American Airlines Will Offer Early Boarding to Passengers With Nut Allergies

By Hannah Gold  |  November 9, 2018 | 3:50am
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Nobody gives enough credit to people with nut allergies for winning the culture wars.

On Thursday, USA Today reported that people with nut allergies will attain the airport status long hogged by people with small children, members of the armed forces, and, above all, the wealthier people on any given flight, in that they will also get to board early if they’re flying on American Airlines. The announcement was first made in a filing American submitted to the U.S. Transportation Department on Tuesday.

The airline said in a statement about the new policy “Customers with nut allergies who would like to board flights early to wipe down surfaces may ask to do so at the gate. Though we do not serve peanuts in flight, we can’t guarantee our customers won’t be exposed to peanuts or other tree nuts during their trip. We encourage those with allergies to take all necessary medical precautions before flying.”

It’s about damn time! I don’t understand why people with nut allergies can’t wipe down their area once they’ve boarded but am happy for them regardless.

The new policy goes into full effect December 12. Bloomberg reports that American Airlines took the plunge toward absolute nut allergy righteousness after complaints were filed against the airline last year over an incident involving a woman whose son has a life-threatening peanut allergy.

American Airlines is not the first to install this option: Delta also does early boarding for nut-allergic passenger. United and Southwest seem not to have broached the matter, yet.

 
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