American Airlines

They also carry enphenerine on all aircraft. now if they would just stop serving peanuts!

I flew American a couple of weeks ago. They served mixed nuts. I do not know for sure if there were peanuts in them. The problem I had was they served fresh baked peanut butter cookies. I did not have a serious reaction to the smell but I did have a mild reaction and did not feel totally better until a couple of hours after the flight. Andy

Regarding American Airlines peanut policy. I can attest to the "inaccuracy" of American Airlines lip service.
We were on a flight from Mexico to Miami. PEANUTS were served !
Let me back up a litle. Four months prior I tried to secure safe passage for my peanut-allergic husband and son. We were also told that PRETZELS would most probably be served. The one flight that they were not served is the one I mentioned above. We had a PILE of documentation to show them. Flight attendants were appalled they were never told. We were seated in first class. Please know this, as my story is so long I cannot begin to relay it all here, AMERICAN AIRLINES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SERVE PEANUTS ON ITS FLIGHTS ! pLAIN AND SIMPLE. That, we were told was THE bottom line and they have the law (AND PEANUT FARMERS) on their side. Do not forget that this is a Texas based company. LOTS of peanut activity in the South.

I spoke with AMerican Airlines today and they have REGRESSED in the last 2 years. Two years ago I had a great experience with them on two transAtlantic flights, they created 4 peanut-free flights for us. NOW, some flights do not serve peanuts and some do. If your flight does you can ask fo a buffer zone (3 rows behind and in front) where they may not be served (my kid would be compelled to stay in his seat for 12 hours). The only way to find out is to book a flight and wait for the Special Asssistance Coordinator ro call you. YOU CANNOT TALK TO THEM FIRST (i tried!). We will pay $500 mor for the family, fly to a less convenient airport and avoid the peanuts. Three cheers for United. We should all write and thank them.
[This message has been edited by EILEEN (edited February 06, 2001).]

I think the emergency landing gives me much more confidence to travel American, you can be extra confident that they will be taken off now if a request is made!
We have flow the same route as the emergency landing plane and the peanuts were taken off on every leg of our journey.

OOPS
[This message has been edited by EILEEN (edited March 29, 2001).]

We are flying on American to Dallas next Friday and so far I have had the same experience. I received a call from a special agent. They contacted my son's allergist who faxed the airlines a letter. I sure hope this means everything is really taken care of.

Beware of international flights. My husband just flew to Monterrey Mexico and there were peanuts on the flight. If you call ahead do they remove them? (My husband is not PA).

We just returned from a mostly wonderful trip to Hawaii that took two 9 plus hour flights to get there and back. We followed all of American's policies, and their Head Purser even came out to greet us before departure. She and the pilot even made the joint decision to remove the macadamia nut bags as well, since we spent a significant amount of time flying over water. I DID NOT REQUEST THIS, but the Purser asked me if my four year old was also tree nut allergic - and he is. So they made that decision.
All was great until the last hour and a half of the flight. My son was sleeping (thank goodness) when a senior flight attendant approached me and asked if "he was the cause of all the extra work and fuss". She caught me off guard. She went on to tell me that she thought it was ludicrous that the nuts were removed. I shared with her quietly (this conversation would have freaked out my son!) that my son is severely nut allergic and what could happen. You all know the details. She then proceeded to tell me that I was going to have a "rough" vacation since nuts were everywhere in Hawaii. At that point my husband, who was sitting across the aisle, asked if there was something wrong. He couldn't hear the conversation. She walked away and he calmly went to talk to the Head Purser. Long story short. I was very upset. The Head pursor came over and profusely apologized for the attendants behavior. The pilot sent my son a note and the original flight plan, and we were given a bottle of wine.
The return trip was fine (although I tried not to let my concern about the same attendant being on board be known) Again they met us ahead and even had us preboard. They even made an announcement requesting that people don't eat nuts because one of the customers on board was allergic. No issues, no incidents. It was also a red eye flight.
Will I fly AMerican again? I'm not so sure right now, but my long term guess is yes. I have written to the airlines, and hope that they will continue to educate their employees. I don't wish what happened to us upon anyone, but it was a good reminder that people who do not have the right information continue to make the wrong assumptions about this challenge.