# Peanut allergies: Should extreme cases be permitted on commercial flights? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 4, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526 "2013-12-04T23:53:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/81 "2013-12-06T00:34:38Z")
There is no chance that a peanut allergy is so severe that an individual can reasonably expect to diminish their chance of having a severe reaction by having a plane full of passengers avoid peanuts. This is “I have a need so special you need to bow down to it” gone amock. Keep your allergy to yourself. If you are convinced it’s that severe, get some actual protection, such as respiratory mask. The personality profile involved here with a peanut allergy-announcer, and the hastiness with which they express what they “suffer” from to make sure the world knows, is very telling. Works well for throwing a fit in restaurants as well. The subject has nothing to do with passengers being “unable” to go without their precious peanuts. It has everything to do with nutcases ( 😉 ) being unable to pass up the secondary gain that comes from being special, even if it’s so pitiful a reason as a bullshit level of sensitivity to nuts. The peanut allergy craze will run its course when too many people seize upon it as an easy way to be special, and it’s no longer special enough to create a satisfying secondary gain. On the gluten sufferers… Now my wool allergy is, of course, quite real and very severe, so please make sure you get all your coats off the plane and into the baggage compartment lest a stray microfiber of wool waft its way into my nose and kill me because you were just too damn uncaring to put your woolen item safely away for the duration of the flight. Pants too, or else cover them with plastic, please. Oh wait…my plastic allergy. I forgot about that one… ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/82 "2013-12-06T00:53:20Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Person should be allowed to fly and allowed to make the request, airlines should be given the option to honor the request, as well as passengers. And what should the airline policy be if a passenger smells a peanut, goes into anaphylactic shock and stops breathing? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/83 "2013-12-06T01:03:43Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > And what should the airline policy be if a passenger smells a peanut, goes into anaphylactic shock and stops breathing? Administer first aid. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/84 "2013-12-06T01:23:10Z")
> [@Emmy2635](#): > > For my own child’s mild peanut allergy, I do think prohibiting passengers from eating their own peanut snacks is overkill. But I do appreciate peanuts not being served in my row because she could easily be cross contaminated by empty peanut bags, dirty hands, etc. > > In my experience, it is NOT the passengers requesting these accomodations. It is the airlines or flight attendants trying to limit their own liability by prohibiting it for everyone. I think your best solution for dealing with your child’s mild peanut allergy (involving maximal protection while not discomfiting those around you) is to take a bunch of Handi-Wipes on the plane. Should your child be accidentally contaminated by “dirty hands” or empty peanut bags (or just by touching seats or tray tables that once held peanut-containing products), you can further minimize the virtually nonexistent risk by swabbing down your child’s hands before they go in his/her mouth. This is a much more reasonable solution than announcing to airline personnel that your child has an allergy, and then disavowing whatever measures they take as not of your doing. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/85 "2013-12-06T02:56:19Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I checked the pretzel bags on my flight; Wow, the carry-on rules have really gotten strict. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/86 "2013-12-06T03:19:31Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > Since when do airlines serve peanuts anymore anyway? I haven’t gotten anything but pretzels in probably 20 years! I do seem to recall there being a time where they weren’t that popular, but I’ve seen them on most domestic flights recently. Maybe it’s because I fly Southwest most often, but my last flight (for Thanksgiving), had peanuts and cheese Ritz crackers on both flights. I would guess that the clear majority of flights I’ve taken in the last 10 years have had peanuts served. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/87 "2013-12-06T04:24:59Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I think your best solution for dealing with your child’s mild peanut allergy (involving maximal protection while not discomfiting those around you) is to take a bunch of Handi-Wipes on the plane. Should your child be accidentally contaminated by “dirty hands” or empty peanut bags (or just by touching seats or tray tables that once held peanut-containing products), you can further minimize the virtually nonexistent risk by swabbing down your child’s hands before they go in his/her mouth. > > This is a much more reasonable solution than announcing to airline personnel that your child has an allergy, and then disavowing whatever measures they take as not of your doing. Or, alternatively, just feed the kid peanuts until she can tolerate them just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/88 "2013-12-06T04:42:21Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Read my post again, and take your time this time. I did, and it appeared to have the same meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/89 "2013-12-06T04:58:25Z")
The thing is, airlines DO refuse to allow some people to fly because of medical reasons. For example, if you’re too pregnant they won’t let you on. A cursory search suggests that Delta doesn’t restrict, US Airways requires a doctor’s note if you’re close to your due date, etc. I believe they’ve lightened up a bit - I think it used to be very strict and very much up to their discretion. Now, a pregnant women IS definitely, at some point, going to go into labor eventually. An allergic person may never have an episode. But there are some things you can’t fly with, no matter how much you want to go to Disney. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/90 "2013-12-06T08:39:48Z")
Banning anyone with an allergy means banning about 20% of the population from flying - there has to be a point where people comprehend that not all allergies are equally a problem, not even all food allergies. Heck, the FAA allows me to pilot an airplane despite my history of food allergies. Give that, the notion that my medical condition makes me unfit to sit on a commercial flight is beyond ridiculous. I understand some parents are over-protective, and some people really do suffer from extreme versions of common ailments, but I think the effort of some parents to protect their special (and delicate) snowflakes are resulting in some nasty backlash and unintended consequences down the line. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/91 "2013-12-06T09:13:36Z")
I guess next time I fly I’m going to say that I have extremely sensitive ears and the sound of crying babies could rupture my ear drums or worse, so please refrain from bringing your babies on the plane. At the very least, my ridiculous, selfish request would actually -benefit- everyone else on the plane. I’m sorry your allergic to peanuts. Sucks to be you. Might want to hold your breath while I’m opening up my box of CrackerJacks. And there is a 98% chance my wife or mother-in-law didn’t understand the ‘no peanuts’ request. If you’re \*that \*sensitive to peanuts, why the hell would you put your life :rolleyes: in the hands of 150+ strangers? Stay off the fucking plane. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/92 "2013-12-06T10:52:30Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Quoted for emphasis. If one person is extremely sensitive to things that don’t bother other people, then that one person is the one who should take whatever precautions they need to take. They can’t go through life with a loudspeaker proclaiming “Please! No peanuts withing 100 yards of me!” > Roddy In my own self defense, I did ask Mystic Whaler to sail without any mushrooms or products with mushrooms. On a sailing ship not cross contaminating my food with shrooms would be pretty difficult and I only carry 2 epipens. They gracefully complied and changed whatever menu parts they had - but I also asked when I booked the vacation 4 months in advance. Though the smell of sauteeing mushrooms can make me nauseated, it will not actually harm me but the accidental use of the same spatula to stir something for me would cause anaphylaxis. Best to just avoid the whole problem. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/93 "2013-12-06T12:22:11Z")
had a similar situation with my daughter at school. At the meet the teacher night a week before class(for the entire fourth grade) a woman stood up and said that her triplets were alergic to peanuts and therefore not only could our kids not bring peanuts or peanut products such as peanut butter sandwiches to school but the couldn’t have them at home because they might still contaminate their desks with dirty hands. Mind you she told us didn’t ask us and said the whole grade not just her kids class. She didn’t like it when I pointed out that if her kids were that alergic they would probably already be dead by now and maybe she should homeschool them. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/94 "2013-12-06T13:46:21Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Ihough the smell of sauteeing mushrooms can make me nauseated, it will not actually harm me but the accidental use of the same spatula to stir something for me would cause anaphylaxis. **Best to just avoid the whole problem…** …by not eating on ships (or anywhere, for that matter) where you have zero control over what’s going on in the kitchen, you mean? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/95 "2013-12-06T15:41:44Z")
I have recently developed a mild allergy to strawberries it seems. Next time I fly I’ll make sure to announce it to the flight attendants and ask that all patrons defer their strawberry eating until they are off the plane. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/96 "2013-12-06T15:45:48Z")
It’s been pointed out, but I think it bears repeating that the person with the allergy, or the parent of the person with the allergy, probably just told the flight attendant so their party weren’t served any nuts and the airline has a policy on making the announcement. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/97 "2013-12-06T16:27:02Z")
> [@DragonAsh](#): > > And there is a 98% chance my wife or mother-in-law didn’t understand the ‘no peanuts’ request. If you’re _that_ incapable of hearing and understanding what the flight attendants say, why the hell would you put your life in their hands? Stay off the fucking plane. Yanno, just sayin’. > [@madmonk28](#): > > I think it bears repeating that the person with the allergy, or the parent of the person with the allergy, probably just told the flight attendant so their party weren’t served any nuts and the airline has a policy on making the announcement I don’t buy that. No one forces nuts on you. If they don’t want nuts served to their party, they can simply refuse them them when offered. The only reason you’d bring it up to an attendant is in hopes of receiving special consideration. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/98 "2013-12-06T16:30:10Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > It’s been pointed out, but I think it bears repeating that the person with the allergy, or the parent of the person with the allergy, probably just told the flight attendant so their party weren’t served any nuts and the airline has a policy on making the announcement. True - but really, why in the world would they even need to tell the FA? The FA doesn’t have the first friggen’ clue what’s used in the meals they serve, they’re lucky if they can remember if it’s chicken or beef (I speak from experience here). If my son had a bad allergy and we were flying some where, we’d just pack some food for him. End of problem. It’s not rocket science. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/99 "2013-12-06T16:34:16Z")
> [@andros](#): > > If you’re _that_ incapable of hearing and understanding what the flight attendants say, why the hell would you put your life in their hands? Stay off the fucking plane. 😕 I don’t have the first fucking clue what point you’re trying to make. > [@andros](#): > > I don’t buy that. No one forces nuts on you. If they don’t want nuts served to their party, they can simply refuse them them when offered. The only reason you’d bring it up to an attendant is in hopes of receiving special consideration. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526/100 "2013-12-07T02:49:42Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > It’s been pointed out, but I think it bears repeating that the person with the allergy, or the parent of the person with the allergy, probably just told the flight attendant so their party weren’t served any nuts and the airline has a policy on making the announcement. What bears repeating is this: DO NOT TELL THEM YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS DEAL WITH YOUR REACTIONS IN A WAY THAT INCONVENIENCES YOU, AND NOT THE WORLD AROUND YOU GET A RESPIRATOR TO FILTER OUT ALLERGENS IF YOU ARE CONCERNED. sheesh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanut-allergies-should-extreme-cases-be-permitted-on-commercial-flights/675526.md?page=6)