One person in Raffles has nut allergy, so Satay is cancelled for all?!

[simong]

Satay always kills someone else. Meat is murder.

Someone means a person, are you suggesting SQ are serving cannibal Satay?

[jhm]

Ok, but SQ don't serve that, do they?

Your post about meat had nothing to do with SQ. My reply likewise.

Slightly back OT. I assume you're a vegetarian - what (if anything) do SQ serve in place of the satay starter ? Presumably not quorn sticks!

[zvezda]

what (if anything) do SQ serve in place of the satay starter ? Presumably not quorn sticks!

Bag of nuts.

[Savage25]

Back in the day when I worked at SATS, there were two types of nut allergies that were catered for. A mild nut allergy specified at reservation meant that the pax would not get any nuts or food containing nut traces. A severe allergy specified at reservation meant that the whole cabin would not be catered with any food containing nut traces - I think a doctor's certificate was required for something like this, though I could be wrong.

[MAN Flyer]

Back in the day when I worked at SATS, there were two types of nut allergies that were catered for. A mild nut allergy specified at reservation meant that the pax would not get any nuts or food containing nut traces. A severe allergy specified at reservation meant that the whole cabin would not be catered with any food containing nut traces - I think a doctor's certificate was required for something like this, though I could be wrong.

That would explain it then.

The IFS said they made an announcement about it, but I was Ipod'd up at the time so missed it.

I still think they could just serve it without the sauce but there you go. I'll live, unlike the Chicken.

[SQTalker]

I remembered last year when I flown with my wife, my mom, my brother, all 4 of us were sitting in Raffles Class from SYD to SIN, we ordered a variety of Book The Cook, unfortunately, the whole flight both F & J class Book The Cook meals were not served due to a nut allergy passenger on board in Y. Certainly the preflight peanuts didn't serve as well. My mom was so upset that since she didn't travel on SQ J that much, plus this could be her last SQ travel as she is so old that she has trouble of walking. She complain to SQ that she didn't get the chace to try out the Lobster BTC & the steak for the regular meal.

I'm also wondering how would the airliners nowadays to handle such more & more nut allergy passengers travel on board? I don't think those nut allergy passengers can afford to travel on private jet...! I'm also curious how would they react if they go on to the public such as shopping malls with food courts, restaurants, street hawkers, etc...?

[SQflyergirl]

Sorry to drag this OT: but great avatar Savage25!

Had me wiping my screen

[Savage25]

Sorry to drag this OT: but great avatar Savage25!

Had me wiping my screen

It got me the first time I saw it on another forum too

[karthikv]

When I order the Indian veg meal, I've had a couple of different things instead of the Satay. The best was from Singapore to Beijing last year where they served me upma (a cream-of-wheat dish) and samosas. I have had a bag of nuts as a substitute (disappointing). Out of London recently I had four little tarts which were a decent attempt at a substitute but not very good unfortunately (though the rest of the meal service out of London was excellent).

Not sure if the flt has satay, but will be on SQ2 SIN-HKG next week.

[The High Flyer]

On one of my Raffles flights last year, my satay was replaced with barbequed chicken on skewers with brown sauce. They didn't look exactly like the real thing, but good try.

[Dr G]

Ok at the risk of opening a can of worms

I am a doctor, and also one with a *mild* peanut allergy...
If I eat them I sneeze continuously for 3-4 hours till I switch it off with some meds.. Very annoying.

To answer the question tho, yes there are many people with immediate sensitivity to peanuts eaten, or even the small amount of particles that can be released into the air via opening of packets, or someone eating peanut laden foods next to you.

People with immediate sensitivity can die very quickly, ie we are talking about the throat closing over in 30 seconds to a few minutes...
Majority of people who have this allergy will carry an epipen, however in the environment of a plane it may not be in their immediate proximity.

These types of reactions also need close monitoring, additional medications and would be best managed on the ground. I have only had to manage a few of these reactions and you would hope to have an experienced doctor on the flight to help. This is one thing that is well beyond standard first aid training. I can understand the strict guidelines that SQ would be using.

Now having said that I recently booked 4 F and Suites flights and mentioned that I had an allergy to peanuts, I was immediately requested to supply letters to explain the extent of my allergy.
When I explained to my travel agent that I had only a mild and not immediate reaction she was told is a *very* clear way that if I was not to provide the paperwork I would be denied boarding.
She also told me that the team @ SQ said that if I had a severe allergy to peanuts that I would be provided foods of SQ's choosing, certainly no book the cook, and I would not be offered any choices in the matter.

Needless to say I was able to send a letter that explained that my allergy was mild and certainly not of the emergency variety.

From this experience I gather that SQ are taking this very seriously, and I gather that the removal of peanuts from a whole flight must be a very difficult thing to have to do.

Anyways just wanted to share my experience.

Dr G

[TooMuchSQ?]

I'm similar in that I have a mild allergy to nuts and various other bits (such as dust/mites). What is fun that it varies, both seasonally and across years. These days I don't have a problem with it to more of an extent that since I usually throw down some antihistamines before a flight because of the dust/mites part of it I can still enjoy the nuts. After all, it tastes good.

Two years back or so a pack of roasted almonds would make me have breathing problems because of the throat closing, and only two years back here a local kid with similar allergies actually died from eatching a chocolate bar that supposedly has nothing to do with nuts other than being fabricated in a factory that also does chocolate with nuts.

On the sneezing front I have far larger issues with pollen and some perfeumes (usually with vanilla notes), which can give me some serious sneezes, but thats only good fun to get ones head cleared out.

So, yes, allergies comes in many shapes and severities, and also varies over time, so its an ongoing fun game of discovery and at least for me not a big hassle as I always know where my nearest supply of antihistamines are.

-TMSQ

[JoJo Zep]

Dr G I was very interested to read your post.

I have a pretty severe allergy to nuts & sesame and carry an epi-pen with me at all times. However, I've flown SQ a lot in the last few years and they have never asked me to explain the extent of my allergy even though I've tried to get a nut-free meal all that time. I'm not so severe that airborne particulates set me off but any amount in my food and I get pretty sick. Hence, found your post of particular interest...

I find it interesting to see how differently airlines treat the allergy issue. I feel for other passengers if food is taken off the menu because of someone with an allergy but I also think how lucky I am that my allergies aren't that bad.

Safe travels all and never forget to carry your med's!!

[Guy Betsy]

I made an award booking for my friend flying in from MAN to SIN. When I called SQ to tell them that my friend is allergic to nuts, I was asked if its #1 allergy or # 2 allergy?

# 1 means that she does not eat nuts but does not mind if its served to other passengers.

# 2 means that the entire flight will have to be nut free.

Thank goodness my friend was only #1 and people can have their satay with peanut sauce, and she was able to much on some nut free pretzels instead.

I know of some people who would go into shock by just mentioning the word 'nut'. I know its extreme, but hey, we live in a dangerous world today.

[fuu99]

I remembered last year when I flown with my wife, my mom, my brother, all 4 of us were sitting in Raffles Class from SYD to SIN, we ordered a variety of Book The Cook, unfortunately, the whole flight both F & J class Book The Cook meals were not served due to a nut allergy passenger on board in Y. Certainly the preflight peanuts didn't serve as well. My mom was so upset that since she didn't travel on SQ J that much, plus this could be her last SQ travel as she is so old that she has trouble of walking. She complain to SQ that she didn't get the chace to try out the Lobster BTC & the steak for the regular meal.

I'm also wondering how would the airliners nowadays to handle such more & more nut allergy passengers travel on board? I don't think those nut allergy passengers can afford to travel on private jet...! I'm also curious how would they react if they go on to the public such as shopping malls with food courts, restaurants, street hawkers, etc...?

If SQ can manage to "sterilize" an entire flight of nuts, then why can't they inform, at the very least, the premium passengers that their flight will be nut-free, and as a consequence, this and that cannot be served? Certainly, informing them through email or whatever means is simple enough. Shouldn't they at least be given the option to avoid the flight if they could? After all, they paid for premium service.