Summer is coming and travel plans are in the air!
I love to travel, but family travel, particularly with life-threatening food allergies, can be extremely challenging. However, I’m of the mindset that the thrill of discovering new places and the memories we make while traveling as a family are worth any amount of extra effort, so I’m willing to go the extra mile.
We travel a fair amount for a family with food allergies and people often ask how we manage my daughter’s allergies safely on the road. So today I’m sharing our tips for Air Travel with the hope that it will help you have a smoother journey!
AIR TRAVEL with Food Allergies Has Risks
Air travel gets us to our destination quickly, but it’s not without its risks for food allergy sufferers. The thought of being hours (and vertical miles!) away from emergency services can be terrifying. Plus, air travel brings possible TSA hassles and puts you at the mercy of the eating habits of fellow passengers.
For some children with severe airborne or contact sensitivity, the risks may be too great. However, for many, there are steps and precautions you can take to address each of these so you can get on with your adventures.
PACK EMERGENCY KIT in CARRY ON BAG
Pack your Epinephrine and all Emergency Medications in your carry on bag. Take at least two Epinepherine injectors. I usually bring my full arsenal of 4 that way they are all in one place. Put the correct dose of each medication (antihistamine, pepsid, etc.) and a copy of your child’s anaphlyaxis plan in a ziplock so it is ready in an emergency.
If traveling in summer, pack Epi-pens or Auvi-Qs in an insulated carrier like the FRIO bag or ALLERMATES case to keep the medication within the safe temperature range.
Having these items in a case with a medical cross symbol helps airport staff identify the items and makes security screening easier. It also makes it easy to put in a beach bag, backpack, or purse for activities on vacation.
BYOB: PACK SAFE FOODS
I tend to overpack food for travel because we do not risk purchasing foods at the airport (except maybe a bag of chips so she doesn’t feel excluded when her sisters get to buy a meal).
Here are some guidelines that help us safely feed her on travel days:
- Bring plenty of snacks and at least one meal for your child. Delays happen.
- Use a combination of clear plastic containers and Ziplock bags so nothing needs to be opened to inspect it.
- Pack foods in the same carry on bag as the medical supplies so the connection between the items is clear to TSA. Some allergists will provide a letter for TSA that allows you to bring extra food and ice packs through security. And while I’ve often been pulled aside in the TSA line for inspection of our foods and medical supplies (especially during OIT), I’ve never had any major issues.
- In addition to snacks, remember to bring toys and distractions to keep little hands busy with safe things. Movies on the iPad do the trick for us:)
PRE-BOARD to PICK a SAFE SEAT
In the U.S., severe food allergies qualify as a disability under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). Under the act, “Airlines must allow passengers with disabilities the opportunity to pre-board who self-identify at the gate as requiring additional time or assistance to be seated (transportation.gov).
With No Advance Seating:
If flying an airline like Southwest, request pre-boarding when you purchase your ticket so you can pick a seat that is safe for your child’s medical condition (no visible crumbs, peanut butter wrappers/smears, etc.). Some airlines, like Southwest, have a checkbox for “peanut dust” allergy, but if you have ANY life threatening food allergies, you can check this box. Still, when you arrive at the airport, go to the ticket counter to check in and confirm your pre-boarding status.
With Advance Seating
If you are flying on an airline with pre-selected seats, request pre-boarding to give you time to wipe surfaces down and make the area safe for your child. You will need to go to the ticket counter to check in and request this. Tell them your child has a medical condition that requires pre-boarding. You can have your emergency medication case (with the medical cross) in your hands and gesture to it as evidence, but they should not ask you any personal questions.
In all cases, smile, be polite and gracious, but be firm if you meet with resistance and don’t be afraid to ask for a supervisor.
WIPE DOWN SURFACES
After you pre-board and choose a safe seat, wipe down all surfaces with wet wipes to get rid of any crumbs or protein particles that could trigger a reaction. Be sure to get all the nooks and crannies of the seat, seatbelt, tray table, window, touchscreen, etc. If you have a young child, your kid will likely explore and put their hands in their mouth, so take extra care.
Remember that spraying the surface with hand sanitizer is good for killing germs, but it does not remove the allergens. The friction of wiping is the critical part, particularly if your child is sensitive to contact with their allergen.
We use plain old baby wipes or wet wipes for my child’s wheat/barley/rye allergies, but peanut families may want to check out WellToo Wipes, which claim to neutralize peanut proteins (and make them harmless). As your child gets older, let them help with this process of taking care of their space. It helps them learn how to keep themselves safe for future independent travels.
COMMUNICATE with FLIGHT CREW
Communicate your child’s allergy to the flight attendants during pre-boarding. Tell them that they have a severe/ life-threatening food allergy and that you have brought emergency medications and have taken all the necessary precautions. Most people will be empathetic and supportive. If not, keep your cool and save your breath. Focus on what you can control and file a complaint after you arrive at your destination.
One mental health caveat: Consider your child’s age and anxiety level when having this conversation. If they are already fairly anxious about their allergy, as my daughter was from multiple Epi-pens by age 5, avoid using the words “life-threatening” or “deadly” in front of them. Step aside to talk to the staff out of earshot. Sadly, we learned this lesson the hard way and fear of death exacerbated our daughter’s allergy anxiety for several years
COMMUNICATE with NEIGHBORING PASSENGERS
After the seats around you have been filled, you may want to communicate with the neighbors in front of and behind you about your child’s food allergy.
This can be the tricky part.
While many airlines no longer serve nuts, airlines regularly hand out products that contain wheat, dairy, and other allergens. And while you can’t demand that fellow passengers don’t eat the food they’ve brought (or been handed), you can inform them of your child’s allergy and ask for their empathy and cooperation.
If your child sits at a regular lunch table at school, like mine, and plays at playgrounds and public places without incident, you may not even need to take this precaution. But if you have an airborne allergy, I’d recommend making seat neighbors aware.
- Be friendly. Keep it short and sweet.
- Inform your neighbors of your child’s life-threatening allergy and ask if they plan to eat any foods that contain it.
- Offer to move to a different seat if needed.
- Lastly, thank them for their help.
Most people will gladly wait to eat their snacks to keep your child safe, but some may not. At that time, you can choose how to handle the situation and enlist the flight attendant’s help moving if necessary.
My daughter has had mild, localized reactions to contact (itchy, red eyes) and once developed wheezing and coughing in response to airborne flour in the grocery store. But since we’ve not had issues from people eating wheat snacks around her, we’ve never asked to move seats. If flying just the two of us, I make sure she sits in the window so I can be a buffer between her and anyone else’s foods.
CALCULATE the RISKS
For our family, the calculated risks of air travel are well worth the the cherished memories and joyous experiences of travel. Although I remain intensely vigilant throughout our travel time (I double and triple check all labels and watch my kid like a hawk!) and I currently have massive anxiety about our approaching international trip (!!!), I feel that we can take enough precautions to travel safely.
Obviously, each child’s situation is unique and you need to make that decision yourselves with your child’s doctor. Ask them about the real risks and likelihood of an airborne or contact reaction onboard and if there are additional precautions you can take. That can help guide your decision.
In the end, trust yourself. You know best.
BON VOYAGE!
I hope this helps your travels go more smoothly! I’ll be sharing more tips for traveling with food allergies over the next month, so be on the lookout for articles about:
- Allergy-safe car travel
- How to make summer camp safe
- Managing international flights with food allergies
- How to eat gluten-free in Paris
- Healthy sibling dynamics for kids with allergies
Until then, I wish you healthy, joyful adventures!
