During a recent Eurowings flight from London to Dusseldorf, 27-year-old Leah Williams faced a predicament when she discovered the crew was about to serve peanuts. Concerned about her severe allergy, Williams requested the crew to avoid serving peanuts. When she felt her concerns were dismissed, she took the bold step of buying all the peanut packets onboard, costing her £144 ($184), thrice her ticket value.
Recounting the incident, Williams expressed frustration, saying, “The stewards seemed bewildered, mentioning the quantity of peanuts. Given the lack of alternatives, I insisted they count, and I’d buy them all.” While Williams was dismayed by Eurowings’ handling, the airline mentioned an attempt to address her concerns by informing nearby passengers. Williams says she wanted a general announcement, but the crew cited a policy against it.
The episode has sparked online debates about airline responsibilities and allergy sufferers’ challenges. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology points out that peanut dust isn’t usually airborne and doesn’t typically induce severe reactions upon mere contact. Still, this incident highlights the complexities allergenic passengers often grapple with.
