Southwest Airlines

Did you take a morning flight and was the aircraft clean?

Usually, Southwest planes have peanuts all over the floor so even if peanuts are served on the flight, the residue is everywhere.

I second what Adele asked/said.

I've had mixed experiences with Southwest --- contact reactions, dirty seats (as in, covered with peanut crumbs), cranky flight attendants who accomodate my allergy but with a huge attitude, but also great experiences like yours...with an early morning flight after the plane has been cleaned, spectacular/courteous flight crews.

I've decided to only fly them if I really really really can't afford another airline. Also...to take the first flight of the morning hoping to get a peanut free seat and no contact reactions.

So...it's really give or take with Southwest. I'm glad you had a good experience with them, and I've found there are more good experiences than bad, but those few bad ones I had really set my mind on them.

Adrienne

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30-something survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy

Quote:Originally posted by Adele:
[b]Did you take a morning flight and was the aircraft clean?

Usually, Southwest planes have peanuts all over the floor so even if peanuts are served on the flight, the residue is everywhere.

[/b]

Quote:Originally posted by Adele:
[b]Did you take a morning flight and was the aircraft clean?

Usually, Southwest planes have peanuts all over the floor so even if peanuts are served on the flight, the residue is everywhere.

[/b]

We took an early flight, but not one of the earliest ones. I wiped down the seats where we all sat and didn't see any peanut residue or crumbs. I was really nervous, but everything was fine and the aircraft was clean. I was told by Southwest to ensure cleanliness to take one of the earliest flights b/c they clean the planes at night. Would you recommend a different airline?

Hi Nikosmommy,
American is peanut-free and always my first choice, but their price/schedule doesn't always fit into my plans.

I haven't flown Frontier in the past year, but the last time I did the only snacks they served were not only peanut-free, but snacks we know are safe! (such as Frito-lay)

I believe America West/US Air is currently not serving peanuts.

A friend's daughter and PA grandson flew Southwest in August. The child was covered in hives mid-flight in spite of the crew not serving peanuts on that flight - as the aircraft was littered with peanuts.

I do fly Southwest if I have no other options. (I'm an adult with PA)

Quote:Originally posted by Adele:
[b]Hi Nikosmommy,
American is peanut-free and always my first choice, but their price/schedule doesn't always fit into my plans.

I haven't flown Frontier in the past year, but the last time I did the only snacks they served were not only peanut-free, but snacks we know are safe! (such as Frito-lay)

I believe America West/US Air is currently not serving peanuts.

A friend's daughter and PA grandson flew Southwest in August. The child was covered in hives mid-flight in spite of the crew not serving peanuts on that flight - as the aircraft was littered with peanuts.

I do fly Southwest if I have no other options. (I'm an adult with PA)

[/b]

Thank you so much for the information!! It is good to know that there are peanut-free airlines out there. Never knew that before. Even though I had a good experience, obviously I would feel much safer on a "free" flight!! I am new to this allergy thing, so thank you again for the very valuable info!!

i flew sw the other day. i told the attendent about my allergy, and she actually called the ppl about the snacks, and i got a little form to fill out to give to the attendent on the plane. no peanuts were served, made me happy!

Just to add we flew SW last year and posted our experience. I'd link it here, but don't know how. We told them about dd's PA when we made the reservations, when we checked in, and at the gate. We were three rows from the front, and so were quite quick to realize that they were... passing out PN's. Urgh. They did take them back from everyone when we quickly intervened, but obviously forewarning everyone and their dog did nothing. To top it off, there were peanuts under dd's seat. I would not choose to fly them unless under duress.

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Lori Jo,

Rose, 7-31-02, PA
Beatrice & Georgia, 8-14-99

We flew Southwest last week and had a great experience. When we got to the gate we told the agent about the peanut allergy, she called the ops crew for the flight so they could load up non-peanut snacks, and filled out a peanut-dust allergy form for us to give to the flight attendents. On one flight I heard someone ask for peanuts and the flight attendent said they were not serving them on that flight because of a peanut allergy on board. On some of the flight legs the the captain announced that they were not serving peanuts. They served handisnacks cracker sticks w/ cheese, a dried fruit mixture, and graham cracker chips, and on one flight also some crackers.

Makes me wonder how it is possible for Southwest to so easily not serve peanuts at very little notice, when other airlines make it sound entirely impossible.

Overall a very good experience and will definitely fly them again. Also, these flights were the fastest I've ever boarded a plane and then taken off.

We are considering flying on Southwest this summer. I am encouraged by the positive reports, but what about the fact that for the rest of the day, week, etc., peanuts ARE served on board? I would assume that this means that the seats must be saturated with peanut dust and pieces of peanuts. I really would like to go with them because they have the best routes to the cities we are going to, but I'm still not sure if it would be safe.

Hi yuck2nuts,
If you have a child that is really sensitive, I wouldn't fly Southwest.

I fly it regularly when I have no other convenient choice, and even on a morning flight when the aircraft is reasonably clean (meaning I don't see peanut debris on the floor) I still cough and get itchy eyes....and I'm NOT that sensitive.

The only reason I keep flying on Southwest is because of convenience, cost and from what I've read, I'm convinced that I won't have a life threatening reaction on board.
But that is based on MY reaction history. I would not recommend Southwest for PA kids or really sensitive adults.

We had a bad experience with them. They did pass out a non peanut snack, but there were so many crumbs and fragments of peanut around from previous flights that it still made me pretty nervous. I could not wait for the flight to end.

I wouldn't fly Southwest with my DD (age 5--peanut, tree nut, egg, cantaloupe and honey dew allergies) for any reason at any price. We had a horrible experience flying Southwest home from Orlando & we (and 4 other families with pa children) got off the plane. The flight was littered with peanuts, the gate agents were mocking us and rolling their eyes---I had called at least 5 times before the flight. We had no problem on our way to Orlando. The "peanut-free" snack they served included Ritz Bits Cheese crackers which does in fact list peanut as an ingredient. Southwest would be very convenient for many of our trips, and less expensive, but we're not risking another fiasco like we had on our last trip with them. The 2 gate agents were actually making fun of our peanut allergic children (all of the kids were less than age 5) and making fun of us parents. Then when the flight crew arrived, the gate agents were telling them that "there are some really obnoxious parents on your flight. You know, the "peanut ones"?".

Nicole