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Passengers protest peanuts, prefer pretzels
Blame Northwest. Or, blame the merger with Delta. Either way, peanuts are back, and some passengers are pissed.On February 1, Northwest began dishing out peanuts on flights, which Delta has been doing since dirt was new. The timing isn't all that hot, given a national salmonella outbreak involving Peanut Corporation of America. And then there are the people who are allergic to peanuts ... they're also far from thrilled with the change.
A commenter on the Star Tribune website (local to Minneapolis, where NWA is headquartered) wrote, "Northwest is really out of touch with its customers and the reality of allergies to peanuts." Another chimed in, "What's wrong with pretzels?"
Indeed, what is wrong with pretzels?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3 million people in the United States are allergic to peanuts (or tree nuts). Food allergies cause 30,000 cases of anaphylaxis, 2,000 hospitalizations and 150 deaths every year. On its own, this sucks. On a plane, it's worse than sitting next to a fat person.
Delta is doing what it can to prevent an in-flight disaster, creating a "buffer zone" of three rows in front of and behind a peanut-allergic person's seat. And, the airline is advising "cabin service to board additional nonpeanut snacks." So, flight attendants who are busy with such trivial matters as keeping order on the plane and tending to broader safety issues will have to keep track of the "peanut zone," as well.
[Via CNN]
What strange things have been found on planes?
Filed under: Activism, North America, United States, Airlines, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mark Feb 17th 2009 11:50AM
This is absolutely ridiculous. It sounds like they are going to make the cabin crew work way too hard, juggling who sits where to avoid peanut fumes.
Is it that big of a deal to offer another snack, KNOWING, that some people can have a fatal attack?
From what I read on here, F/A's say they are overworked as it is. This will just give them something else to complain about. Doesn't seem like handing out a mini bag of peanuts is worth the trouble it's going to cause.
johnmc Feb 17th 2009 2:57PM
Hard pretzels are gross. The little nuggets aren't quite so bad, but I have a standing deal with my 7 yr. old any time we fly - if we get served peanuts, I can have his. If we get pretzels, he can have mine.
Richie Feb 17th 2009 9:28PM
Why don't you all grow up. If you don't like the smell, take another airline or drive in your own car. Quit complaining.
Matt Feb 23rd 2009 6:32AM
Drive in my own car to Europe?
buffaloave126 Feb 23rd 2009 8:28PM
Then stay home. Take a boat. Swim, theres many things you can do to get there.
Karen Feb 17th 2009 8:32PM
Take this seriously; the peanut allergies that children suffer calls for precautions at our school such as seating the child far away from someone with a pb sandwich, crackers, cookies or food w/ peanut ingredients and food products manufactured where peanuts are also used in/near the equipment. This being said, WHY? do the airlines continue to jeopardize passengers with children who may have this condition. Pretzels! YEAH, there's a "new" idea...all airlines should take the controls and start a ban on peanuts altogether!
HotRod Feb 17th 2009 8:49PM
Karen, My son is actually allergic to peas! Does this mean if they serve a dinner on a plane, they should move ppl away from him if they are sitting around him because of his pea allergy? (Confirmed by MD of course) I am so sick and tired of this BS peanut thing ever since it started! If you are allergic to it....stay away from it! Simple. There are tons of other things ppl are allergic too. Like some overwhelming perfumes or colognes. So, why the big deal? Most of the ppl that claim they are allergic just like to hear themselves complain and look for something to try and sue someone over!
Elizabeth Feb 17th 2009 8:58PM
There are a lot of people that are comparing a peanut allergy to a wool allergy, or perfume allergy or gluten allergy. However, they are not the same. A person with a nut allergy can breathe in airborne particles from the nut and when inhaled, it can produce an anaphylactic reaction, which means the person's throat will close up and they will die. This is not a matter of hives or sneezing, this is life or death. A person with Celiac disease who cannot eat gluten can simply avoid it and bring their own snack. A person with a pea allergy can still sit next to someone eating peas, but not be at risk for having an anaphylactic reaction. A peanut allergy though, can and will produce an anaphylactic reaction through AIRBORNE particles, which is why it is particularly dangerous in an airplane, which is a small, enclosed space. People really need to be less selfish and realize that this isn't about a tasty snack, it is about someone's life!
Teresa Bays Feb 17th 2009 8:32PM
Remind me never to fly Delta and to let my friends know why. Those who opt to have peanuts on the plane need to have someone in their family with a severe peanut allergy! Guaranteed - they will soon change their minds!! Is it so hard to have a substitute so as to make everyone comfortable??
Cristy Feb 17th 2009 8:32PM
My hubby is allergic to peanuts but I LOVE them, however, as he gets older, the allergy seems to have gotten worse. Before, he would just politely decline the in-flight nuts and I would eat them. Then, a few years ago, even the smell made him sick. The last time we flew on Southwest, he was flipping through the safety brochure and the in-flight magazine, and he must have rubbed his eyes or something because he had a full on allergy attack right there, at 30,000 feet! It was scary. Thankfully it was a short flight and two Benadryls helped until we got him to an E.R., but next time, who knows? I say if you want peanuts, bring your own. Otherwise, if so many people are allergic, why take a risk?
SAS Feb 17th 2009 8:33PM
I'm allergic to wool. So, will the airlines worry about my wool allergy and the thousands of others who are also allergic to wool as well?
This is just plain stupid.
masanddjs Feb 18th 2009 5:59AM
Somehow I think you are only allergic to wool if it touches your skin. Your statement is silly.
Matt Feb 23rd 2009 6:32AM
Does the presence of wool in the air risk killing you? I doubt it. People think of allergies as inconveniences that you take something like Claratin, Nasonex, Flonase, etc. for, but this is a different type of allergy.
Honestly, I don't even think we should use the term allergy for peanut allergies. Much like there is asthma (innate) and then exercise-induced asthma (caused by exertion), we should call it peanut-induced anaphylaxis.
Cindy Feb 17th 2009 8:33PM
If you are fatally allergic to peanuts why would you put yourself in danger of PUBLIC transportation?? Are flight attendants suppose to take ALL food away from passengers that may contain peanuts?? Talk about "it's all about me" and not the other say 200 people on the flight? What about the person that bathes in cologne and makes you sneeze every 2 minutes? Should they have to shower before boarding? Or the flight attendant allergic to dogs. What happens when a service dog boards the flight? I bet they're expected to "just deal with it." See my point????
Dana Feb 17th 2009 9:15PM
So, Cindy, do you suggest that ALL of the people with severe allergies don't fly, say, ACROSS THE NATION? Or, maybe...to Europe? What do suggest to the millions of people in the world with severe allergies do for travel? Talk about "me time," eat your peanuts when you get off the plane in 4 hours, if you can wait that long.
masanddjs Feb 18th 2009 9:06AM
Last time I checked, overuse of cologne is deadly, just annoying. As for dog hair allergies, take a Benadryl. Again, not fatal. So your point is? The fact of the matter is that any passenger can carry on peanuts. There's no moratorium against peanut eaters. HOWEVER, the airline industry should show a bit of compassion and choose a different snack. My God, it's not like there aren't a multitude of mini packs of snack items out there. Plus, the fact that a flight attendant has to regulate the area where the peanuts will be eaten is way beyond their job description, if you read what the F/A's gripe about on here already.
JusticeShouldRule Feb 20th 2009 3:50PM
Great Comment!!
acer Feb 17th 2009 8:33PM
I happen to love peanuts, and if only for sheer nostalgia sake I miss them on flights. However, I do think that with the allergy issues peanuts are not a smart snack to serve at 30,000 feet! Do they have an epi pen on board in case the "peanut zone" is breached? It's just unsafe. I will miss the peanuts, but they have got to go! As for pretzels, I personally never liked them, but some carriers serve other snacks that are really good! Once I even got Lorna Doone cookies!
nav Feb 17th 2009 8:33PM
Why can't passengers just bring their own snacks to eat if they don't like what is served? Airlines are a form of transportation, not a restaurant. You can't please everyone!
nav Feb 17th 2009 8:33PM
Great point, Cindy!!