Take your own food. See Food for a long flight with allergies.
Keep adrenaline devices near you. Store your adrenaline devices and your ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis where you can easily reach them when you have your seatbelt on, such as under the seat in front of you or in your seat pocket.
Clean surfaces to remove any possible allergen to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction.
- Research shows that particles of food allergens, including peanuts, can be found on surfaces such as seats, trays, entertainment systems (TV screens) and seatbelts.2 However, studies also tell us that cleaning all surfaces that you may touch with detergent is a good way to remove food allergens.2 Wet wipes and soap-based cleansers are better than water. Many airlines let passengers with food allergies board the plane before other passengers so they can clean these surfaces before the rest of the passengers are allowed on.
- Hand sanitiser, which kills germs, does not remove food allergens from hands or surfaces.
Wear long pants and long sleeves. This limits skin contact with the seats, armrests and tray tables and may reduce the risk of becoming itchy.
Wash your hands. Wash your hands before eating. If you cannot go to the bathroom to do this, use disposable wipes.
Consider where you seat children with food allergies. It may be safer to sit them between parents or carers or in a window seat, where food is less likely to spill or fall on them. Think about what is best for your situation.
Things that may make you feel more comfortable but are not proven to reduce risk
Wear a mask. There is no evidence that people are at risk of anaphylaxis from breathing in food allergens on planes. Still, a mask may make people feel more comfortable and may make strong smells less worrying while others are eating.
Don’t eat while others are eating. Some people with food allergy feel more comfortable not eating at the same time as other people who may be eating food that they are allergic to.
2. Turner P, Dowdall N. Flying with nut and other food allergies: unravelling fact from fiction. Arch Dis Child. Published online December 28, 2024. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2024-327848