Airlines & "peanut-free zones"

The notion that airlines must provide "peanut-free" zones is an urban myth. No such federal law exists, said Bill Mosley, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In 1998, the agency proposed that U.S. airlines refrain from serving peanuts in the row where an allergic passenger sits, plus the row in front and the row behind, he said, but later that year Congress prohibited the DOT from enforcing such zones.

Federal law requires airlines to include epinephrine in onboard emergency medical kits, although doctors say patients with severe allergies should always travel with the loaded syringes.

Today, several airlines, most citing allergy concerns, say they don't serve peanuts, among them American, JetBlue, Northwest, United and US Airways. But Continental, Delta and Southwest still do; policies vary.

If you notify Southwest of an allergy, for instance, it will serve pretzels instead of peanuts on your flight, spokeswoman Marilee McInnis said.

Continental does not do this.

"We do not set up a peanut-free zone," said Continental's Mary Clark. Such an action, she explained, would mislead customers into thinking the cabin is free of allergens, which the airline cannot guarantee.

Seattle Times