Southwest Airlines to stop serving peanuts

[AJL]

www.npr.org/2018/07/10/627681758/southwest-airlines-says-it-will-stop-serving-peanuts

And the Internet loses its mind (OK, not totally, but damn! There sure are a lot of out-of-my-cold-dead-hands, ride-or-die peanut lovers who comment on this shit.)

The move was to help better protect passengers with peanut allergies (mostly children). I'm for it. Honestly there are 1001 other things to complain about modern air travel. Not getting peanuts on my flight isn't one of them.

"Peanuts forever will be part of Southwest's history and DNA," the company said in an emailed statement. "However, to ensure the best on-board experience for everyone, especially for customers with peanut-related allergies, we've made the difficult decision to discontinue serving peanuts on all flights beginning August 1st."



The snacks have long been part of Southwest's marketing campaigns. The Dallas-based airline called its prices "peanut fares," and it once published a corporate blog called "Nuts About Southwest." A 1995 book about the company bears the title Nuts! Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success.

[kaybee85]

I read this this morning and made the mistake of reading the comments section.

[Jalapeñomel]

People really like peanuts that much, huh?

[dutchgirl678]

Thank goodness! As a parent of a kid with a peanut allergy, I can't understand why all airlines have not banned peanuts yet. There are plenty of other allergy free alternatives such as pretzels.

[noodleoo]

I'm kind of shocked they were still serving peanuts at all. None of the airlines I've flown in have had them in years.

[smock]

Look, I like peanuts. But if you can't handle the miniscule discomfort of not receiving peanuts for a few hours to SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE, then you're an asshole.

[Michelle]

My first reaction was - what!?! that is the snack I most look forward to, even though it gets smaller every year. And then I thought about peanut allergies and it was no longer an issue.

Those up arms about it are assholes.

[tacokick]

I bet peanut farmers are annoyed! They must have been a huge source of income.

It makes sense though, I was surprised every time they handed me a bag.

[redheadk]

I don’t even remember being offered peanuts on southwest recently. The flight attendants have come around with big snack trays with a few options of cookies and chips.

[ribollita]

Jul 11, 2018 11:57:42 GMT -5 dutchgirl678 said:

Thank goodness! As a parent of a kid with a peanut allergy, I can't understand why all airlines have not banned peanuts yet. There are plenty of other allergy free alternatives such as pretzels.

ITA.

Delta has been serving almonds for the recent past but just switched back to peanuts. ?!?!

[kaybee85]

I feel like this story is a microcosm of the problems we're facing as a culture -- the comments I read were ENRAGED that they had to consider the health and safety of someone else and a tradition/things being how they used to be had to change.

[Deleted]

They already didn't serve them if alerted to a peanut allergy. I have definitely been on a flight where I witnessed someone talk to a flight attendant about a peanut allergy and we all got pretzels. This might be shocking, but that flight went just fine.

[WOT?*]

Because allergies can be fatal in someone trapped in a flying tin can, I'm not against this.

I am HIGHLY upset, however, at Costco removing the Polish Dog from their menu.

[dutchgirl678]

Jul 11, 2018 12:01:19 GMT -5 ribollita said:

Jul 11, 2018 11:57:42 GMT -5 dutchgirl678 said:

Thank goodness! As a parent of a kid with a peanut allergy, I can't understand why all airlines have not banned peanuts yet. There are plenty of other allergy free alternatives such as pretzels.

ITA.

Delta has been serving almonds for the recent past but just switched back to peanuts. ?!?!

I didn't know that! We fly Delta somewhat frequently and my son can have almonds. I am going to send them a message right away.

[AJL]

Peanuts were one of the few free snacks I could enjoy on a flight. I have celiac disease so no pretzels, crackers, cookies for me. However, I have no problem bringing my own snacks anyway. I'm just fine with doing away with peanuts.

[Susie]

In recent years I've been kind of blown away that the cost/benefit analysis came out in favor of serving peanuts on any flight.  Allergic reactions can manifest with really minimal contact, and anaphylaxis is so, so dire.  Why take the risk?  I always felt sort of guilty opening them when they were served, what if I left dust somewhere that affected someone sitting in my row on a future flight?  

[penguingrrl]

I love peanuts, but am completely on board with this. Anaphylaxis is no joke, especially mid flight when getting to an ER in a timely manner is basically impossible. I’m actually surprised they haven’t made flights truly peanut free, even for those bringing their own food on, given that risk.

[UMaineTeach]

This is a case where not making an announcement would have been better. Just fade them until people forget.

Also, while it will surely help reduce the potential for a reaction or contamination and is progress, it doesn’t regulate food passengers can bring on board (which I’m surprised that airlines haven’t banned outside food just to make more money), so the complainers can buy a $7 tube in the terminal and bring them on board.

[Deleted]

They already don’t serve them in there’s a known allergy on the plane. I believe they also ask 6 rows around the person not to eat peanut products during the flight. It’s easier just not to offer them ever but I hope they still do the rows around a person with an allergy.

[gt7301b]

I can't believe it took them this long to stop serving peanuts.

[raangoli]

I honestly did not realize that there were airlines that still served them.

Also, I do not get the brouhaha over the Costco Polish Dog. I guess because it's a food item I don't eat and actually don't even know what it is in the first place.

[icedcoffee]

This is long overdue.

[mbcdefg]

I can’t remember the last time I was offered peanuts on a plane. It’s always been pretzels.

[court26]

We always fly Southwest because they are so good about it. My son has many severe allergies, but the peanut one is so scary. On a flight last year, my kids sat with DH and I found a seat across the aisle and the guy next to me goes, "Can you believe it, we don't even get peanuts because some kid is allergic?!" That was fun. I was like, "Oh, that's my kid. And do you realize if someone has a reaction, they have to land the plane? Big disruption. Not worth it." He didn't say a word to me for the next 3 hours. It was STILL less awkward than when we flew 2 weeks go and the couple next to me watched FOX news the whole time with the laptop screen pointed my way. I was on the verge of a panic attack and then the pilot said they had to reroute due to storms and added an hour. Torture.

[mrspez07]

@@
I didn’t give peanuts on planes much though until I had kids. My kids don’t have allergies, but everyone in most communities is aware and takes at least a few steps towards minimizing exposure. Having them in an enclosed reusable space just seems dumb.

[meshaliuknits]

Jul 11, 2018 12:57:46 GMT -5 raangoli said:

I honestly did not realize that there were airlines that still served them.

Also, I do not get the brouhaha over the Costco Polish Dog. I guess because it's a food item I don't eat and actually don't even know what it is in the first place.

I was more upset that our Costco stopped selling churros.

[ESF]

Of all the things airplanes have done to fuck over consumers, you are going to take to the streets about the fucking peanuts?

I wish they were replacing the peanuts with something really ridiculous, like organic vegan kale and quinoa treats, just to spite these assholes.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I like peanuts (and they're better with my dietary needs than most other travel foods), so I was originally sad, but whatever is best for those in a life-threatening situation is fine by me. I actually worry about this when I host open houses, because what if a kid with a peanut allergy comes in and the house isn't peanut-dust-free?

[raangoli]

Jul 11, 2018 13:28:12 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Jul 11, 2018 12:57:46 GMT -5 raangoli said:

I honestly did not realize that there were airlines that still served them.

Also, I do not get the brouhaha over the Costco Polish Dog. I guess because it's a food item I don't eat and actually don't even know what it is in the first place.

I was more upset that our Costco stopped selling churros.

Now that is a travesty. RIP Costco churros.

[notsocreepylurker]

Jul 11, 2018 13:28:12 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

Jul 11, 2018 12:57:46 GMT -5 raangoli said:

I honestly did not realize that there were airlines that still served them.

Also, I do not get the brouhaha over the Costco Polish Dog. I guess because it's a food item I don't eat and actually don't even know what it is in the first place.

I was more upset that our Costco stopped selling churros.

I'm still pissed they switched to Pepsi at the food court.  I have only eaten at the food court once since then.  I just can't do Diet Pepsi