Continental obviously doesn't seem to understand food allergies. Their standard line that they can't control what people bring on flights ignores the research that shows that it is when large groups of people open packs of peanuts at relatively the same time that enough peanut dust can get into the air filtration system to cause anaphylaxis. Someone eating a lone bag of peanuts is much less likely to cause a reaction in a peanut-allergic person than a whole plane load of people. Also, just because Continental can't control what all passengers do doesn't mean they can't help reduce the amount of peanut exposure. It also doesn't put any additional liability on them to *not* serve peanut snacks.
I think if many people here would write to them about the above it might make a difference. They wouldn't be able to use their standard line, "we can't control what people bring on our airplanes" if we are calling them on it so they would have to discuss the issue to reply.
I'm in and will write to them. Anyone else?
Post your letters here if you like to help others.
I should have taken a picture of poor DS on the plane the other day. Our Continental flight back from Florida served peanuts as snacks. We were well prepared just in case, but DS looked so sad. Sitting there in his sheet covered seat wearing a face mask, drowsy from Bendadryl, and mad that the attendant had the nerve to serve peanuts to everyone on the plane. Poor little guy. Of course now that we're home it hits me that I should have photographed him to send in a pic to the airline with my letter. Oh well.
I have. I think they want to be like this.
A friend of mine is a Contintental pilot (and he understands FA). I know someone else who works in their corporate office downtown (I'm in the Houston area). These two folks are great, and they already know our situation.
I don't know why I'm so cynical about this company. I think it's the dealing I've had with them by email and over the phone trying to talk with the about peanut allergies.
[i]They don't want to care.[/i]
Even if they went peanut free, the planes in their current fleet would not be safe. But eventually it would be safe to fly them.
Sorry--not trying to burst the bubble or the push to do the right thing here--the needed thing. I do think we should make this effort. I just think so incredibly little of this company.
But if we don't do it-if we don't make an organized effort, who will?
I will write another letter. I can't contact the person at corporate I know about this issue, but I have a small connection to someone on their board.
I just called Continental last week to book a flight from Boston to Newark. We are flying overseas and leaving from Newark-the only NON-stop flight from Boston to Newark is with Continental...
The representative from Continental was so rude!! I explained my dd's severe allergies to pn/tn and she proceeded to quote the "policy" of not accomodating anyone with peanut allergies. I asked her if we provided doctor notes, could they make a note of it and not serve the peanuts...she just kept quoting the policy. over and over. She then told us we should take A BUS to Newark, because they wouldn't let DD board the plane in Boston if her allergies are so bad!!!!!!!
I then asked her WHY they have this policy and she told me that their customers love peanuts-that they issued a survey last year and that is why they still have the policy. I told her it was discrimination to not accomodate her, and she told us again to take a bus to Newark if it is that important!!!!
I can't believe how rude she was! I was so fired up and angry for days afterwards.
Now we are having to rent a car and drive from Boston to Newark to catch our Singapore Airline flight. Ridiculous that Continental is so unwilling to accomodate those with allergies.
I will help with the letter campaign-I have already emailed them about my conversation with the Customer Service Representative.
We live in Hong Kong and I am getting ready to make the trip back to the States for the summer with my boys, the 4 year-old with nut allergy. I had to make the flight last week for a family emergency and they served peanuts on the short flight from Houston to Florida. Anyway, my husband asked the attendant if they would not serve peanuts if there was a person with an allergy and she said for sure and to just have the record flagged and they would put pretzels on the flight instead! Like the rest of you, when speaking to the company, they say no way. What is the deal? I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will really happen this way.
Why bother with an airline that obviously could care less?
I would rather rent a car and drive for days than give Continental my hard-earned money.
I fly American when I can as they are peanut-free.
Quote:Originally posted by Adele:
[b]Why bother with an airline that obviously could care less?
I would rather rent a car and drive for days than give Continental my hard-earned money.
I fly American when I can as they are peanut-free.
[/b]
I second that!
I fly American Airlines, United, US Airways (planes still decorated as America West and US Air). They are all "peanut free", meaning, that do not serve little bags of roasted peanuts. Their snacks are 'may contain', but I'm not worried about inhaling a may contain, further, I bring my own food to eat.
CAUTION: don't freak out on American when you see the cocktail snack mix! It's the complimentary one they hand out. It had barbeque flavored soynuts...they look very very very much like peanuts and have a similar odor. It's their way of fooling the general population [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
I do not fly Continental, Southwest (anymore), or Delta.
Adrienne
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30-something survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy
Quote:Originally posted by ajgauthier:
[b] I second that!
I fly American Airlines, United, US Airways (planes still decorated as America West and US Air). They are all "peanut free", meaning, that do not serve little bags of roasted peanuts. Their snacks are 'may contain', but I'm not worried about inhaling a may contain, further, I bring my own food to eat.
[/b]
US Airways served more than a "may contain" when we last flew them in November. Though it wasn't [i]peanuts[/i], they served a cashew mix. For those dealing with tree nut allergies (many if not most us) this can be just as much of a problem.
Quote:Originally posted by MimiM:
[b] US Airways served more than a "may contain" when we last flew them in November. Though it wasn't [i]peanuts[/i], they served a cashew mix. For those dealing with tree nut allergies (many if not most us) this can be just as much of a problem.[/b]
Interesting about the cashew mix - I was told that was only in first class! I've flown some 5 or 6 round trips now on US Airways and I guess I've been lucky. I do mention my allergy though, and I do mention about tree nuts too (cashews bother me almost like peanuts, but other nuts are ok in the air for me. Maybe b/c they aren't as smelly?)
...interesting, thanks for that info...
Adrienne
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30-something survivor of severe peanut/tree nut allergy
Yup, it was definately coach class (the only times I've ever been in 1st class was walking through it!). The snack was actually a cashew/sesame stick mix which was handed out to everyone. It smelled really good and I love cashews (and sesame for that matter)but for my DSs sake, I would have rather they not be there. I was totally stressed out the whole time. Fortunately he didn't have any reactions but we might not have been as lucky had it been actual peanuts.
Thank you to those of you who took the time to email the company. I hope more will join me. I got an email today from a friend who told me that Dunkin Hines told her that they took dairy back out of a bunch of cake mixes in response to the huge amount of customer feedback they received from people who can't have dairy. Customer feedback *can* make a difference!
There are food companies that are industry leaders in their food allergy policies that I hear from friends with much older children used to treat people with food allergies and Celiac *dreadfully*. Companies *can* change. If Continental changed I would support them! I want to get all companies to be as allergy-friendly as possible and I think airlines are so very important. Food-allergic people shouldn't have to travel by car.
Please write to Continental and point out the flaw in the logic supporting their discriminatory policy.
Thanks!
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