Flying with Peanut Allergy
Mon Oct 30, 2006 at 10:54:30 AM PDT
Editor's Note: What an eye-opening post! Fortunately, I have to fly only JetBlue to visit family, and they are so accomodating on everything from our vegetarian diets to the need for a wheelchair and translator for my grandmother. Continental's policy is outrageous. I'd demand a refund. -Elisa
For the first time since our young son was diagnosed earlier this year with peanut allergy, we are flying with him soon to visit family in Texas. Taking all the necessary precautions, we called the allergist to get a letter describing the need to take the Epi-pen on the plane. Then we discussed peanut precautions with the relatives that we'll be staying with. For those who don't know, becoming completely peanut-free means eliminating a lot more than just peanut butter. Lastly, we contacted Continental Airlines to notify them of our son's life threatening allergy and to get information on their official policy. We were flabbergasted by their response and we're not sure what we'll do next.
The man on the phone at Continental read the official statement aloud to my husband. My husband said that the gist was, "F*
* off. You are on your own." A quick look at the food allergy network website (which I should have read beforehand-- live and learn) revealed that Continental Airlines will not make accommodations for peanut allergy.
A quick search of the Continental website revealed no listing for peanut allergy or the official statement that was read to my husband on the phone. The website does reveal, however, that the airline accommodates gluten-free diets. Go figure.
Further, under the list of meals, peanuts are listed all over the place as a staple. It's as if the peanuts are a major selling point. Could this be? Do passengers book flights with Continental because they offer peanuts? The fact that peanuts are offered on every flight after 10 AM means that my son will be surrounded by peanut dust and oils on every surrounding surface.
Peanut allergy is the most common cause of deaths from food allergy. Although it only affects 1.1% of the population, the number of children being diagnosed is on the rise. In addition, the likelihood of reaction due to physical contact or inhalation in combination with the potentially fatal consequences, makes peanuts in airplanes all the more dangerous.
For now, we don't know what to do. We do not have a lot of money to be flushing the cost of three plane tickets but, obviously, our son's life is far more important than the money. We are waiting for a call from our son's allergist to see what he suggests. I guess we can just hope that Continental will, at the very least, refund our tickets. Then we'll hope that we'll be able to book a flight on another (peanut allergy friendly) airline for a reasonable price.
This whole thing is just very sad, frustrating, and scary.
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