For those who can read more than comic books... article from USA Today
US Airways dropping peanuts
By Dawn Gilbertson, The Arizona Republic PHOENIX — US Airways is pulling peanuts from its flights by the end of June, but this is no penny-pinching move so prevalent in the industry today.
The Arizona-based airline, the nation's fifth-largest, is bowing to concerns of travelers with severe peanut allergies. It will serve pretzels, crackers and other in-flight snacks, instead. Several other major airlines had already stopped serving peanuts after peanut allergy groups expressed their members' fears of a dangerous in-flight reaction.
The decision is an about-face for the new US Airways. The airline, formed by last fall's merger of America West and bankrupt US Airways, went with America West's policy of serving peanuts after the merger last fall. US Airways did not serve peanuts.
"It's a growing concern," said Jennifer Tongé, US Airways' director of customer relations. "It's still an absolute minority (of passengers) out there, but peanut allergies can be extremely severe."
"They had grown so used to not needing to worry about peanuts being on US Airways flights," Tongé said. "Many of them wouldn't even call to check to make sure there weren't peanuts."
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network and other groups also weighed in.
"At that point, it became very clear that it (removing peanuts) was the right decision," said Tongé, whose daughter had mild peanut allergies as a preschooler.
Terry Furlong, chief operating officer of the allergy network, praised US Airways' decision.
"It shows real sensitivity for the needs of people with peanut allergy," he said.
King Nut Cos., a leading peanut and snack supplier to the airline industry, did not respond to a request for an interview Friday.
Making accommodations
Some airlines that do serve peanuts do their best to accommodate passengers with severe peanut allergies. Southwest, the other dominant airline in Phoenix, does not serve peanuts on a flight if it has been alerted to a passenger's allergy, spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger said. It also suggests such travelers book an early-morning flight when the plane is clear of peanut dust.
America West, and the merged airline until now, never offered peanut-free flights even if notice was given because it was a logistical nightmare, Tongé said.
There are different caterers in every city, last-minute plane changes to worry about and more. And if you promise it, the liability is huge if something bad happens.
"It's really hard for us to manage that process," Tongé said.
Doug Bell, a Phoenix website developer and graphic designer, said he couldn't believe it when US Airways told his wife "it's not our policy to not serve peanuts." The couple have a 14-month-old son, Bishop, who has been diagnosed with severe peanut allergies. They had booked a flight to Las Vegas to see her parents and called several times with concerns about the infant's allergy.
The airline employees' attitude made him angry, he said. They simply told the family to book with another airline. US Airways also would refund tickets to those who said they couldn't fly because of their peanut allergy.
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