A 25-year-old passenger from the UK, Amy Pearson, suffered a harrowing experience during a 14-hour journey to Malaysia when two airlines handed out peanuts despite her severe peanut allergy. Pearson notified the airlines in advance about her life-threatening airborne nut allergy and carried an Epi-pen with her at all times. Most airlines agreed not to serve nuts while she was aboard, except for Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines, who handed out nuts during the journey.
Despite informing her travel agent and the airlines of her peanut allergy, Pearson was faced with negligence by both airlines. Qatar Airways even made her sign a waiver stating that they were not responsible if she died due to her allergy. The crew on both flights refused to cater to her allergy, stating that they couldn’t control what passengers ate and that nuts could circulate in the air on the plane, putting Pearson at risk of anaphylactic shock.
During the flight, Pearson relied on the goodwill of fellow passengers who agreed to abstain from eating nuts. She didn’t eat anything during the flight, fearing contamination, and managed with just four Epi-pens in case of an emergency. Malaysia Airlines, on the return leg, also handed out peanuts despite Pearson’s condition, leading her to feel discriminated against for being treated differently from other airlines that had accommodated her allergy in the past.
Frustrated by the lack of response from the airlines, Pearson has vowed not to fly with Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines ever again in the future. She felt that her love for traveling was hindered by her allergy, and that other airlines had successfully catered to her needs. Pearson is using her experience to raise awareness about the issue, encouraging airlines to accommodate passengers with allergies and ensure a safe flying environment for everyone.
Both Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines have policies regarding passengers with peanut allergies, stating that they do their best to accommodate special allergy needs but cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment. Passengers are required to carry necessary medication onboard and may have to sign a waiver of liability. Malaysia Airlines does not implement peanut-free zones or remove peanut snacks and does not make announcements refraining passengers from consuming nuts. They recommend that passengers familiarize themselves with their airline’s allergy policy before booking a flight. Pearson’s ordeal has brought attention to the importance of ensuring the safety of passengers with allergies during flights.
