I would think so. We lived in Asia for several years and got used to seeing signs like this (and for good reason):

http://www.worldisround.com/articles...5/photo50.html

I get by on an apple and crackers when it's a domestic flight, so most of you are safe. But when I went to Italy from the west coast I had about 16 hours of air time and a short layover. I was supposed to get to the initial airport 2 hours early. And bring whatever food I needed because they don't officially serve peanut/nut free meals on the airline anymore. When you add up the travel time there and from the final airport, it was close to a 24-hour period. At some point, I need a little protein or I get light headed.

I can't eat nuts, peanuts or other legumes and went through the grocery store looking for ideas. As I said previously, it was hard to find anything that didn't need scissors, knife or can opener to open them.

I myself think peanuts smell far worse, and even just a slight peanut smell makes me want to vomit. I had that every day in cafeterias growing up. So I do empathize and would be interested in alternative foods that would keep.

5alive, if you can eat eggs, then hard boiled eggs actually can be eaten if not refrigerated( in shell not mixed with anything). When I grew up we hardboiled and dyed eggs for easter, we then put them in a decorative basket for the a day or two.. then my grandmother made egg salad with the next day. We never got sick from that..

She also made that braided easter bread with an egg in it( a whole hard egg in shell as decoration) ,, we ate it ,, no one got sick,, maybe our family was unusual, lol

Also, ( just throwing out some ideas for protein foods, so that you can have more choices) what about beef jerky or those dried pepproni sticks that are individually wrapped, or ( and I am not sure about this being allowed, or if its too related to your allergins) what about little tins( they make ring pull tab tops on some) of baked beans.. ( ha ha, may be another odor result that people would complain about too..lol )

I actually like those little tins of tuna myself, but beleive me I know some people hate the smell. My son and his girlfriend broke up after dating for 2 years.. she was not a happy camper,, and went into his apartment , opened tins of tuna and dumped them on his bed,, because he hated the smell so much and they would fight every time she opened a tin. I liked her alot and secretly thought it was hilarious...

One thing you can do to minimize the tuna smell is immediatly after eating tuna, rince tin out in washroom and bag it in plastic bag and throw it out. The tuna tin or pouch can make the smell linger.

No, they did not break up because of tuna eating, lol

No, they did not break up because of tuna eating, lol

5alive, I wonder if those insulated lunch bags would help - then you could take something like sliced turkey or other lunch meat, or cheese.

(I do agree tuna doesn't smell great when you're not the one eating it. But the worst to me is people who buy food like pepperoni pizza at the airport and proceed to eat it on the plane. I doubt they "need" to be eating pepperoni pizza)

5alive, they make those little foil pouches with chicken too. I don't know how/if that fits into your needs but it might give you a bit more variety (I'm biased, I prefer chicken to tuna). I have very little sense of smell but the chicken might smell less than the tuna and still meet your needs.

Thanks guys, for the ideas!

I have not found the chicken ones, Iowa--do you remember a brand? Would definitely prefer it.

Do people think a hardboiled egg smells better? I mean, it's kinda sulfur-y. I would change if that's a better idea.

Tyson has it. It's right in with the canned tuna and pouches of tuna. I shop at WalMart so it's nothing too special.

http://www.tyson.com/Products/Premiu...ast-Pouch.aspx

There is a where to buy link but it doesn't show anything in my area and I know I've seen them locally. That at least gives you something to look for!

In response to Gail the nurse: The tiny air purifier cleans the air and seems to help with perfume, but admittedly, on a six hour flight, it probably would not be able to keep up. One of the perfume wearers was right next to me. Just thinking about that flight and sitting next to these people is making me nauseous.

I'm on newer stronger meds now. Have not tested them in-flight. Tested them with a walk through a department store. I still get headaches from strong perfume odor but haven't gotten an asthma attack. I'm actually too scared to travel on a plane now. Wondering if I can tolerate a train ride across country and back. At least I can get off or move to another car if there are perfume wearers around.

For much less than the cost of a RT Amtrak ticket cross country, you could fly first class - not that first class passengers don't wear perfume or eat tuna fish, but at least the seat separation is greater.

I tried getting first class on JetBlue and they didn't have it. I did pay extra, however, to sit up front.

I paid for first class on my flight from Oakland to Boston, on Delta, and it was the most enjoyable flying experience I'd ever had. Great food, great treatment by cabin crew. Kind and thoughtful passengers who were not wearing any perfume or cologne. Struck up a conversation with the guy sitting next to me when I pulled out my MacBook Pro to do some writing. We talked Mac and politics and favorite TV shows.

Such a delightful and stark contrast to my return trip.

Things haven't improved since your horrible experience. What amazes me, is that many flight attendants wear tons of smelly fragrances. You'd think the airlines would have a policy prohibiting their use of fragrances. That would be a good start in addressing the problem.

Also, it would be helpful if the airlines magazines would put in a request that passengers go easy on the fragrances in order to help keep the air cleaner. And the soap in the restrooms could be fragrance-free.

I bring a long cotton scarf with me when I travel. I wrap it around my face and wear it like a mask- not very comfortable.

Here is my perspective as someone with severe allergies and asthma. I think it is made much more complicate than needs be: I have severe peanut/tree nut/shellfish allergies, and also have egg, mango and latex allergies, celiac disease (cannot eat wheat, rye, barley or oats) and asthma. I am very sensitive to perfumes, artificial fragrances, cleaning products and cigarette smoke (even if it is just on people's clothing)

The last time I flew I broke out in hives just from touching the seats and/or table on the plane. Last year my niece auditioned for a travelling performance of the nutcracker and she got a part - I was so excited to see her dance - I paid the same amount for my not-cheap ticket as everyone else and I could not sit in my seat due to the woman in the row ahead of mine. I think she must have bathed in perfume! She was oblivious to the people getting up and leaving, moving away from her, complaining to the ushers. Non-asthmatic people, even. She ruined the experience for me and made it less enjoyable for others because she did not stop to think how her choices might affect other people. I had to stand in the back for the entire performance with a scarf wrapped around my mouth and nose.

I try to book peanut/nut free flights but that is not always possible. There is absolutely no way that any airline can provide me with safe food; if my choice is between opening tuna on a plane or going hungry during a long flight, I wouldn't hesitate to choose tuna - unless another passenger informed me they they had an allergy to tuna or fish, in which case I would gladly go hungry to help a fellow human being stay healthy and comfortable. I don't think I should be required to wear a sign on my back to explain my choice to other passengers, either. Just like it is up to me to manage my own health, it is up to other passengers to inform me if I am having a negative effect on their health.

Health, safety and physical/emotional comfort is priority - preferences have no weight on a plane. People may *want* to wear perfume, or eat peanuts, or kick the seat in front of where they sit, or blast loud music, but they don't *need* to do those things to survive the flight. I, and many others, *do* need to avoid certain things to stay healthy (and really, avoid inconveniencing everybody by prompting an emergency landing because of something trivial like the insistence of the 'right' to do _______. People with asthma and allergies deserve the same basic right to clean air just as much as everybody else. I am continuously baffled when people but their preferences above the health and safety of another human being.

My personal survival plan for flying: I wear long sleeves, pants and closed-toe shoes minimize contact reactions. I have never gone as far as to wear gloves, but I have thought about it, lol. I wipe down as much as I can with wipes to remove any food protein residue. I pack my own food. I carry benadryl, two epinephrine auto-injectors and my rescue inhaler + aerochamber. I wear my MedicAlert bracelet, which, strange as it sounds often makes people accept what I say more seriously. I wear a hepa filter respirator mask - fantastic for filtering out chemicals and allergens (Respro makes good ones). I may look like Darth Vader but at least I can breathe. It does nothing for my eyes however, perfume will make them burn and itch and water... the red eyes just add to the Darth Vader look, lol. I just pack my portable nebulizer with my regular baggage, which has worked fine so far. My logic is that if it is a potential danger to use onboard, and I have my inhaler in place of it, and there is oxygen available on the plane, then I don't feel the need to seek permission to use it in the cabin. But I also recognize that someone else may have a greater need for it than I do and may have no choice but to seek permission.

How nice it must be to be able to walk onto a plane without trying to brainstorm and prepare for every possible danger or problem that might pop up mid-flight. Refraining from wearing perfume seems to be a minor action that makes a big difference to the allergic community. And probably to a lot of other people who just don't want to be surrounded by a clash of potent, overbearing perfumes!

Such is life, but I still like to believe that many people just don't know or don't think about possible ways their choices and preferences may affect others. Necessities are necessities but I like to believe that preferences would be regarded as more flexible if people stopped to consider the potential health risks of _______ to fellow humans in certain public places or situations.

I think that almost everybody does not like to sit next to a heavily perfumed person in an airplane. So going easy on perfumes or cologne could be considered common courtesy.

OTOH, if you are allergic, even small doses of scent which would be barely detectable by others other than as a "nice clean smell" can have the same effect as a lot of perfume.

If you take into account all the possible allergies which can prevail in a plane with 200-300 people, it seems to be impossible to cater for everyone's needs. People can be allergic to gluten or soy. To nuts or apples. To shellfish or tomatos.

I would not (by health standards) care about a lot of perfume, but you should come from a cat-free home and wear no cashmere or lambswool (or similar).
It won't help if you put your cashmere scarf in the bin, as that action would have already contaminated all the air around me. And so on.
Just because you *think* you could easily foresee and accomodate any fellow passengers' allergies on a plane, truth is you can't. And I doubt that we can keep cat or dog owners from traveling by air..

Marlie, Shawnieblue and Cowboy1968, as well as all the others who responded thoughtfully and sincerely, I thank you for your encouragement and advice.

Just wanted to update folks on this year's back east trip. I flew United both ways. Thought the cabin crew was more polite, professional and human.

I survived both flights without any serious allergic reactions of any kind. I attribute this to several factors, the first being new meds. Singulair was added to my regimen and it has really helped with long-term exposure to allergens. I also give credit to my husband. He is a very calming influence and I can handle a lot more environmental stress when he's around. But probably the most important thing for this trip was that there were no perfume wearers nearby on these flights. Luck of the draw or twist of fate?

Instead, I got screaming babies. While I'm not a fan of screaming, I have a lot more tolerance for it. Poor little things are experiencing all sorts of bodily changes in flight that we take for granted. Its understandable, and the parents were sensible and apologetic.

In closing, I think if people were just more mindful of the entire cabin, rather than sitting in oblivion with headphones on, then it goes a long way in making the trip more enjoyable for everyone.

Thanks for the update. I remember your original post well, and the critical response of some who basically said "you should have known...." This approach always seems unfair to me for those who have made legitimate efforts to manage their situation and run into unexpected obstacles. If we all knew everything we needed to know in advance there would be no need for forums such as this, right?

Glad to hear your recent flying experience was more positive. Although not allergic , I have become increasingly aware of and annoyed by the chemical odours we are surrounded by in all kinds of public spaces. Here's to fresh air!

I too am glad to hear of your update. It's a crap shoot every time on a plane and hopefully your luck holds.

Also, I really appreciated shawnieblue's post of this summer. I somehow missed it before.

Those of you who were placing the responsibility on the traveler are seriously mistaken, legally. The American's with Disabilities act makes it clear that it is the responsibility of the BUSINESS to make accommodations for persons with disabilities. Setting reasonable indoor air pollution standards is a reasonable accommodation for an increasing public health problem. The incidence of childhood asthma has skyrocketed, largely due to exposure to indoor pollutants. The EPA classifies cologne/perfume/scents as a source of indoor pollution. These "scents" give off VOCs or volatile chemical compounds. They create problems for those with asthma, chronic bronchitis, multiple chemical sensitivity (another skyrocketing problem) and COPD (among others). The health impacts can NOT be prevented by a paper mask. And one individual is not reasonably able to prevent the problem. But the airline is. Wearing cologne, body spray, etc. is a voluntary activity. It is not a protected "right" and when it causes harm, up to and including hospitalization, (people die in asthma attacks, folks), then it is incumbent upon the PUBLIC and businesses to learn to temper their use of (offensive, by the way, when it is strong) chemicals in public. This is especially true in tight spaces where other people can't get away from it.

There are now employers, including cities, counties, etc, that ban the use of scented products (including personal care products) at work. Some movie theatres, playhouses, and even restaurants are posting policies that allow the management to evict or move someone who is wearing strong scent. This is because the businesses are being successfully sued by people who have serious medical reactions and then sue them to recover the expense and damage. It is important to know that the effects of exposure are cumulative and progressive. So it isn't just a temporary inconvenience. It is a serious problem that is being dismissed by too many.

So… bottom line, it is not really her job to accommodate to you. It is the airline's job to accommodate to a disability. Just as it is not reasonable to tell someone who needs a wheelchair to just give up flying, it is also not reasonable to tell someone with asthma that they can't fly because they may (or may not - no control here) be subjected to air pollution of sufficient strength to prompt an attack.

Shame on Jet Blue and other airlines. Soon enough they will be sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act because someone will have a serious medical complication and their short-sighted response will contribute. I understand about the danger of explosion. That's important and reasonable to outlaw and prevent. But having something in place in the event that a passenger is endangered in this way is equally important. The airline may need to supply oxygen or acceptable air purification system/device just as they supply wheelchairs and transport to disabled passengers.

That's my 2 cents. Good luck to other flyers.

Just two days ago I had a similar incident when flying from Heathrow to Atlanta. Two hours into the flight the woman directly in front of me sprayed two long shots of perfume. My lungs closed up almost immediately. My rescue inhalers did not alleviate the symptoms. My husband went to find a flight attendant who informed us there were no other seats on the plane. I was stuck behind this woman. I was progressively getting into more distress and truthfully in tears with the chest pain and fear. My husband again when to the flight attendant and this time was told to bring me to the jump seat in the galley and they would give me oxygen. From this time on the British Airways flight attendant was very helpful and kind. I spent an hour and half on oxygen in the galley area. I finally returned to our row and sat on the aisle as it offered more air flow then the window seat and laid back with a napkin over my mouth and nose. It still smelled. Near the end of the flight the attendant did tell the woman in front of me that she caused me some severe distress and not to do that again. The woman never even made eye contact with me or offered any apology....yes that would have made me feel a bit better. My upset is they tell you about smoking why can't they make an announcement regarding spraying anything on a plane? It's a capsule full of people and I know lots of people who are bothered by perfumes. How do we get this started to make a change? I fly several times a year to Europe, this was a first for me. I'm now leary of flying again. What options are there for us? And yes British Airways knew about my asthma preflight as I was loaded with a wheelchair. It's that bad. It's been two and half days and I'm still having breathing problems, even after a doctor visit, from this serious set back. How do we educate the airlines about this problem?!