Change back your procedure to enable serious allergy sufferers to request an announcement that passengers refrain from eating peanuts on a flight. Train staff on anaphylaxis & provide safe meals.
Change back your procedure to enable serious allergy sufferers to request an announcement that passengers refrain from eating peanuts on a flight. Train staff on anaphylaxis & provide safe meals.
The Issue
Why should us allergy sufferers have to fight for a safe flight? Why are we made to feel different and humiliated by Virgin Cabin Crew Staff??? Why are a big company such as Virgin unable to provide a safe meal for peanut (or nut) allergy sufferers? TIME TO TAKE ACTION VIRGIN ATLANTIC!!! We will not be treated this way!
Background - My daughter has a life threatening severe airborn peanut allergy. She is just 5 years old and had an anaphylactic reaction to Kellogg's Crunchy Nut cereals when she was just 2 years old. Since then we have had to carry with us 2 epipens at all times and have to avoid all peanuts and peanut traces to include peanut dust in the air or on fingers, mouths, tables etc. from where anyone has ate peanuts as my daughter can react severely to a minute trace of a peanut dust particle.
-----------
The announcement issue -
We fly often with other airlines and when boarding the aeroplane we speak with the Cabin Crew and explain the seriousness of my daughter's peanut allergy. They emphathise and gladly make an announcement requesting that passengers refrain from consuming peanuts on the flight because there is a severe allergy sufferer on board in order to keep her safe. You see my daughter's peanut allergy is an airborne one. This means that if the person sitting two rows behind her opened a packet of peanuts, then she WOULD react to the peanut dust particles in the air. This reaction can and has in the past caused her to suffer anaphylaxis which is a rapid onset severe allergic reaction and may cause death. It typically causes a number of symptoms including throat and tongue swelling resulting in the closing of the airways, itchy rash and face, wheezing, shortness of breath and severe difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, anxiety, a sense of impending doom, palpitations, slurred speech, unconsciousness and possible cardiac arrest and death. This is not merely an upset tummy, this is life-threatening.
We booked a holiday in a lifetime for our little girl (and her big brother) to Orlando. We had heard such great reviews from non-allergy sufferers about flying with Virgin and how polite the Cabin Crew were so we were excited to give them a try. But we had also heard on the allergy grapevine how appalling Virgin's treatment of allergy sufferers had been in the past, so just to make sure that we my daughter would be be safe flying with Virgin, I contacted their Special Assistance Team. I had already understood that in some cases when requested to make an announcement on board requesting that passengers do not consume peanuts Virgin had point blank refused to do so, but then I had also heard that they had happily made the request also, so I was confused about what exactly their position was. I did not want to leave myself in an unnervy situation on the day of flying about whether we would be left with no alternative but to play Russian Roulette with my daughter's life, or not board the plane to Orlando and ruin/miss our holiday of a lifetime. I was appalled at the reply from Virgin's Special Assistance Team that they could not make any such announcement because it would be "discriminatory against the other allergy sufferers on board the plane"! I have never heard such nonesense in my life! I then had to pursue a battle against Virgin by way of a formal complaint where I was informed that Virgin used to make the announcement about peanuts or nuts if requested, but had this year changed their policy and stopped making such announcements so as to avoid litigation as Virgin could not guarantee a nut free flight.
Firstly, we are not asking for a guaranteed nut free flight!!! We are merely asking that your Cabin Crew make an announcement that there is a serious peanut (or nut) allergy sufferer on board and make a polite request that passengers refrain from consuming peanut (or nut) products on the flight. By doing this, Virgin are raising awareness that there could potentially be a HUGE problem if peanuts (or nuts) are consumed on board. We are not asking Virgin to police the isles and go around checking what every passenger is eating. We are asking that you give the passengers the choice on whether they want to risk the life of my little girl or whether they feel able to just refrain from opening that bag of peanuts (and yes people do still often bring peanuts onto flights as a snack as happened in April 2013 on a Thomas Cook flight to Cuba, but the announcement was made and the lady was relieved that she had not opened the bag yet). Yes Lily does carry 2 epipens with her at all times but they are used in a MEDICAL EMERGENCY which would require IMMEDIATE hospital admission which is quite difficult 37,000ft above the Atlantic Ocean. Surely it would be more inconvenient for the flight to make an emergency medical landing, than it would be for an announcement to be made that there is a passenger with an extremely severe peanut allergy so please do not eat peanuts???
After lengthy correspondence, Virgin agreed that they WOULD make SPECIAL allowances because of the severity of my daughter's allergy. Virgin agreed to give us medical seating, allow us to board early to clean her seating area and make an announcement requesting that passengers refrain from consuming peanuts on the flight because of my daughter's severe allergy. Result I thought!!! This worked perfectly on the way out to Orlando and we were greated formally by the Cabin Supervisor who reassured us that all necessary measures would be taken to keep our daughter safe. The announcement was made and not a sound came from the passengers or any discontentment shown over whatever right passengers have to consume peanuts on flight.
But Virgin you FAILED BIG time on the way back when your paperwork had not been submitted to the Cabin Crew on board. When the Cabin Crew staff had not approached or even acknowledged a crazy lady who had boarded early to clean the seating area, tray, tv screen, arm rests etc. in the medical seating of the aeroplane I started to worry. I quickly ran over to the Cabin Crew member and introduced myself and reminded the Crew what our agreement was. I was told quite sternly that it was simply not Virgin's policy to make such announcements. Panic ensued. I requsted to speak to the Cabin Supervisor. Another Cabin Crew member was sent over (the feisty one who resembled a dog with a bee in it's mouth) and off we went round in circles for what seemed like a good 30 minutes. I was spoken down to and belittled in front of what was now a full aeroplane awaiting take off. At one point in tears I felt I had no choice but to to threaten to disembark the plane as I was not being treated seriously or fairly. So the feisty Cabin Crew lady agreed to speak to the Captain. At this point the whole party were extremely distressed, disappointed, humilated and I was shaking and in tears. We had no idea whether we were going to be on this flight home or not. We were delaying the plane taking off and most of the passengers were now fully aware of the situation. We desperately tried to distract our daughter from the whole situation. Thankfully we remembered that we had a copy of the email from Virgin's Special Assistance Team stating that Virgin would make an exception to their new policy and would make the announcement. This was hastily taken to the Captain. The feisty Cabin Crew lady came back and merely told us that we were "lucky" this time as we had a copy of the letter with us, otherwise they would not have budged with their position on not being prepared to make an announcement. No formal apology was forthcoming from your Cabin Supervisor for the way we had been treated, no drink was provided in order to calm me down and settle my nerves and anxiety (I was in bits over whether we were going to be forced to play Russian Roulette with my daughter's life or not fly home). I cannot believe the trouble we had in the UK in order to get this request authorised and then to have it totally not communicated to the Cabin Crew on the flight home and to be spoken to like that was horrendous and disgraceful.
We have never had the announcement problem with any of the airlines we have flown with so far (Thomas Cook, Thomson, British Airways, Easy Jet, Ryan Air and Monarch) and have never been treated so apallingly. In fact, Ryan Air give 100 times better service than Virgin. Richard Branson you should be ashamed.
---------------
Aeroplane food is another issue with Virgin. Yes you can request a nut free meal, but why would you when it is not guaranteed to be nut free?! We would never be able to risk a nut free meal that was not guaranteed to be nut free, especially 37,000ft in the air and over the Atlantic Ocean. Instead, we buy sandwiches at the Airport from Boots but on the way back there is no such food available to purchase for the flight. This is ludicrous. Why should an allergy sufferer miss out on two or three meals and have to sit watching every other passenger eat whilst sat there with a tub of Pringles on an 8 hour flight??? Yet Virgin are able to deal with other dietary requirements such as Asian vegetarian meal, gluten free meal, Jain meal (a vegan meal containing no root vegetables), low fat meal, Muslim meal, vegetarian lactose meal, diabetic meal, Kosher meal, low salt meal, and vegan meal. But no nut free meal that is in fact nut free?
Sam Sadleir ordered one of your "nut free" meals on his flight and had a serious reaction - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10517264/Sam-Sadleirs-nut-free-airline-meal-sent-him-into-shock.html
In respect of the so-called "nut free" meal, you state - Passengers may request a “Nut Friendly” meal which will not contain peanuts in the ingredients, however whilst every possible effort will be made we cannot guarantee that a Nut Friendly meal is completely nut or peanut free due to the environment the meals are produced in. (http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/travel-information/special-assistance/medical-conditions/allergies.html)
So what is the point in calling it a nut friendly/free meal when nut allergy sufferers cannot eat it????
Serious allergies are on the rise yet big companies are just not getting it right!
PLEASE VIRGIN TRAIN YOUR STAFF ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF ANAPHYLAXIS CAUSING ALLERGIES.
MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT PEANUTS WHEN REQUESTED.
PROVIDE SAFE FOOD FOR SERIOUS PEANUT (OR NUT) ALLERGY SUFFERERS.
It is hard enough for serious allergy sufferers to lead a normal life as it is, so why should we have to risk our lives when flying?
Follow our campaign on faceboook, along with the Tesco nut labelling campaign - https://www.facebook.com/actionforallergy
Photo courtesy of Amelie's mum of her daughter having an allergic reaction from holding hands - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-05/allergic-reaction-sparks-debate-over-school-nut-ban/5239504
The Issue
Why should us allergy sufferers have to fight for a safe flight? Why are we made to feel different and humiliated by Virgin Cabin Crew Staff??? Why are a big company such as Virgin unable to provide a safe meal for peanut (or nut) allergy sufferers? TIME TO TAKE ACTION VIRGIN ATLANTIC!!! We will not be treated this way!
Background - My daughter has a life threatening severe airborn peanut allergy. She is just 5 years old and had an anaphylactic reaction to Kellogg's Crunchy Nut cereals when she was just 2 years old. Since then we have had to carry with us 2 epipens at all times and have to avoid all peanuts and peanut traces to include peanut dust in the air or on fingers, mouths, tables etc. from where anyone has ate peanuts as my daughter can react severely to a minute trace of a peanut dust particle.
-----------
The announcement issue -
We fly often with other airlines and when boarding the aeroplane we speak with the Cabin Crew and explain the seriousness of my daughter's peanut allergy. They emphathise and gladly make an announcement requesting that passengers refrain from consuming peanuts on the flight because there is a severe allergy sufferer on board in order to keep her safe. You see my daughter's peanut allergy is an airborne one. This means that if the person sitting two rows behind her opened a packet of peanuts, then she WOULD react to the peanut dust particles in the air. This reaction can and has in the past caused her to suffer anaphylaxis which is a rapid onset severe allergic reaction and may cause death. It typically causes a number of symptoms including throat and tongue swelling resulting in the closing of the airways, itchy rash and face, wheezing, shortness of breath and severe difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, anxiety, a sense of impending doom, palpitations, slurred speech, unconsciousness and possible cardiac arrest and death. This is not merely an upset tummy, this is life-threatening.
We booked a holiday in a lifetime for our little girl (and her big brother) to Orlando. We had heard such great reviews from non-allergy sufferers about flying with Virgin and how polite the Cabin Crew were so we were excited to give them a try. But we had also heard on the allergy grapevine how appalling Virgin's treatment of allergy sufferers had been in the past, so just to make sure that we my daughter would be be safe flying with Virgin, I contacted their Special Assistance Team. I had already understood that in some cases when requested to make an announcement on board requesting that passengers do not consume peanuts Virgin had point blank refused to do so, but then I had also heard that they had happily made the request also, so I was confused about what exactly their position was. I did not want to leave myself in an unnervy situation on the day of flying about whether we would be left with no alternative but to play Russian Roulette with my daughter's life, or not board the plane to Orlando and ruin/miss our holiday of a lifetime. I was appalled at the reply from Virgin's Special Assistance Team that they could not make any such announcement because it would be "discriminatory against the other allergy sufferers on board the plane"! I have never heard such nonesense in my life! I then had to pursue a battle against Virgin by way of a formal complaint where I was informed that Virgin used to make the announcement about peanuts or nuts if requested, but had this year changed their policy and stopped making such announcements so as to avoid litigation as Virgin could not guarantee a nut free flight.
Firstly, we are not asking for a guaranteed nut free flight!!! We are merely asking that your Cabin Crew make an announcement that there is a serious peanut (or nut) allergy sufferer on board and make a polite request that passengers refrain from consuming peanut (or nut) products on the flight. By doing this, Virgin are raising awareness that there could potentially be a HUGE problem if peanuts (or nuts) are consumed on board. We are not asking Virgin to police the isles and go around checking what every passenger is eating. We are asking that you give the passengers the choice on whether they want to risk the life of my little girl or whether they feel able to just refrain from opening that bag of peanuts (and yes people do still often bring peanuts onto flights as a snack as happened in April 2013 on a Thomas Cook flight to Cuba, but the announcement was made and the lady was relieved that she had not opened the bag yet). Yes Lily does carry 2 epipens with her at all times but they are used in a MEDICAL EMERGENCY which would require IMMEDIATE hospital admission which is quite difficult 37,000ft above the Atlantic Ocean. Surely it would be more inconvenient for the flight to make an emergency medical landing, than it would be for an announcement to be made that there is a passenger with an extremely severe peanut allergy so please do not eat peanuts???
After lengthy correspondence, Virgin agreed that they WOULD make SPECIAL allowances because of the severity of my daughter's allergy. Virgin agreed to give us medical seating, allow us to board early to clean her seating area and make an announcement requesting that passengers refrain from consuming peanuts on the flight because of my daughter's severe allergy. Result I thought!!! This worked perfectly on the way out to Orlando and we were greated formally by the Cabin Supervisor who reassured us that all necessary measures would be taken to keep our daughter safe. The announcement was made and not a sound came from the passengers or any discontentment shown over whatever right passengers have to consume peanuts on flight.
But Virgin you FAILED BIG time on the way back when your paperwork had not been submitted to the Cabin Crew on board. When the Cabin Crew staff had not approached or even acknowledged a crazy lady who had boarded early to clean the seating area, tray, tv screen, arm rests etc. in the medical seating of the aeroplane I started to worry. I quickly ran over to the Cabin Crew member and introduced myself and reminded the Crew what our agreement was. I was told quite sternly that it was simply not Virgin's policy to make such announcements. Panic ensued. I requsted to speak to the Cabin Supervisor. Another Cabin Crew member was sent over (the feisty one who resembled a dog with a bee in it's mouth) and off we went round in circles for what seemed like a good 30 minutes. I was spoken down to and belittled in front of what was now a full aeroplane awaiting take off. At one point in tears I felt I had no choice but to to threaten to disembark the plane as I was not being treated seriously or fairly. So the feisty Cabin Crew lady agreed to speak to the Captain. At this point the whole party were extremely distressed, disappointed, humilated and I was shaking and in tears. We had no idea whether we were going to be on this flight home or not. We were delaying the plane taking off and most of the passengers were now fully aware of the situation. We desperately tried to distract our daughter from the whole situation. Thankfully we remembered that we had a copy of the email from Virgin's Special Assistance Team stating that Virgin would make an exception to their new policy and would make the announcement. This was hastily taken to the Captain. The feisty Cabin Crew lady came back and merely told us that we were "lucky" this time as we had a copy of the letter with us, otherwise they would not have budged with their position on not being prepared to make an announcement. No formal apology was forthcoming from your Cabin Supervisor for the way we had been treated, no drink was provided in order to calm me down and settle my nerves and anxiety (I was in bits over whether we were going to be forced to play Russian Roulette with my daughter's life or not fly home). I cannot believe the trouble we had in the UK in order to get this request authorised and then to have it totally not communicated to the Cabin Crew on the flight home and to be spoken to like that was horrendous and disgraceful.
We have never had the announcement problem with any of the airlines we have flown with so far (Thomas Cook, Thomson, British Airways, Easy Jet, Ryan Air and Monarch) and have never been treated so apallingly. In fact, Ryan Air give 100 times better service than Virgin. Richard Branson you should be ashamed.
---------------
Aeroplane food is another issue with Virgin. Yes you can request a nut free meal, but why would you when it is not guaranteed to be nut free?! We would never be able to risk a nut free meal that was not guaranteed to be nut free, especially 37,000ft in the air and over the Atlantic Ocean. Instead, we buy sandwiches at the Airport from Boots but on the way back there is no such food available to purchase for the flight. This is ludicrous. Why should an allergy sufferer miss out on two or three meals and have to sit watching every other passenger eat whilst sat there with a tub of Pringles on an 8 hour flight??? Yet Virgin are able to deal with other dietary requirements such as Asian vegetarian meal, gluten free meal, Jain meal (a vegan meal containing no root vegetables), low fat meal, Muslim meal, vegetarian lactose meal, diabetic meal, Kosher meal, low salt meal, and vegan meal. But no nut free meal that is in fact nut free?
Sam Sadleir ordered one of your "nut free" meals on his flight and had a serious reaction - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10517264/Sam-Sadleirs-nut-free-airline-meal-sent-him-into-shock.html
In respect of the so-called "nut free" meal, you state - Passengers may request a “Nut Friendly” meal which will not contain peanuts in the ingredients, however whilst every possible effort will be made we cannot guarantee that a Nut Friendly meal is completely nut or peanut free due to the environment the meals are produced in. (http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/travel-information/special-assistance/medical-conditions/allergies.html)
So what is the point in calling it a nut friendly/free meal when nut allergy sufferers cannot eat it????
Serious allergies are on the rise yet big companies are just not getting it right!
PLEASE VIRGIN TRAIN YOUR STAFF ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF ANAPHYLAXIS CAUSING ALLERGIES.
MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT PEANUTS WHEN REQUESTED.
PROVIDE SAFE FOOD FOR SERIOUS PEANUT (OR NUT) ALLERGY SUFFERERS.
It is hard enough for serious allergy sufferers to lead a normal life as it is, so why should we have to risk our lives when flying?
Follow our campaign on faceboook, along with the Tesco nut labelling campaign - https://www.facebook.com/actionforallergy
Photo courtesy of Amelie's mum of her daughter having an allergic reaction from holding hands - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-05/allergic-reaction-sparks-debate-over-school-nut-ban/5239504
Petition Closed
Share this petition
The Decision Makers
Petition created on 7 May 2014