Airlines’ in-flight nut policy revealed after easyJet bans nuts from all its planes
Passengers on Ryanair, British Airways and Jet2.com should check before flying
EASYJET has banned the sale of all nuts on their flights and will stop passengers bringing their own on planes if there is a customer with a nut allergy on board.
The airline currently serves peanuts and baklava - which contain nuts - on their flights.
However, easyJet has announced that it will no longer be serving nuts on its flights from today and the baklava recipe is being changed to remove nuts in due course.
Social media users praised the airline for removing all nut-products saying: "Is it true that you are banning nuts on flights? If you are i'd like to say thanks and well done. This will make flights for nut allergy sufferers so much less stressful."
Another remarked: "London to Cyprus on Sunday. 2 airborne nut allergy sufferers on board (incl. my younger brother). Grateful to hear the announcement that no nuts would be sold during the flight. News just in that they are also banning nuts on all flights!"
An easyJet spokesman confirmed: "The safety and welfare of all of our customers and crew is our highest priority so we have a number of procedures in place to assist customers travelling with a nut allergy.
"We ask that any customers with a nut allergy notify us ahead of travel and we will request that other passengers travelling on the flight do not consume any products containing nuts that they have brought with them on board.
"We have also stopped the sale of peanuts on board and will be removing the last product from our inflight range which contains nuts in the coming months."
For passengers who have nut allergies, read on to find out the policies for other airlines serving the UK.
Ryanair
According to their , Ryanair currently sells Nutella and packets of almonds to passengers on board.
However, if they are warned ahead of time, then the airline will make an announcement and not serve nuts on board.
The Ryanair website states: "Customers with nut allergies are asked to inform cabin crew when boarding the flight and a public address is then made informing other customers and advising that no products containing nuts will be sold on board.
"While other customers are asked not to open peanut products on board, Ryanair cannot guarantee a peanut-free aircraft."
British Airways
British Airways doesn't serve peanuts or meals with peanuts on their flights, although there is risk of contamination as the meals could be made in a factory where there are peanuts.
However, the airline still serves other nuts, stating on its website: "Tree nuts, such as walnuts and cashews, may be offered on our in-flight menu."
British Airways on what suffers can do. They said: "If you request it, Cabin Crew will make an announcement so that other passengers are aware of your allergy. Cabin Crew will also suspend the serving of loose nut snacks in your cabin of travel.
"Meals containing tree nuts may continue to be served throughout the aircraft and tree nut based snacks may also continue to be served in other cabins of travel depending on the aircraft type."
They also advise carrying enough epi-pens, pre-boarding to wipe surfaces down, as well as informing all crew.
What is the difference between a nut allergy and a peanut allergy?
Peanuts are grown underground and are part of the legume family.
However, a nut allergy includes nuts grown from trees, such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachos and Brazil nuts.
People with a nut allergy are not necassarily allergic to all tree nuts.
Some fall into a similar category for allergens due to the proteins - almonds and hazelnuts are similar, as are walnuts and peacans, or pistachios and cashews.
You can be allergic to both peanuts and tree nuts.
Jet2.com
The low-cost airline continue to serve nuts on their flight, with bags of salted peanuts available on board.
Jet2 advise: "If you make our Special Assistance Team aware of your allergy at the time of booking, and also mention this to the crew on boarding the aircraft, we will endeavour to refrain from selling nuts on board your flight and will also ask other customers to refrain from eating nut products.
"We should point out that we cannot guarantee a nut free environment on board, and customers are free to consume their own food."
Passengers who fail to carry their own medication in case of an anaphylactic shock could be prevented from boarding.
Thomas Cook
The airline still sells peanuts and nuts on their flights, although they can make an announcement if warned ahead of time.
The Thomas Cook website states: "Please advise a member of our crew once on-board the flight of your allergy - the cabin crew can suspend the sale of nut products during that flight.
"The cabin crew will also make an announcement to other customers requesting where possible, to refrain from consuming their own nuts whilst on-board the aircraft.
"However, we can’t forbid customers from eating food containing nuts on-board and we can’t guarantee that our meals or snacks provided do not contain nuts."
Virgin Atlantic
Peanuts are not served on Virgin Atlantic flights, although meals may contain traces of nuts from where they were manufactured.
However other nuts are available on flights, and the airline does not stop other passengers from eating them.
The airline explains: "All other nuts may also be served on our flights to other passengers as part of the menu ingredients and/or the snack service, in any cabin.
"We also can’t stop other passengers from bringing (or eating) their own food on board, which may include nuts."
Norwegian
The airline can stop serving nuts on their flight if told ahead of time.
The website says: "Please inform our cabin crew of your allergy when boarding your flight. They'll make an announcement explaining that products containing nuts will not be sold and should not be consumed.
"Please be aware that we cannot guarantee that traces of nuts will not be found in our meals, snacks or anywhere else on the aircraft."
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