Flying with a child with a peanut allergy
Quote from admin on October 5, 2023, 12:00 amMy child is allergic to nuts and Southwest and Delta have been awesome for her. Delta has a policy of making three rows in front and behind you nut free and usually will not serve anyone peanuts. Southwest makes an announcement and will not serve peanuts. Check over the policy on individual airlines to be safest. We just flew to Orlando from NY last month on Southwest.
My child is allergic to nuts and Southwest and Delta have been awesome for her. Delta has a policy of making three rows in front and behind you nut free and usually will not serve anyone peanuts. Southwest makes an announcement and will not serve peanuts. Check over the policy on individual airlines to be safest. We just flew to Orlando from NY last month on Southwest.
Quote from admin on October 5, 2023, 12:00 amrandnutt- would you have any advice as to who to contact at Southwest for a peanut free flight? My husband is taking my 6 year old from Minneapolis to Phoenix on Southwest for spring break and Id love to call Southwest ahead of time. Any tips on where to start are much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
randnutt- would you have any advice as to who to contact at Southwest for a peanut free flight? My husband is taking my 6 year old from Minneapolis to Phoenix on Southwest for spring break and Id love to call Southwest ahead of time. Any tips on where to start are much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Quote from admin on October 5, 2023, 12:00 amIt might be too late for this now...we fly SW with our 13 year old daughter that has a very severe peanut allergy a lot. Call the 800 number, let them know that your child has a severe allergy, request a Peanut Free Flight. They will put that in the system. When you go to the check in counter to check luggage (you have to go there) tell the attendant that your child has an allergy and there should be a request in the system for a nut free flight. They will give you a new boarding pass for your child, along with it you will receive an ""Allergy Alert Slip"" that looks like your boarding pass. Once you get to the gate, go the the check in attendant there and let them know that you have an allergy child flying. They will give you a BLUE boarding slip that will allow you to board first, this will give you time to ""WIPE DOWN THE ROW WHERE YOUR CHILD SITS""...it might sound over the top but you cant be too cautious when you are in the air. Once the area is clean we let our daughter sit down. We remind the flight attendant to make an announcement - we have only had one time where they didnt want to do this, SW is usually so willing to help. After that, say a prayer, have your benadryl and epi-pen ready just in case. We have never had to use the epi- on a flight but we have used benadryl - especially if you are on a flight that has served nuts on the previous flight that is why we try to take the first flight out - not as many particles in the air. Best of luck.
It might be too late for this now...we fly SW with our 13 year old daughter that has a very severe peanut allergy a lot. Call the 800 number, let them know that your child has a severe allergy, request a Peanut Free Flight. They will put that in the system. When you go to the check in counter to check luggage (you have to go there) tell the attendant that your child has an allergy and there should be a request in the system for a nut free flight. They will give you a new boarding pass for your child, along with it you will receive an ""Allergy Alert Slip"" that looks like your boarding pass. Once you get to the gate, go the the check in attendant there and let them know that you have an allergy child flying. They will give you a BLUE boarding slip that will allow you to board first, this will give you time to ""WIPE DOWN THE ROW WHERE YOUR CHILD SITS""...it might sound over the top but you cant be too cautious when you are in the air. Once the area is clean we let our daughter sit down. We remind the flight attendant to make an announcement - we have only had one time where they didnt want to do this, SW is usually so willing to help. After that, say a prayer, have your benadryl and epi-pen ready just in case. We have never had to use the epi- on a flight but we have used benadryl - especially if you are on a flight that has served nuts on the previous flight that is why we try to take the first flight out - not as many particles in the air. Best of luck.
Quote from admin on October 5, 2023, 12:00 amOn Dec. 31st, we flew with United, who states on their website that they dont serve nuts. They do, in fact, serve nuts in first class. Requests to have them serve something else to accommodate my child, who has a respiratory sensitivity to nuts were met with hostility. Even though I made the request when we checked in an hour and a half before the flight, they blamed us on the overhead announcement to the entire flight for making them late leaving the airport.
On Dec. 31st, we flew with United, who states on their website that they dont serve nuts. They do, in fact, serve nuts in first class. Requests to have them serve something else to accommodate my child, who has a respiratory sensitivity to nuts were met with hostility. Even though I made the request when we checked in an hour and a half before the flight, they blamed us on the overhead announcement to the entire flight for making them late leaving the airport.
Quote from admin on October 5, 2023, 12:00 amAmerican, United, and Southwest do not serve their passengers pre-packaged peanuts but that doesnt mean that they are peanut-free flights. For example, American serves its first and business class passengers mixed nuts. Some airlines allow PA passengers to board before other passengers in order to decontaminate their seat and area around them. I think that its always important contact airlines in advance to ask about their peanut-free policy and after you book your travel I would contact the airline again about the specific flight to notify them that you and/or your children are PA.
American, United, and Southwest do not serve their passengers pre-packaged peanuts but that doesnt mean that they are peanut-free flights. For example, American serves its first and business class passengers mixed nuts. Some airlines allow PA passengers to board before other passengers in order to decontaminate their seat and area around them. I think that its always important contact airlines in advance to ask about their peanut-free policy and after you book your travel I would contact the airline again about the specific flight to notify them that you and/or your children are PA.