Do any of you fly with an ana allergic child? Or have you as an ana adult?

[Thystle]

Looking for stories. Especially long flights with no ability to land asap.


We have avoided all air travel period and not sure if that will ever be able to change. Thought I would ask and see what others do or have done.

[mrforbes]

We have. Our DS just turned 2 and we've been flying w/him (he's ana to a few foods including of course peanuts and nuts) we've even done international flights. First, you can fly w/your epi pens, we fly w/2. We actually usually give him Benedryl in the airport before boarding (often he needs it) and that has done the trick for us, we've never had an air emergency. We've had reactions on flights - especially when he was smaller but have been able to manage it. This is why we actually give him Benedryl before a flight. We have a medical bracelet for DS that he wears when traveling, the epi pens have his prescription and info on it etc.

Also, some airlines are nut free. We also inform them many times we are flying w/an ana child and have epi pens, we usually get a row to ourselves if there is space and they don't serve people 3 rows before and behind us.

We also wipe down the surfaces where we are seated.

[frugalmama]

I used to fly without issues when I was only contact ana to peanuts without issues, but that allergy has since worsened into airborne ana so we haven't dared it.

I did try to seats at the very back of the plane where it was less crowded {flying southwest} and they were short flights though {2 hours tops}. I did also once ask someone not to eat peanuts who was sitting next to me - they had no problem when I explained why.

[Phantaja]

My exH is anaphylactic (sea life, tree nuts, olives, chocolate and maple) and we've flown cross country multiple times. No problems. We had epipens and benedryl and didn't think twice about it, outside of the usual tasting my his meals first when we fly first class, but we would do that even if we just ate at a new restaurant or at someone's house.

[MariaMadly]

Both my sons are anaphylactic to peanuts, tree nuts, and more, and have flown by themselves (they're 20 and 17). They take Benadryl (their allergist has small 4t labeled containers she gave them) and two epipens with them on the flight. DS1 hasn't felt any discomfort to date and has never requested accommodation. DS2 didn't have problems until a couple of years ago, and then just a general bleh, so we asked Southwest for peanut-free flights over this past summer when he flew alone (New England to the Southwest) and that worked out fine for him.

One thing with Southwest did stress was that they were unable to control what other passengers brought on board, which DS could work with. He says the lady next to him on the last leg of his flight home had almonds, but he had no symptoms from being around while she ate them. We didn't need further accommodation, in other words, so I don't have experience with either getting it or having difficulty getting it.

They're both really vigilant about cross-contact and tend to hold off eating until they're in surroundings over which they have more control, or just stick with what they've brought along for themselves. (DS1 likes watching the Fritos bags inflate as they gain altitude )

[SpottedFoxx]

While I'm not a "shocker", I have a friend who has aggressive systemic mastocytosis. In other words, she will go into shock at the slightest exposure to any of her triggers. Scents are a biggie. She flies from Asia to the US on a regular basis.

She is able to accomplish this by first, gaining assistance from the airline (they will make an announcement in the boarding area that if you are wearing any scents, to please go to the rest room and wash up as there is someone who will be on the plane who can become very ill from perfumes. They will also request that no peanut products be brought onto the plane (and won't serve any). Finally, she wears a honeycomb mask (just google it) to filter out additional triggers. I believe she brings 6-8 epi pens just in case as well.

[Thystle]

Originally Posted by SpottedFoxx

While I'm not a "shocker", I have a friend who has aggressive systemic mastocytosis. In other words, she will go into shock at the slightest exposure to any of her triggers. Scents are a biggie. She flies from Asia to the US on a regular basis.

She is able to accomplish this by first, gaining assistance from the airline (they will make an announcement in the boarding area that if you are wearing any scents, to please go to the rest room and wash up as there is someone who will be on the plane who can become very ill from perfumes. They will also request that no peanut products be brought onto the plane (and won't serve any). Finally, she wears a honeycomb mask (just google it) to filter out additional triggers. I believe she brings 6-8 epi pens just in case as well.

Thank you so much for this! Has she ever had a reaction while flying?

My main concern is the epi-pens wont be enough and if you cant land what happens?

I think for now we will still avoid it, but the you all have given some good ideas.

[number572]

I can't remember the airline since it was many years ago but on a four hour trip across the US, they announced that they would not be serving any peanut snacks due to an allergic passenger. I had no knowledge of peanut allergy at that time, so thats why I remember it, but maybe if you notify the flight attendants, they could comply?

[momofmine]

I haven't done it yet, and it is one of my concerns. If I do it in the future, I think I would choose one of the peanut-free airlines, even if it cost double.

[SpottedFoxx]

That friend has not but I do have another friend (I have systemic mastocytosis so we travel in packs - lol) who has idiopathic anaphalaxis (meaning she goes into shock for no reason) and she is a flight attendant. Yes, she has gone into shock several times in the air. They have never landed a plain for her - she manages with benedryl at onset (you can also talk to your doc about injectible benedryl) and epi.