Reflections on “Flying the Friendly Skies”…

I just got back from a great weekend on the West coast.  My sister got married and so I went out to California to help with the wedding.  I must say, it has been quite some time since I have set foot aboard an airplane.  Boy have things changed!  Excuse my “shock and awe” but there were a few things that really caught my attention!

• How much food people carry onto the airplane and how little food is served by the airlines.
• The abundant use of electronic devices and passengers reluctance to put them away when asked!  I think the pilot only had one tire on the runway touching down when the entire plane errupted into furious cell phone use.

I flew two different airlines this last weekend, Southwest and American Airlines.  For those of us who have to be careful with nut allergies and other food issues, it was difficult to navigate all around.  So, from that standpoint, things have not changed.  I received two bags of peanuts and numerous offerings of gluten-laiden pretzels/chips on my Southwest flight.  This did not surprise me as their advertising campaigns typically revolve around “nuts”.  They did have a statement on their website as well that their flights are not “free from” specific allergens.  So, fly at your own risk on these planes!  As for American Airlines, they just didn’t serve anything… and charged extra for everything but the seat I already bought!  So, no danger there from the airline; however, people brought their own munchies… you get the picture.  If you do take the risk and get on an airplane, here are my suggestions for navigating the allergy challenges:

1. Follow suit and B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Snack).  If an airline does serve something, you can bet they will not have what you need anyway.  Just don’t expect to get through security with liquids!!  Purchase your own bottled after you go through security if you can and  before you board the plane.
2. Be prepared with something to wipe down your seat area. Try and get the places you know you or someone else will touch such as the armrests, tray table, and seat back.  I brought Kleenex ToGo moist wipes and this worked great.  Got a few weird stares but no questions or complaints.  If you are really concerned, bring a small bed sheet to cover your seat.  We did this for one of our children once and it was great peace of mind.
3. Communicate ahead by calling the airline and letting them know of your allergy issues.  Then, when you get on the airplane, tell the steward/stewardess as well.  Especially if you have a nut allergy and are concerned.  Not all airlines will provide a nut free flight anymore.
4. If you have small children, call ahead and ask for early boarding so that you can attend to their seat without holding up the other passengers.
5. Eat a good meal ahead of time so that you are not hungry.  I also suggest looking into allergy friendly restaurants at your destination before you fly so that you have at least one or two options you can go to right away if you are in need of something safe to eat when you leave the airport.

If you need some ideas for what snacks to bring on your trip, check out our Recipe Archive for snacks that would travel well such as:  snack mix (make it nut free if you need), “PB&J” Bars, and Rice Krispie Bars.  My experience was overall good with each segment of my trip.  Things really have changed and security is a wait wherever you go.  Just be prepared and try to remain calm even in the midst of surprise!  There will be surprises… that is a given!