfish. This is based on prick tests for these things, .
Feb 3, 2009, 11:41 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Nashua, NH USA
Programs: Seashore Trolley Museum "flight attendant"
Posts: 1,991
LikeI once had a seat mate who witnessed me turn down the offering of nuts on a flight, then proceeded to chew them so vigorously he pieces were flying onto my tray table. I had my drink slid as far over as possible and covered with a napkin, and obviously he was a big outlier in behavior.
Feb 3, 2009, 9:52 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 927
Originally Posted by Lowender1234
Coco(a)nuts are fruit.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-drupes.htm
Feb 4, 2009, 9:24 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The Villages, FL, USA
Posts: 649
I once had a seat mate who witnessed me turn down the offering of nuts on a flight, then proceeded to chew them so vigorously he pieces were flying onto my tray table. I had my drink slid as far over as possible and covered with a napkin, and obviously he was a big outlier in behavior. But it did make me think about the how captive one is on a plane.
Feb 4, 2009, 4:06 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,735
I hate cats, sure, and my allergist says I am "allergic" to them. I know that if I pet one and rub my hands in my eyes it will itch. But if I grind up a nut in my mouth I might die. From my hold high school debating days, I would say, "Can you see the bright line standard that differentiates these two scenarios?"
Doesn't look like that different from a food allergy to me, but you get a whole lot less sympathy when you try to tell somebody that their beloved Fido is dangerous than when you claim food allergy.
Feb 5, 2009, 10:42 am
#15
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
The question that also needs to be asked is whether the rise in food allergies is real:
Telling Food Allergies From False Alarms
Peanut Allergy Overdiagnosed
Both of these articles point to different reasons why doctors may be overdiagnosing food allergies. This does not mean that severe food allergies don't exist, but there may be many people out there who are unnecessarily fearful of exposure because of poor medical advice.
Please note that this is a general comment and in no way should be read to question the allergies of any of the posters above. I have seen people experience anaphylaxis so I do understand how life-threatening allergies can be.
As a separate comment regarding whether one should eat nuts next to someone who refuses them: I will continue to go ahead. There are many reasons for people not to eat nuts besides allergies - dislike, digestion issues, too many calories, bad teeth, etc. If you have an allergy to nuts and feel it is unsafe for me to eat them next to you, please let me know. I can be considerate, but I am not a mind reader.
Telling Food Allergies From False Alarms
Peanut Allergy Overdiagnosed
Both of these articles point to different reasons why doctors may be overdiagnosing food allergies. This does not mean that severe food allergies don't exist, but there may be many people out there who are unnecessarily fearful of exposure because of poor medical advice.
Please note that this is a general comment and in no way should be read to question the allergies of any of the posters above. I have seen people experience anaphylaxis so I do understand how life-threatening allergies can be.
As a separate comment regarding whether one should eat nuts next to someone who refuses them: I will continue to go ahead. There are many reasons for people not to eat nuts besides allergies - dislike, digestion issues, too many calories, bad teeth, etc. If you have an allergy to nuts and feel it is unsafe for me to eat them next to you, please let me know. I can be considerate, but I am not a mind reader.