Food Allergy Connection-Your connection to the world of food allergies.

"I wanted to pass on this America West Airlines alert. I unfortunately didn't read your info about America West until after I booked my tickets and called them to request no peanuts be served.... When I got a supervisor on the phone and asked what could be done I was told, "fly another airline" rather rudely.

"Since I'd already booked I asked for a refund. I've now spent over 3 hours (my wife and me combined) haggling with them and have brought my credit card company into the issue. The dispute agent told me she couldn't believe the way they were acting and the trouble they were giving me. The supervisor at AW even said I should have used the special needs portion when booking the flight.

"However, while on the phone with her (and my credit card company) I pulled up the reservation page and the special needs was only for deaf and wheelchair access. Then the AW supervisor tried to give me another story. Long story short, I have sent a complaint to the DOT as noted on your website. And I still don't have my money but the credit card company told me to dispute it. I will never fly their airline again as not only would they not accommodate my son's needs, they are being extremely rude and hassling me since I'm doing what they told me - flying another airline.

"To put this story in perspective, I flew Southwest airlines two years ago and notified them about my son's peanut allergies long before travel. I followed all their procedures once we arrived at the airport but unfortunately they messed up..on both portions of the roundtrip flight. However, they gave us free tickets and last year we flew SW again and the experience was flawless, they even told the whole plane that there was a severely peanut allergic boy on the flight and to not open any peanut products. I walked away a very satisfied customer."

"I have spoken to US Air and both times I received responses of it is on her record and no one was testy. I am hoping this is a good thing. I thought there was at least something passed by the Government that they had to at least do a 4 seat zone around a peanut allergic passenger. I do feel it is up to the Flight Attendents and they seem to be a bit more caring than the representatives on the phone. I will tell you how she makes out... right now we are dealing with how she can bring food into Mexico. I have dealt with the Consulant in NY for Mexico.. they have not a clue. My daughter has peanut and tree nut and also Wheat and Dairy. She just got a note from her Dr. saying she has dietary needs and also for her Epi Pens. It is amazing that people do not have a clue ! thank you so much and I hope this goes better than anticipated. I know the Delta Supervisor was like we serve peanuts and that is that. The Stewards were like all over it and said to her if she flies Delta again to be sure to mention it at the Gate when she gets there as a reminder. They realized it just before we departed the runway and were totally great. So we shall see........... they are all Mom's and Dad's too ! Fingers crossed in Vermont. I am so happy that you are doing something on this site. the site is great."

"I just called US Airways/America West and talked to someone about their “peanut allergy policy”. (US Air and America West are now the same company.) She checked with her supervisor to be sure and then told me matter-of-factly that they don’t have a policy…meaning they don’t and won’t cater to people with peanut allergy and that peanut snacks are “hit and miss” on their flights…sometimes they serve them and sometimes they don’t, but they won’t arrange peanut-free flights for anyone. She also said, somewhat jokingly, “I guess they want you to wear a mask or something.” The lady I talked to was somewhat sympathetic and seemed as if she didn’t quite understand herself why they won’t work with food-allergic people, but she was also very straight-forward in relaying that they won’t make accommodations for food allergy." Denise Lewis-Food Allergy Connection

"Well I always think the best of people and their word and concern for an issue. The reservationist we got for US Air was totally receiving and awesome and seemed genuinely concerned about Susanna's peanut/treenut allergy. She had the Dr letter and the EpiPens and eagerly boarded the US Air flight. After having such a wonderful experience with Delta, who treated her with such respect and catered to her need... the US Air flight attendent was quite rude, warding off any conversation. Susanna said I am the one with the nut allergy and she said I know nothing about it. I had called 2x and it was on her flight record. So they sat on the runway for over an hour in the stagnant recycled air and they served peanuts and were quite rude I would say.

"So anyway.. I was hoping we would not have the same experience that you had described. In saying that, feel free to use this e-mail in warning to travelers that US AIr and American West do not make provisions for your safety while in the air. They do not even provide a 4 Row safety zone around the passenger or check to see if you are doing fine. Poor business I would say when a bag of peanuts is more important that the human life or the mental emotions the passenger feels worrying about a allergic reaction while in the air.

"Thank you for the initial heads up.. we had the tickets already. Never again will we book with American West/US Air Lines.

"Last month we flew Delta and they served a different snack said they saw her record. They spent time talking with her once we got in the air. Treated her as their own. What a difference. They even said to her, next time be sure you identfy yourself as you board as a reminder. Cheers to Delta as we followed the same criteria as we did with US AIR reservations."

"Denise, I wanted to let you know that Susanna had a great experience in Customs when entering Customs in Cancoon. She had her Dr's letter about her tree nut/peanut allergy and her sensitivities to Wheat and Dairy. She also had her letters for her carry of EpiPens. We had called the Consulant in NYC for Mexico and she said that a suitcase of food would not be allowed. After telling her the situation and the need for food safety she said to get a letter from her Dr., but that it still did not guarantee that she would be able to get it through Customs She got letters from her Dr for foods and her Accupuncturist for her remedies. The good news is she was allowed her food case into Mexico and because she was staying on a small island off Cancoon, she did not have access to a big store there were not the food choice brands of the States. She ate nothing but her food all week as the waiters did not seem to understand about the oils and all. Most places say we have vegetable oil and have no idea what the source is.. could be peanut oil.  It's so crazy but why would they know. That is why you need to be prepared when you travel. So in all of this frenzy.. the only thing that did not make the grade was US AIR/ American West.

Its a pretty sad day when even Customs in Mexico outdoes our own US Air / American West Airline.

If you have special needs US Air / American West is not in your best interest. As I said we flew Delta in January and they were awesome ~

PS I love your new site and I will share it with people and thanks for providing. We all need to help each other in this arena.   Your the best !!

"When I spoke with the Consulant in NY for Mexico she said well they have food there and I explained to her the difference in if the foods are processed on dedicated lines or with other allergens. It is just something that people are unaware of unless they have the problem or someone they may know. So certainly feel free to use any of my e-mails. I appreciate all the information you have shared with me and hopefully we can help others in their journeys.   Now we have to work on restaurants.. a few simple things when training their staff.  Knowing the source of the vegetable oils used, and if fried foods are all cooked in the same oils ( does the breading of any of the products have nuts in the breading ) Also.. is peanut butter used in any of the sauces as thickening agents. With nuts be the most hidden ingredient in restaurant cooking if they made this information as important as knowing the nightly specials, the allergy striken community could feel comfy dining out like the rest of the population. I know my daughter worked at a shop that cooked a great breakfast on the grille but would also grille Nut Muffins for their patrons on the same grille where the eggs and bacon were cooked. I was talking with a guy in Ludlow Vt, who said he was conversing with a guy and he said you should try peanut butter in your spagetti sauce.. this is a Pizza Shop.. later that evening he had a patron taken by ambulance to the hospital. Said he did not have a clue. He said WOW ~~ never again he was mystified.

"So we now have new ingredient labels on foods, which is wonderful ! but now onto >>>>>>A New Mission >>>>

It seems the mission now should be to President Bush for Restaurants that use any peanut/treenut ingredient or have a chance of cross contaimination by marinated meats cooked on the same grill area, nuts on the grille, ingredients in dishes at the salad bars that may cross contaminate by utensils or utensils used by the Chef's when cooking Be made known on the Menu. Even if you could not eat there.. at least you would have the comfort of knowing.

"In Salt Lake City we had a waitress and there were 10 of us. We asked the waitress about the oil used and she said vegetable.. so we asked the source and she came back and said vegetables. Consequently, everyone ordered a huge breakfast and my daughter ordered a bowl of hot water for a Oatmeal packet she brought with her for times like these. This should not be the case, but it is the norm. We need some type of movement to disseminate the importance of information like this from Restaurant owners to their Employees.

Knowledge is Power in the allergen world"