Emirates crew tells siblings with nut allergy to ‘spend flight in cabin loo’

Two siblings who suffer from severe nut allergies were shocked to be advised by Emirates cabin crew to spend their flight to Dubai in the toilet to avoid inhaling cashew residue.

Brother and sister Sundeep and Shannen Sahota claim to have informed Emirates staff three times about their allergies: when booking the flights, when checking in and when boarding at Birmingham Airport.

However, just 40 minutes into the seven and a half hour flight, the pair were dismayed to learn that one of the inflight main meals contained cashews.

They informed cabin crew of their predicament, as being exposed to nut residue circulated by the plane vents could send them into anaphylactic shock, and were advised to hole up in the onboard toilets.

Shannen and Sundeep, who had spent more than £5,000 on plane tickets to take their parents away to Dubai and Singapore for their 60th birthdays, refused, and had to spend the remainder of the flight with blankets over their heads to avoid inhaling any residue.

“It was uncomfortable, embarrassing and demeaning,” Shannen, an analyst from Wolverhampton, told The Sun.

“We were stunned when a supervisor told us ‘one way round it’ was for us to spend the flight in the cabin loo.”

It’s not the first time the airline has upset those with nut allergies. Julianne Ponan, whose severe allergies inspired her to set up Creative Nature Superfoods, which offers products free from additives, nuts and seeds, told The Independent about her Emirates experience.

“I’d already booked a package holiday that included Emirates flights. I rang them and told them about my nut allergy and asked what they could do because this is really serious – I can’t be on a plane where nuts are being served.

“My allergy is airborne, so I have to be really careful.

“They said there was nothing they could do – they serve nuts on board, and they refused to remove nuts from sale.”

Ponan asked if she could cancel her flights with the airline as it wasn’t worth the risk.

“They told me they don’t have a nut policy, and said it was my choice if I wanted to fly with them or not,” she said. “They made me feel like it’s a disability to have my allergies.”

She and her partner had no choice but to fly with Emirates, but 28-year-old Ponan says she now actively avoids flying with the airline.

“I would love to fly them because their planes are amazing – but I wouldn’t want to risk my life,” she said.

“If I’m exposed I can just collapse, fall unconscious and stop breathing. If I don’t get an EpiPen or receive ice shock treatment in time, it can be fatal.”

Ponan is now in talks to get her nut-free snacks bars served on planes so that other allergy sufferers don’t have to undergo the same experience.

An Emirates spokesperson said of the Sahotas’ complaint: “Emirates tries to cater to all passenger specific needs by offering a number of special meals that cover as many medical, dietary and religious requirements as possible.

“However, Emirates cannot guarantee completely nut-free flights.

“We’ve looked into Ms Sahota’s booking and our records do not reflect any mention of a nut allergy.

“All passengers who alert us of a nut allergy prior to travel are informed of our policy and it is also outlined on our website.

“When alerted during the flight, our crew tried their best to offer Ms Sahota and her brother alternative locations in an open space in the back of the aircraft cabin to minimise their proximity to other passengers who may be consuming meals with nuts.

”We apologise for any inconvenience caused and our customer care team will be in touch with Ms Sahota directly.“

This is in contrast to budget airline easyJet, whose nut allergy policy is “seamless” according to Julianne Ponan.

“They were so accommodating,” she said. “They sent me an email before the flight saying they would inform crew and passengers of my allergy.

“When they scanned my ticket at the airport they called up and ensured everyone on staff was aware.

“They even announced on the flight that there was a passenger with a nut allergy and asked travellers not to open any nuts onboard.

“I was pleasantly surprised.”

Virgin Atlantic has a similar policy and asks passengers to refrain from eating nuts if someone has an allergy.