People with nut allergies, beware of American Airlines policy
Jun 12th, 2000, 05:06 PM
#21
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Many of my friends work for American Airlines. They tell me the gist of American's policy on nut allergies is something to the effect of....if a passenger notifies the airline in advance of their nut allergy, they will remove nuts from the flight and replace them with a comparable food item. However, if a passenger brings their own nuts, the employees do not have authority to confiscate the passengers' private supply of nuts.
Jun 13th, 2000, 05:18 AM
#22
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Hi Rose, <BR>I did try to make arrangements way ahead of time with Amerian Airlines. They refused my request five days prior to my departure date due to a series of errors on their part. There were errors made as far as the Special Services department not contacting me in a timely manner. Somehow a customer service rep did not "put my request in the correct computer prompt" not once, but twice, and therefore it did not reach the Special Servies department. I had to make several calls to American to try to arrange for a nut free flight because I had not heard from their Special Servies department. Normally when I fly, I purchase the ticket, request the nut free flight and within a few days I hear from the airlines. Unfortunately American did not do this. I have since received a letter from them stating that they will be retraining their customer service reps so that when a special request is made by a passenger, it will be sent to the Special Servies department. They also apoligized for the very poor customer service I received.I was glad to hear this and I did appreciate their response to my letter even though it doesn't change the fact that I can't fly their airlines. <BR> <BR>I have their policy in writing stating that they will not accomodate passengers with nut allergies. Luckily Northwest Airlines is more than accomodating. If you know of something different, please let me know.
Jun 13th, 2000, 05:22 AM
#23
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Sarah, can you clarify something. Are you buying a coach ticket and requesting that the entire plane be nut free? <BR> <BR>If so, I can understand why someone paying upwards of $7000 a ticket might have a problem with the airline seving rice cakes or pretzels. <BR> <BR>Does the whole plane have to be nut free or just your surrounding area? With many airlines dropping or reducing food service, more people are bringing their own food on board. If someone brings a trail mix with them as their only food, are you advocating that they not be allowed to eat it-or not eat it next to you? <BR> <BR>While I can appreciate the severity of your situation, I think, practically speaking, it would be close to impossible to get several hundred people, on a large plane, to keep them from eating fodd they brought on board.
Nov 14th, 2000, 06:28 PM
#24
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I've been using the Internet a lot lately, as opposed to calling the airlines' 800 number, to check seat availability, fares, etc. <BR> <BR>Of the several web sites I've been on, I have not seen one which allows the prospective passenger to specify a nut-free flight or seating area, but I wasn't really paying attention to that particular type of request . . . it seems like it would be easy enough to set up, wouldn't it? Any programmers out there?
Nov 16th, 2000, 05:28 AM
#25
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Curious, <BR>Northwest Airlines removes all nut and nut products off of the aircraft for me, so it's not an impossibility. (Plus there are LOTS of people with this allergy) I was in London a few weeks ago and was amazed at how educated the English are in regards to nut allergies. Before boarding the aircraft in Gatwick, a very nice announcment was made several times in regards to my allergy. The English took it seriously as the Americans laughed. <BR> <BR>And Brett one would think so! That would be a dream come true for me! <BR>
Nov 17th, 2000, 12:42 PM
#26
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Sarah, <BR> <BR>I think you should be very happy you have found at least one airline willing to put your needs above everyone else's on board the airplane. While I understand your allergy is potentially life threatening, to demand and expect every air carrier bend to your serious, but yet distruptive, request is asking too much. Additionally, if you were buying a international first class ticket, their response may have been different. <BR> <BR>Take advantage of Northwest's accomodation, but don't berate American for choosing to provide a full service to the majority of its customers. They have a right to provide the service they would like to, you have the right to choose another carrier. <BR> <BR>PS What do you do if someone brings on their own nuts?
Dec 8th, 2000, 07:56 PM
#30
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In talking to one of the guards who works in my office building, I learned that she has severe nut allergies too. She said it really limits the amount of processed foods she can eat. <BR> <BR>She told me about a dinner party she was invited to. She had told the hostess she was severly allergic to nuts and could not safely eat them. The hostess assured her there would be no nuts in her dinner, but apparantly she ground up some nuts and put them in something . . anyway, when the hostess came to visit her in the hospital the next day, she said "Oh, I just figured that, if you couldn't see them, they would't hurt you." So I guess that's the mentality these folks are dealing with. <BR> <BR>To my surprise, she told me that peanuts are not really a nut, and thus ok for her. She also said some varieties are worse than others, and that walnuts are about the worst for her; one walnut could literally kill her. <BR> <BR>Sarah: Can you eat peanuts safely?
Dec 11th, 2000, 07:39 AM
#31
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Looks like this is a little out of hand. There really is no need to threaten and berate, especially if one is willing to make a cowardly post and not leave a legitimate email address. Those folks should just be ignored. The issue is simple. Sarah apparantly has a big problem with nuts; excluding the ones that disagree with her. All she has is a simple request that a product, with a reasonable substitute, be eliminated from a flight to ensure safe passage. Does not seem to be tough to me. As a society, we make special accomodations for circumstances every day. Check out handicap parking spots, public bathrooms and sidewalks. This is not different. In fact, it is even a smaller request and easier to implement. I know that there ARE people that can acutally die from very minor contact with nuts. This is not to be taken lightly. I would like to believe that any reasonable person would not mind going without a bag a bad peanuts for one flight knowing that it would help someone else. Does American Airlines have to comply with this request? Absolutely not. "Should they" is the real question. In my humble opinion, accomodating this is morally correct, good for business and good for Sarah. And, we all could be spending our time feeling good that we helped someone else out and did not waste our time on things like this. Have a great day and I hope that none of you have to endure a severe allergy like Sarah suffers.
Dec 11th, 2000, 12:06 PM
#32
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I think this entire discussion is just plain (or salted) silly. I think we should see if one of these people really does die if they are around nuts before we do something drastic like banning nuts from airplanes. I'd say if oh, 7 out of 10 people die after I rub my nuts on them then I will agree with the banning. Otherwise...bring on the nuts!
Dec 13th, 2000, 06:50 AM
#34
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Dear Mr. Geez: <BR> <BR>I tried to email you at [email protected] idiot but it bounced back. Care to explain?
Dec 13th, 2000, 06:32 PM
#39
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I think its unfair for the rest of the passengers or majority to be deprived of such delicious, wholesome, and nurishing food products such as airline peanuts for a select few individuals. I feel bad that those who suffer from allergies need special care however we don't see doctors going around and cleaning everyone's air for people who have lower immune systems or police vehicles clearing the way for senile drivers. my point is the majority should rule and if the majority is a bunch of nut loving passengers then I say let them eat nuts and put the allergic one in a bubble. in coach.
Dec 15th, 2000, 06:58 AM
#40
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Sarah: <BR> <BR>Sorry to hear about your allergy, but I'm afraid that I fall on the side of those who feel that your demands are too unrealistic. <BR> <BR>Just as you have a severe allergic reaction to nut products, there are people who have similar reactions to perfumes, wool, and a host of other items. Should we start demanding that the airlines make special accommodations for them, as well? I think that unfortunately, the burden for protecting yourself from nut products rests on your shoulders. Perhaps you should carry a mask to filter out the dangerous particles? As others here have mentioned, what would you do if someone brought their own food containing nuts with them? <BR> <BR>I just think that there needs to be a line drawn somewhere. We are becoming a society that DEMANDS that others make special accommodations for them, when we need to become a society of people who figures out ways of how they can adjust to the mainstream polulation WITHOUT demanding unreasonable accommodations. <BR> <BR>Best of luck to you in coping with your condition.
