Traveling on an Airplane with Young Son with Peanut Allergy

Alert the airline ASAP. I flew a couple weeks ago on Southwest. They did not serve peanuts due to a passanger with an allegy. They gave crackers instead.

We fly Air tran and United because they don't serve peanuts . We still wipe everything down and have never had a problem . We would NEVER fly southwest even if they stopped serving peanuts because the dust is everywhere in the plane . Good luck and have a safe trip :0)

Actually if I had a child that was that allergic, I probably would not fly. I would take a nice drive down 95 to Florida.

Talk with your son's allergist to find out how sensitive he is to peanuts. Most people are affected only when they consume peanuts. You doctor would be able to tell you the risk for having peanut residue in the area.

Call the airlines to ask about what they allow and don't allow.

When we fly Southwest they do serve peanuts and another chip option. If your son is that sensitive being in a confined space with nuts then you should have booked a peanut free flight. If he is simply allergic upon ingestion then request an alternate snack and pack his medicines just in case.

I also carried Benadryl and an EpiPen onto the plane. I did NOT have the prescription and the Benadryl was probably more of the 7 oz variety. TSA didn't bat an eyelash.

You can let them know about the peanut allergy in advance. In fact, I'd call immediately. They can opt to serve another snack to everyone for that flight. On one of our recent flights they stopped serving peanuts mid-way, because a passenger alerted them that they had an allergy. No big deal, they started serving crackers or something else they had. Wish they had an alternative protein they can serve, but oh well, it's good to know that everyone was safer.

If your son ways VERY sensitive to nuts, has had a reaction from touching them or coming in contact with someone who consumed them, I probably would have contacted the airline before purchasing the tickets to see how they accommodate those with such severe allergies.

However, because of allergies, I don't know how many airlines actually serve peanuts anymore? Lately pretzels are what I remember, if ANYTHING!

As for the Epipen, if you have the prescription, they shouldn't give you a hard time. I have taken an injection medication (for migraines) on airplanes for years and when it comes to going through security, I always put it in its own bin, all spread out, with the prescription in full view, so they can see it is for medical use and I am not trying to hide anything :-)

Good luck!!

I fly all the time with my daughter who has a peanut allergy. I've never even been asked to take her epiPen out of my purse - it just goes through the machine with everything else and no issues. So don't worry about that.

Also, airlines are not serving peanuts on most flights. Yes, a few airlines do (I think American does), but the majority of the times I have flown it's pretzels, cookies, or nothing.

I've never wiped anything down and never had a problem - but if it makes you feel better, bring the baby wipes!

I haven't been served peanuts on an American Airlines flight in years. However, we flew Delta for the first time in September and they did serve them.

I know that South west still has peanuts. How allergic is your child? Do you know what happens- some have more sever reactions then others. Call the airlines and find out what they serve?

Good luck

I only fly American and I have not been served nuts in years. I do think it's best to contact the airline about their practices.

Call the airline an let them know and let the flight attendants know when you are boarding. They can serve pretzels or an alternative snack instead.

We took Aer Lingus with my son who has peanut/nut allergies last year. We called the airline when we bought the tickets, 24 hours before the flights and then told them at the ticket counter and then the flight attendants on the plane. This what the airline instructed us to do. They were fabulous and hope to fly with them again.

My two suggestions that I have from the four different flights we took during the trip is to 1) ask that your entire family be given alternative, allergy free food and 2) read the labels of what alternatives you are given. The countless amounts of pretzels, etc that we have to pass up because of cross contamination. I have found that alot of people not living with a person with allergies assumes that if that if nuts or peanuts isn't in the food, it's fine.

Also, TSA didn't really bat an eye at his medications. Just let them know and bring it in as much of the original packaging as you can. I have to say his inhaler and aerochamber caused more of a second glance than his Epi.

And I learned that having my son's meds in a separate plastic bag than your other liquids was a HUGE help.

Ditto on not having been served peanuts in a plane in years.

I was on a plane one week ago and was served peanuts with the pretzels. It was a Delta flight.
If I were you I would call the airline and just check.

I'm hypoglycemia and really benefit from peanuts as a snack (I used to look forward to them), and can tell you I haven't seen them served on planes in ages. Now, you have to buy your snacks and they're junk like a bag with beef jerky and M&Ms. I wouldn't worry about it.

If he's severely allergic (can't have any particles in the air nearby), I would inform people around you so they don't bring out any peanut/butter snacks or sandwiches.

We flew to Florida in December & the only thing they gave out was pretzels, cookies & your choice of drinks. I don't think you'll have a problem but definitely bring the epiPen.

It depends on the airline and how they will accommodate your son. Southwest does serve peanuts but if you call ahead and talk to the flight crew I've been on many flights where they don't serve peanuts at all. Other airlines will just create a buffer zone - meaning your row and the rows behind and in front wont be served peanuts. Take a pack of wipes, wipe everything down and if a toy drops on the floor wipe it down and make sure he doesn't stick anything in his mouth that touched a questionable surface. The magazine Allergic Living recently created a great chart to start at for flying with allergies: http://allergicliving.com/?p=3231. Never had a problem with the Epi through security and I don't usually bring the script with us (although prob. a good idea to do so right?). Also, Benadryl used to make Fast Melts that just dissolve on the tongue, no liquid. Not sure if they still do. I've heard people saying they haven't seen them on the shelves in a long time.

I don't think that airlines have served peanuts in ages because it's one of the few places where airborne particles from the peanuts pose an actual risk to those allergic to peanuts. The pressured air and tight space required to make this a risk are almost unique to planes.

Anyway...check with the airline. It probably won't be an issue because they don't serve them and then you can just take your normal precautions because other passengers might pack their own peanut items, but it's easier to avoid a few snacks vs. a whole plane full of little packets being opened at the same time.

I was on a flight in January. I brought baby wipes and wiped down the tray and seat handles --- and i don't have allergies.

Also, a man got sick right next to me and the doctor on the flight asked us to hold the blood pressure cuff. Luckily, I had the wipes. After the doctor tended to the sick passsenger, I wiped everything down again.

Yup, I've been on flights where is was announced that the flight will be peanut free. Call the airline and let them know!

Patty K's response sounds mean at first glance, but I agree. Many travelers (me) take nuts on board with them as a snack.You cannot stop them from eating their snack and you may not even know that the guy behind or in front of you is eating nuts or a PB sandwich.

I would not eat my nuts if that announcement came on the air--but others may not be as respectful to life.

Good luck. R

Don't let your son have peanuts.

You're Welcome.

I would call the airline and ask about it. Last time I flew, they handed out pretzels, not peanuts (for this very reason i am guessing), and it may be a moot point. They also may have options for having that area extra clean. If you fly first thing in the morning, they supposedly clean the aircraft overnight and you will have cleaner surfaces.