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British boy banned from flight due to nut allergy? When the Levitan family explained to airline staff that Daniel, 11, could choke to death from a reaction to nuts, the family were escorted from Fort Myers airport in Florida.
Daniel Levitan, 11, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, suffered an allergic reaction as a baby and his parents, Howard and Judith, have kept him away from nuts ever since.
Daniel has flown on previous holidays without problem but was stopped from boarding the American Airlines flight as the family prepared to return from a winter break.
His parents mentioned his allergy when booking the holiday through British Airways, but when they requested an announcement asking other passengers not to eat nuts on the internal American Airlines flight from Fort Myers in Florida to Dallas they were told they could not board.
The family were escorted from the airport and had their tickets cancelled, the Times reported. A staff member on the way out said: “Americans have the right to eat nuts”.
They had to spend two extra nights in Florida arranging an alternative flight.
The family have lodged a complaint through their travel agent. A BA spokesman said that the dispute was a matter for American Airlines.
Mrs Levitan said: “I am absolutely appalled. They didn’t understand anaphylactic shock or allergies at all.”
Agencies/Canadajournal
Good Heavens…this kid is 11 years old. He knows enough not to eat peanuts and things with peanuts in them. I am sure it has been drilled into him since babyhood. OR the parents could read list of ingredients on any packaged cookies/candy. I, too, have allergies….I just don’t eat them. I do not make everyone on plane do without just for me!!!! Some personal responsibility here Mom. And sorry but he is NOT a baby who puts everything in his mouth. Over-protective, helicopter mom. He is 11. geesh
Not every persons allergy is severe. But there are people who can go into anaphylaxis just from it being in the air. I am terrified to fly because I am allergic to so many things. It’s not a helicopter mom issue. It’s an “any peanut particulate has the chance of killing the kid. People really don’t get severe allergies.
How sad is the person who obviously doesn’t have kids and needs to get a life!!! How’s insensitive are you ?????
To the person above saying they have allergies, It’s not about the kid eating peanuts… I am sure he is well aware…. It’s about him inhaling …… Allergies can be triggered from verses ingesting….
To the person above saying they have allergies and the child should not eat peanuts…. I am sure he is well aware, but if u you have allergies you will be aware that some can be triggered from inhaling aswell as ingesting…. It’s about minimising the risk of inhaling allergens in a confined space in the air, not about eating them