- A woman with a severe peanut allergy disputed United Airlines crew over buffer zone requests
- She asked for an announcement to nearby passengers to avoid peanut consumption near her seat
- Crew declined, suggesting she email the airline instead of making a cabin-wide announcement
A woman recently shared a video of herself arguing with United Airlines crew members over her severe peanut allergy. Internet user MK posted a video of the conversation on Instagram, where she can be heard raising concerns about her allergy, which can also be triggered by airborne exposure
Passenger Calls Out United Airlines For Not Helping With Her Peanut Allergy
She politely requested that the staff inform nearby passengers through an announcement that she would require a “buffer zone” around her seat. The crew informed her that they were unable to make that type of announcement in advance. “Even for medical, like I have EpiPens and everything,” MK said. She was advised to send an email to the airline regarding the matter.
In the caption, MK explained, “I have a life-threatening allergy to peanuts, meaning I could have a serious reaction or even go into anaphylactic shock upon accidental or direct contact with my allergen. Requesting a buffer zone is NOT asking to make an announcement to the ENTIRE plane. It simply means flight attendants would kindly ask the passengers in the two rows in front of and behind me to refrain from consuming peanut-containing products, a small ask that can make a big difference.”
She also specified that she had called the airline before her flight to confirm the policy and that she keeps herself protected by wearing a mask whenever she flies. “Not only was I told to essentially deal with it, I was dismissed with a suggestion to email a billion-dollar multinational corporation. That's not a solution. That's a failure in their duty of care. It is incredibly concerning that policies that existed to keep passengers safe appear to have been withdrawn,” MK added.
Watch the video here:
The Internet Has Mixed Feelings About The Situation
Internet users seemed to be divided on the matter. While some agreed with the flyer, others pointed out that implementing such accommodations in a shared cabin may be more than what flight attendants can realistically handle. One user wrote, “It cost them nothing to make the announcement.” Another added, “As someone who does NOT have a life-threatening allergy, I would definitely want to know if someone around me does. I couldn't imagine causing preventable harm to someone.”
Someone else commented, “If you don't like it, fly elsewhere or don't be allergic to nuts. If they make accommodations for you, then they have to make accommodations for everyone, and that's not realistic.” “People's lives do not revolve around your allergies,” remarked another individual.
United Airlines also replied to the post, saying, “Hi, Mikayla. We are so sorry about this and would like to look into it more closely. Please send us a DM with your confirmation number whenever you have a chance.
