Southwest Airlines will stop serving peanuts; allergy concerns

[dalton99a]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2018/07/10/southwest-airlines-peanuts-no-longer-offered-allergy-concerns/770636002/

Southwest Airlines will stop serving peanuts; allergy concerns
Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY
Published 8:47 a.m. ET July 10, 2018 | Updated 9:09 a.m. ET July 10, 2018

Southwest Airlines will stop serving peanuts on its flights this summer, nixing a snack that has been nearly synonymous with the carrier itself.

The Dallas-based airline says it’s making the change to help protect passengers who have severe peanut allergies.

Peanuts have historically been the one snack perhaps most linked to airline service. That’s especially true at Southwest, which has used peanuts as part of its marketing over the decades. Among its efforts, the low-cost carrier has suggested those booking its cheapest fares were essentially flying for peanuts.

Underscoring the connection, Southwest’s corporate blog once went by the name “Nuts about Southwest.” Even a 1998 book about the company was titled, “Nuts!: Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success.”

But Southwest’s connection with peanuts as an in-flight snack will come to an end in August.

"Peanuts forever will be part of Southwest’s history and DNA," Southwest said in a statement to USA TODAY's Today in the Sky blog. "However, to ensure the best on-board experience for everyone, especially for customers with peanut-related allergies, we’ve made the difficult decision to discontinue serving peanuts on all flights beginning August 1."

[unblock]

1. yay! and i think all airlines will eventually go this way.

even those who think it's all on the people and families with allergies surely have to agree that it's not good to have to quickly land a plane full of people because someone is having a bad reaction to someone else's snack.

[Iggo]

3. And it's fucking peanuts.

Who but the biggest idiot is gonna cry about no peanuts on an airplane.

Seriously.

[LuckyCharms]

11. NO MORE PEANUTS???

THIS PISSES ME OFF...er...wait...

[Iggo]

13. .

[hlthe2b]

22. Agree, but what are they going to do about people that bring them on themselves?

[unblock]

25. Some airlines already announce the area peanut-free

Typically within 3 rows of the allergic passenger.

They will happily reseat anyone who still wants to eat peanuts.

[Iggo]

2. Good.

[samnsara]

4. ITS ABOUT TIME!...

...dont get me wrong. I LOVE peanuts but whenever I flew and someone had an allergy, all the rows near that person got no nuts but got NOTHING else. I was like.. why dont they scrap the nuts and serve pretzels all the time to everyone.

[SoCalNative]

5. PC police strike again

couldn't possibly be that you fail as a parent and didn't properly build up your child's immunity to things.

[LanternWaste]

6. I'm quite certain many people blame their parents for a penicillin allergy as well.

However, I giggle at them also... as mere risk reduction is a different animal than actual prevention.

But I get it... we often need an excuse to righteously rail against the non-existent "PC Police."

Good luck and God bless!

[SoCalNative]

8. Medication allergy

is not the same as food sensitivities that 9 times out of 10 can be overcome by introducing small amounts of the item over time. Just how is it that when I was in school (1960s through early 1980s) we could count on one hand, and still have fingers left over, the number of children we encountered that were actually allergic to a particluar food whereas today there seems to be 10 in every classroom.

[unblock]

10. So it must be the parents' fault?

We looked into the microdising desensitization for peanuts. My son does not qualify because he is too sensitive.

The protocol doesn't work for those who need it most.

Any more bright ideas?

[SoCalNative]

14. Yes

if he's that delicate then perhaps you should drive to all destinations.

[unblock]

21. We generally do. No so easy across the Atlantic though

And thanks for prioritizing some peoples' mild snack preference over my son's freedom to travel. Makes perfect sense.

Really. Pretzels instead of peanuts is such a tiny accommodation when we're taking about a life-threatening situation.

It's really mind-boggling anyone can seriously argue that a snack choice outweighs that.

[nolabear]

7. OFFS.

Seriously?

[unblock]

9. Oh and how should I have done that oh genius of geniuses?

Seeing as no one is quite sure what causes peanut allergies or how to prevent them....

But by all means, go on prioritizing your sanctimonious snacky preferences of the lives of your fellow travelers.

Would you change your mind if a flight you were in had to be diverted as a result? Would it change your mind if *you* were inconvenienced?

[SoCalNative]

12. It's quite simple

start with small amounts of the food that causes the sensitivity and give small doses, gradually increasing, over time. It's not rocket science and something our ancestors have been doing for centuries.

If you are that allergic to something the mere thought of dust sets you off, perhaps it just best that you avoid all contact with outside sources at all times, or at least have the common sense to carry an epipen.

And I fly private charter, so never an issue.

[unblock]

19. That would kill my son. Thanks. Very helpful.

His initial exposure to peanuts was a tiny dab of peanut butter on this lips. He didn't even swallow or lick his lips. He went into anaphylaxis in a few seconds.

You seriously do not know what you are talking about. Just because you heard about a controversial desensitization program that is having limited success that many practitioners are abandoning because it's not worth the risk does not make you an expert.

[unblock]

20. My son is never without his epipens. But that's not a cure-all

Epipens fail sometimes and at best they only give buy you a little bit of time. You still need Benadryl and quite possibly more advanced life saving measures such as intubation and steroids. If you're in an airplane that could mean death even with epis.

Must be nice to fly only charters so you can feel free to have a cavalier attitude about the lives of the rest of us.

[BannonsLiver]

24. Isn't it fun when people brag about their wealth?

Make no mistake, that’s aimed at making you feel small. We have another who likes to throw the amount he contributes every cycle in the faces of everyone here and it’s just a gross. Sorry about your son’s issues. We all need to do a better job of understanding each other’s problems/concerns.

[unblock]

29. Thanks for the support!

I sincerely hope that if, in the unlikely event I one day can afford to fly exclusively private planes, I don't lose the ability to empathize with the others I'd still be sharing the skies with.

Sheesh.

[BannonsLiver]

16. I don't know if it's PC

But I do find myself wondering what people did before peanut allergies became a thing, and also, why do so many people have peanut allergies all of the sudden.

[MicaelS]

23. Me too.

Growing up in the 60s/70s the words "peanut allergy" was never spoken. No one had them, or even mentioned them. Everyone ate PB sandwiches. It really is puzzling why this allergy has become so prominent. The only explanation I have read that makes any sense, is the use of peanut oil in baby lotions.

[BannonsLiver]

26. I'm a bit younger than you

But don’t remember it being so pervasive. I wonder if it’s a GMO thing.

[MicaelS]

27. I do not think so. n/t

[Blue_true]

30. Some people's body chemistry simply don't tolerate some things.

I am allergic to vinegar and sugar to a certain level. My body reacts when I take in either. Fortunately for me that reaction is not remotely close to being lethal. I have been exposed to both substances all my life and my resistance to their impact on me has not changed one bit.

That having been said. I generally try to avoid overly restrictive diets, my sense is they may lead to food intolerances. If I had kids, they would be allowed to eat reasonable portions of any food that stuck their fancy, it won't be no this and no that for them because I won't eat those things.

[disenfranchised]

31. So it is PC to care about someone's safety?

And what is your area of expertise that makes you know the cause of food allergies when doctors and scientists do not have a clear consensus on the cause?

[roamer65]

15. Makes sense.

They aren’t worth the inflight medical risk.

[wonkwest]

17. I travel often and haven't seen peanuts on a plane in years

I had no idea they still did in some cases. Usually, they just give pretzels or a snack mix.

Huh. Today I learned.

[Freethinker65]

18. I have wondered about that, the peanuts were decent

Coated with crap I could do without, but much preferable to the tiny bags of wheat thins that I do not eat.

[GulfCoast66]

28. As long as bourbon is still available I'm good